Poimandres (; also known as ''Poemandres'', ''Poemander'' or ''Pimander'') is the first tractate in the ''

Corpus Hermeticum The is a collection of 17 Greek writings whose authorship is traditionally attributed to the legendary Hellenistic figure Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. The treatises were orig ...

'', named after its main character ''Poimandres'', the ''

nous ''Nous'' (, ), from , is a concept from classical philosophy, sometimes equated to intellect or intelligence, for the cognitive skill, faculty of the human mind necessary for understanding what is truth, true or reality, real. Alternative Eng ...

'' of a supreme

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...

Etymology

Originally written in

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

, the title was formerly understood to mean "shepherd of men" from the words ποιμήν and ἀνήρ. For example, this is how

Zosimus of Panopolis Zosimos of Panopolis (; also known by the Latin name Zosimus Alchemista, i.e. "Zosimus the Alchemist") was an alchemist and Gnostic mystic. He was born in Panopolis (present day Akhmim, in the south of Roman Egypt), and likely flourished ca. ...

interpreted the name. Others, such as F. Ll. Griffith, proposed that it is actually derived from the Coptic phrase ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲣⲏ ''peime nte rē'' meaning "the knowledge of Re" or "the understanding of Re". Yet another theory is that the name ultimately derives from the name of the popular deified Egyptian pharaoh

Amenemhet III :''See Amenemhat, for other individuals with this name.'' Amenemhat III (Ancient Egyptian: ''Ỉmn-m-hꜣt'' meaning 'Amun is at the forefront'), also known as Amenemhet III, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the sixth king of the Twelfth Dyn ...

, whose name was transliterated into Greek in various forms, including Πορεμανρῆς.

Poimandros In Greek mythology, Poemander or Poimandros () was the son of Chaeresilaus (son of Iasius) and Stratonice. He was also the founder of Tanagra, which he named after the naiad Tanagra, his wife and the daughter of either Aeolus or Asopus. They had t ...

(Ποίμανδρος) of Greek mythology was the son of Chaeresilaus and Stratonice.

Description

The character Poimandres can be considered to be a sort of

, or attribute of

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

as ''

'' or "mind" as expressed in the following translations. John Everard translation: :''Then said I, "Who art Thou?"'' :''"I am," quoth he, "Poemander, the mind of the Great Lord, the most Mighty and absolute Emperor: I know what thou wouldest have, and I am always present with thee."''

G. R. S. Mead George Robert Stow Mead (22 March 1863 in London – 28 September 1933 in London) was an English historian, writer, editor, translator, and an influential member of the Theosophical Society, as well as the founder of the Quest Society. His work ...

translation: :''And I do say: Who art thou?'' :''He saith: I am Man-Shepherd '' �οιμάνδρης', Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest and I'm with thee everywhere.'' Brian P. Copenhaver translation: :''"Who are you?" I asked.'' :''"I am Poimandres," he said, "mind of sovereignty; I know what you want, and I am with you everywhere."'' Salaman, Van Oyen and Wharton translation:Salaman, Van Oyen, Wharton and Mahé,''The Way of Hermes'', p. 17 :''"Who are you?" said I.'' :''He said, "I am Poimandres the

Nous ''Nous'' (, ), from , is a concept from classical philosophy, sometimes equated to intellect or intelligence, for the cognitive skill, faculty of the human mind necessary for understanding what is truth, true or reality, real. Alternative Eng ...

of the Supreme. I know what you wish and I am with you everywhere."

References

External links

''Pœmandres, the Shepherd of Men''
– Translation by G.R.S. Mead, 1906.

– Translation by John Everard, 1650.
''Pimander''
– Latin translation by Marsilio Ficino, Milano: Damianus de Mediolano 1493.
''The Theological and Philosophical Works of Hermes Trismegistus''
– translation by John David Chambers, 1882.

* ttp://www.w66.eu/elib/html/poimandres.html Ἑρμου του Τρισμεγιστου ΠΟΙΜΑΝΔΡΗΣ– Greek text of the 'Poimandres'
''Hermetis Trismegisti Poemander''
– Complete Greek text of Poemander and Latin translation, G. Parthey (ed.), 1854. * ''Corpus Hermeticum'' – Critical edition and French translation; 4 vols.; eds. A.D. Nock & A.-J. Festugière. Paris: Belles Lettres, 1946–1954. Creation myths Hermetica Ancient Greek pseudepigrapha Ancient Greek philosophical literature {{Philo-stub

Etymology

Description

See also

References

External links