Poimandres

Poimandres (Greek: Ποιμάνδρης; also known as Poemandres, Poemander or Pimander) is the first tractate in the Corpus Hermeticum.

Etymology

Originally written in Greek, the title was formerly understood to mean "Man-Shepherd" from the words ποιμήν and ἀνήρ, but recent studies on its etymology allege that it is actually derived from the Egyptian phrase Peime-nte-rê meaning "Knowledge of Re" or "Understanding of Re".[1][2]

Description

It is also a sort of deity, or attribute of God as nous 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 translation:

And I do say: Who art thou?

He saith: I am Man-Shepherd [Ποιμάνδρης], Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest and I'm with thee everywhere.

Salaman, Van Oyen and Wharton translation:[3]

"Who are you?" said I.

He said, "I am Poimandres the Nous of the Supreme. I know what you wish and I am with you everywhere."

See also

• Hermeticism
• Hermes Trismegistus
• The All

References

1. From Poimandres to Jacob Böhme: Gnosis, Hermetism and the Christian Tradition, pgs 47, 48
2. Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, p 95
3. Salaman, Van Oyen, Wharton and Mahé,The Way of Hermes, p. 17

External links

• Pœmandres, the Shepherd of Men – Translation by G.R.S. Mead, 1906.
• Poemander – 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.
• The Corpus Hermeticum from Thrice Great Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis, Volume II at The Internet Sacred Text Archive
• 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.