Select works of Plotinus ... and extracts from the treatise of Synesius on providence / Translated from the Greek. With an introduction containing the substance of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus. By Thomas Taylor.

  • Plotinus
Date:
1817
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Select works of Plotinus ... and extracts from the treatise of Synesius on providence / Translated from the Greek. With an introduction containing the substance of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus. By Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    615/700 (page 521)
    A king, however, among the Egyptians was created as follows: There is a sacred mountain near the great city of Thebes, and another mono» tain opposite to it, between both of which is the stream of the Nile. Of these, the mountain oppo¬ site to that which is sacred, is called Libycus, in which the candidates for the election of the king were by law commanded to dwell, during the time of preparation for the ceremony, in order that they might not know any thing of the choice which would be made. But the sacred mountain is called Egyptius. On the summit of this is the tabernacle of the king, with whom also those priests dwell who transcend in wisdom, and the arrange¬ ment proceeds to every class of those of superior en¬ dowments, distributing the seats according to the dig¬ nity of the mysteries [in which those who filled them were initiated.] The first circle, therefore, consists of those, who are placed about the king as if sur¬ rounding a heart. The next circle to this consists of the soldiers. And they, indeed, surround the hill which forms another mountain on the extended mount, like a rising breast, and enables those to see the king who are at the greatest distance from him. But those surround the foot of the mountain who