Thrice-Greatest Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis [3 volumes in 1, unabridged]

This is a read and reread. I need to memorize much of this.

Mead's collection is outstanding. All the remaining fragments of Hermetic texts are there, along with literally thousands of notes. This edition (Thrice-Greatest Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis [3 volumes in 1, unabridged]) is a proper reprint, not from a scan but proofed and properly formatted, which makes it a much better purchase than the other editions available.

This volume by G. R. S. Mead, published in 1906,contains 3 books in one. The first volume (or book)is titled: Prolegomena -- and contains: The Remainsof the Trismegistic Literature/The History of theEvolution of Opinion/Thoth the Master of Wisdom/The Popular Theurgic Hermes-Cult in the Greek MagicPapyri/The Main Source of the Trismegistic LiteratureAccording To Manetho High Priest of Egypt/An EgyptianPrototype of the Main Features of the Poemandres'Cosmogony/The Myth of Man in the Mysteries/Philo ofAlexandria and the Hellenistic Theology/Plutarch:Concerning the Mysteries of Isis and Osiris/"Hermas"and "Hermes"/Concerning the Aeon Doctrine/The SevenZones and Their Characteristics/Plato: ConcerningMetempsychosis/The Vision of Er/Concerning theCrater or Cup/The Disciples of Thrice-GreatestHermes.The second volume (or book) contained in thisone volume is: Sermons -- and contains: I CorpusHermeticum; and II The Perfect Sermon; or theAsclepius (English translations of these works --with copious, useful footnotes).The third volume (or book) contained in thisone volumes is: Excerpts and Fragments -- andcontains: (I) Excerpts by Strobaeus; (II) Referencesand Fragments in the [Church] Fathers -- whichincludes Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Clement ofAlexandria, Tertullian, Cyprian, Arnobius,Lactantius, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria,Suidas, Anonymous; and (III) References andFragments in the [Pagan] Philosophers -- whichincludes Zosimus, Jamblichus, Julian theEmperor, Fulgentius the Mythographer.And finally, there is a Conclusion.This is an excellent compendium of useful andprovocative readings and sources. The readermay then want to branch out and read othercompilations and introductions to the Hermetica(such as Brian P. Copenhaver, Cambridge Univ.Press) or concentrate also on Gnosticism, suchas the works of Kurt Rudolph (GNOSIS, Harper/San Francisco) or Hans Jonas (THE GNOSTICRELIGION, Beacon Press).G. R. S. Mead in a faith-full man, but he isalso an in-clusionist. He sees the great mysticsand illuminators and God-filled questers as allbeing "Sons of God" -- with not just one particularone being more "divine" than another. But this isa God-centered group, not a demonic one. Each manhas the divine spirit -- the spark of the eternallight -- within him, and the degree to which helistens to it and is guided by it serves as thetouchstone of his insight and his piety.