The Hymns of Hermes
Translated by G. R. S. Mead
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THE SERVICE OF SONG.
Clement of Alexandria tells us that the whole of the religious philosophy — that is, the wisdom, discipline and multifarious arts and sciences — of the Egyptian priesthood was contained in the Books of Hermes, that is of Thoth. These Books, he informs us further, were classified under forty-two heads and divided into a number of groups according to the various septs or divisions of the priests.
In describing a certain sacred ceremonial — a procession of priests in their various orders — Clement tells us that it was headed by a representative of the order of Singers, who were distinguished by appropriate symbols of music, some of which apparently were carried in the hands and others embroidered on the robes.
These Singers had to make themselves masters of, that is, learn by heart, two of the divisions of the Books of Hermes, namely, those which contained collections of Hymns in Honour of the Gods or of God, and Encomia or Hymns in Praise of the Kings (iii., 222).
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About this edition
- The words
- G. R. S. Mead's English translation, copied word for word.
- Left out
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 3 places
- Other material that isn't the author's, in 2 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 4 places
- The printed table of contents (the app makes its own)
- Specks read as characters between two printed lines, beside the side title (5 blocks)
- Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 2 places