Iamblichus on the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians / translated from the Greek by Thomas Taylor.

  • Iamblichus
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Iamblichus on the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians / translated from the Greek by Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    depths of that truly mystic unknown, about which all knowledge is refunded into igno- rance. For, as Simplicius justly observes, “ It is requisite that he who ascends to the principle of things should investigate whe- ther it is possible there can be any thing better than the supposed principle ; and if something more excellent is found, the same inquiry should again be made respect- ing that, till we arrive at the highest con- ceptions, than which we have no longer any more venerable. Nor should we stop in our ascent till we find this to be the case. . For there is no occasion to fear that our progression will be through an unsubstan- tial void, by conceiving something about the first principles which is greater and more transcendent than their nature. For it is not possible for our conceptions to take such a mighty leap as to equal, and much less to pass beyond, the dignity of the first principles of things.’' He adds, This, therefore, is one and the best extension [of the soul] to [the highest] God, and is, as much as possible, irreprehensible; viz. to know firmly, that by ascribing to him the