Corpus Hermeticum XVI: The Definitions of Asclepius unto King Ammon · 6 of 6 · tr. G.R.S. Mead

Section 1f

(xiv.) 7.

274:4 The two irrational parts, “passion” and “desire” (θυμὸς and ἐπιθυμία).

274:5 The soul.

275:1 This Erōs is the lower love ( cf.

C.

H.

, i.

18: “love, the cause of death”), not the Divine Love who inspires Hermes in “The Perfect Sermon” and who is mentioned C.

H.

, xviii.

14.

275:2 διοίκησιν.

275:3 Or, Fate; cf.

C.

H.

, i.

9; and P.

S.

A.

, xix.

275:4 Or, Intelligible Cosmos.

276:1 Cf.

P.

S.

A.

, iv.

1 n.; and xix.

276:2 Or army, or hierarchy.

Compare the “soldier” degree of the Mithriaca.

276:3 Cf.

C.

H.

, x.

(xi.) 22; and P.

S.

A.

, v.

1.

276:4 Cf.

C.

H.

, xiv.

(xv.), 7 and 5.

276:5 See Commentary to Frag.

iv.

(Lact., D.

I.

, ii.

15).

Themes

◆Ladder Of Lovesoteriology

Diotima's staged ascent from love of beautiful bodies → beautiful souls → beautiful pursuits → beautiful knowledge → Beauty itself; the canonical scala amoris that grounds Plotinus's On the Beautiful and Bruno's Eroici Furori — distinct from generic spiritual_ascent in that eros is the specific motive force.

The passage contrasts 'lower love' (Eros) with 'Divine Love,' indicating a hierarchy of affectionate states consistent with the scala amoris.

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◆Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

The reference to the 'soldier degree of the Mithriaca' alludes to ritual grades and mystery practices akin to theurgical systems.

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◆Tripartite Soulanthropology

Division of the human being into three principles: spirit (pneuma), soul (psyche), and body/matter (hyle or soma).

The text explicitly distinguishes the soul from two irrational parts (passion and desire), reflecting a divided human constitution central to this concept.

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