The Gnostics and Their Remains: Ancient and Medieval (Forgotten Books) - Softcover

Book Description:

"In the mid-19th century, eighty years before the chance discovery of a treasure trove of Gnostic manuscripts in a dump in Egypt, C.W. King collected what was known about the Gnostics in this book. At that time there were only three sources of information on Gnosticism: polemics against them by early Christian writers, the Pistis Sophia, and a jumble of confusing images and cryptic inscriptions on Roman-era gems and amulets.

In spite of all of the missing jigsaw pieces, King managed to assemble a picture of the Gnostics which is still cited today as authoritative. Rather than one monolithic group, the Gnostics had very diverse beliefs. Some thought that Jesus was a man, while others thought that he was a God, and some believed that he became a God only after he was baptized. Some believed in a struggle between good and evil, others were non-dualistic. Most had widely-varying intricate systems of intermediaries between the ultimate deity and humanity. On the face of it, this looks polytheistic, but instead was an attempt to solve the problem of how a perfect God could create an imperfect world. Many of these Aeons later became the demons and angels of Medieval and Renaissance magic.

King seeks links to Gnostic symbols and beliefs far afield, from India, to the Templars, Rosicrucians and Illuminati. He discusses Mithra and Serapis worship, and gives many examples of Roman and Greek magical spells and talismans. He discusses the fudged birthdate of Jesus, Masons' marks, and Simon Magus. The book is a fascinating tour of hidden knowledge." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

Table of Contents:

Publisher's Preface; Preface; Introduction; Gnosticism And Its Sources; Gnosticism And Its Origin; Pistis-sophia; The Book Of Enoch; Gnosticism In Its Beginning; Influence Of Judaism On The Ancient World; The Zendavesta; The Kabbala And The Talmud; Indian Sources Of Gnosticism.--manes; Buddhism; Simonianism; Basilides; The Ophites; Machinery Of The Gnosis; The Worship Of Mithras And Serapis; Origin Of Mithraicism; The Mithraic Sacraments; A Roman Mithras In His Cave; Mithraic Talismans; Gnostic Sacraments And Initiations As Connected With The Mithraic; St. Augustine On Gnosticism; The Figured Representations Of Serapis; The Probable Origin Of Serapis; Monuments Of The Serapis Worship; The Caduceus, And Its Symbolism; Death, As Depicted In Ancient Art; Tomb-treasures; The Evil Eye; On A Ceraunia Of Jade Converted Into A Gnostic Talisman; Abraxas, Abraxaster, And Abraxoid Gems; The AgathodÆmon Worship; The Chnuphis Serpent; Abraxaster, Or Borrowed Types; Abraxoids, Or Gems Confounded With The True Gnostic; The True Abraxas Gems; Gnostic Plaque; The God Abraxas As Described By The Christian Fathers; "abraxas"--etymology Of; Abraxas--its Numerical Force; The Abraxas Religion; The Ineffable Name In The Hindoo Form; Abraxas-gems, Their Materials, Workmanship, And Nature; Legends And FormulÆ; The Figured Monuments Of Gnosticism; Gnostic SiglÆ, Symbols, Legends Explained; The Name IAΩ; Abraxas, New Type Of; Original Purpose Of These FormulÆ; Gnostic Theogony; The Scheme Of The Ophites; The Cause Of Sin; State After Death Of The Uninitiated; Future Punishments; Talismanic Leaden Scrolls; Templars, Rosicrucians, Freemasons; Masonic Origins; The Earliest Masonic Document; No Relation Of Modern Masons To MediÆval Guilds; Masons' Marks; Origin Of Modern Freemasonry; The Rosicrucians; The Templars; Idols Of Baphomet; Manicheism; The Assassins; The Sufis; Diffusion Of Oriental Culture; Profession Of Continence; Mithraicism; The Transmission Of Gnostic Symbols; The Illuminati; Conclusion; Description Of The Plates; Introduction; Plate A. Various Types Of The God Abraxas; Plate B; Plate C; Plate D. Sigils Of The Cnuphis Serpent; Plate E. Monuments Of The Serapis Worship; Plate F. Ancient Eg

About the Author:

"Charles William King (September 5, 1818 - March 25, 1888), was a British Victorian writer and collector of gems.

He was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, south east Wales, and entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1836. He graduated in 1840, and obtained a fellowship in 1842; he was a senior fellow at the time of his death in London." (Quote from wikipedia.org)