The Virgin of the World

by Hermes Trismegistus, Anna Kingsford (Translator), Edward Maitland (Translator)

This important Hermetic dialogue, the 'Virgin of the World' was very nearly lost to the mankind. It appears in only one book, a 5th century AD anthology of classical texts, collated by Johannes Stobaeus of Macedonia for his son Septimius. 'The Virgin of the World' describes a dialogue between the goddess Isis and her son Horus, in which she explains the origin of the Egyptian "gods," and how they were sent from the heavens to bring civilization to humanity. The book is replete with Egyptian god-names, and eulogises Egypt as a type of earthly paradise, "free from trouble," all of which argues for a very early provenance, relatively free from Judaic and Greek influence. Internal evidence points to the 5th century BC - almost 2,500 years ago - making 'The Virgin of the World' the earliest Hermetic document that we possess.

Genres: Spirituality

130 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1977

About the author

Hermes Trismegistus (Ancient Greek: Ἑρμῆς ὁ Τρισμέγιστος, "thrice-greatest Hermes"; Latin: Mercurius ter Maximus) is the purported author of the Hermetic Corpus, a series of sacred texts that are the basis of Hermeticism.

Alternate names: Hermès Trismégiste, Hermes Trismegistro, Hermes Trimegistro, Hermes Trismegisto, Hermes Trimegisto.

Reviews

[Muhammad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this particular translation. I guess that's what I get for judging a book by its cover. Out of the available translations in English, this is the worst so far. The English lady who translated it either used some bad copies, or interpolated a lot of Greek nonsense in here that doesn't appear in any of the other translations. If new to the subject, check out one of the other 4 first.

Brian P. Copenhaver - Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, with Notes and Introduction

G.R.S. Mead - THRICE-GREATEST HERMES VOLUME I-III (Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis)

Tarl Warwick - Corpus Hermeticum: The Divine Pymander

John Everard - THE DIVINE PYMANDER

[Desmatron · Rating 4 out of 5]

molto breve, una sorta di Genesi che si conclude su come sopravvivere alle durezze della vita ascoltando il prodotto dei quattro elementi; la Giustizia