mountainman

Nag Hammadi Archive, 348 CE?

A selection of data from Robin Lan-Fox's book.

[Editor: What was popular in "Christian Literature"
eleven years after the Boss, it's inventor, went to the underworld?]

p.414: Nag Hammadi Library - in Upper Egypt, near Nile
12 books (codices) with leaves from a 13th in jar (1945)
Consistent of 57 Coptic tracts; "spurious gospels".
But "none of the "gnostic christians" wrote/read Coptic."

[Editor: The "gnostic christians" (see above),
were part of the fabrication (of the Galilaeans).]

"The collection is not a single library, not uniformly
heretical, nor even entirely christian."
includes a poor trans of Plato's republic,
and a pagan letter of "Eugnostos the Blessed"
the letter was then given a christian preface
and a conclusion and represented in another copy
as the "wisdom" which Jesus revealed
to his Apostles after his death.

[Editor: Again, here we see the act of
"christianisation of literature" essentially in-progress 348 CE.]

Extant also are three texts: a prayer and two discourses
of Thrice-great Hermes.

[FN:35] "Fascinating postscript on prayer,
carefully inscribed in decorated rectangle"
(Codex 6.7, Robinson,p299)

"I have copied this one discourse of his [Hermes].
Indeed, very many have come to me.
I have not copied these too,
because I thought that they had come to you.
I hesitate to copy these for you,
because perhaps they have come to you already,
and the business may burden you ..."

--- Anonymous "Nag Hammadi" scribe.

Later, RLF summarises ... The picture is intriguing. By c.350,
we have a group of Christian monks who owned such a quantity of texts
from the pagan's spiritual master, "The ",
that a scribe hesitated before sending any more.

[Editor: See further Hermes Trismegistus and Apollonius of Tyana
in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh The notion that the first century
philosopher, sage and author, Apollonius of Tyana is either
"The Thrice-Great Hermes", or the transmitter of the writings of
"The Thrice-Great Hermes", is intriguing.]

Bindings of the codices carbon-dated to 348 CE.

[Editor: Aside from this C14 citation, with respect to the entire
corpus of new testament related texts, and this is inclusive of
all papyrii fragments, and codexes, I know of only one other
C14 citation. The second and final C14 citation was publsihed
in reference to the newly acquired Gospel of Judas. In this
instance the bindings of the codices (gJudas) carbon-dated
to 290 CE (+/- 60 years).]

conjectured that the books were owned by monks
from the nearby monastic community (Pachomius)

p.415: "Coptic was the language of the majority
in the early Pachomian monasteries (after 350 CE)".

"There were no 'Gnostics' at Nag Hammadi in the
mid-fourth century" "certainly no study group of
Coptic-speaking Hermeticists, pagans who wished
to own so many christain books besides their own."


Thrice-Great Hermes
SUMMARY (p.415):

"Our texts seem to fall into three separate collections,
which were gathered, perhaps, by their owners,
and hidden near a deserted pagan temple when the books
in the monasteries began to be questioned and sought out.
The picture is intriguing. By c.350, we have a group of Christian
monks who owned such a quantity of texts from the pagan's spiritual
master, "The Thrice-Great Hermes", that a scribe hesitated
before sending any more.


300 CE: "christian authors already welcomed "Thrice-Great Hermes"
as a pre-Christian to the Christian theology".[FN:39]
[FN:39] R.M. Ogilvie, Library of Lanctatius (1978) 33-6;
earlier Hermes in Athenag. Leg. 28.6

[Editor: When the boss went west (poisoned by family,
in revenge for the execution of his son Crispus, 326 CE),
Eusebius in his Vita Constantini 337 CE, goes thrice-blessed balistic:

* "I contemplate his thrice-blessed soul in communion with God himself";
* "The end of his life was honorable and thrice blessed";
* "royal deeds of this thrice-blessed prince";
* "our thrice blessed prince";
* "and all united in honoring this thrice blessed prince";
* "and sometimes the thrice blessed one addressed the people ...";
* "the earthly tabernacle of his thrice blessed soul,
according to his own earnest wish,
was permitted to share
the monument of the apostles.

[Editor: It seems clear enough that Constantine had planned
in advance to be the "Thrice-Blessed Thirteenth Apostle"
of the religion which, according to this thesis, he invented.]



p.580: [FN:19] P.Oxy. 1025; 1026

"When a local notable returned to Hermopolis from
Gallienus' Rome in the 260's, the council honored him
with magnificent literary allusions and praises of:


'Thrice-great Hermes, our father's god,
who always stands besides you."

p.659: "By 324, Lactantius was an old man, possibly over 80, family tutor.
"As a pagan witness, the 'Thrice-great Hermes' was dear to Lactantius,
yet absent from Oration. Lactantius had stressed that the truth of miracles
and the power of the cross had a symbolic and prophetic meaning.
He said nothing about the wisdom of the apostles, whom the Oration exalted."

The libraries extract from Plato (mistranslated in Coptic)
refers to the virtue of ...

"casting down every image of the evil Beast and trampling
on them, together with the image of the Lion.
Monks were the supreme destroyers of pagan's religious art,
the "image of the Beast and Lion".

[Editor: He who controlled the technology of literature
controlled the dreams of the future.
Here it appears that the literature of Plato
is being perverted for political incitement
Such evidence, and the patterns of similar facts
surrounding the propaganda of malevolent despots
the world over has its characteristic signs and signals.

This represents a clear citation for the political perversion
of patristic literature at Nag Hammadi c.348 CE,
a practice which was commenced 312,
when Constantine took Rome as his own;
and Eusebius took up the stylus.]


Besides three texts of Hermes, another
pagan text called "Zostrianos" [FN:41]

p.416: "[Father Pachomius] used a cryptic alphabet with a mystical significance which has still to be deciphered."

[Editor: There's nothing like a good mystery.]

Another Nag Hammadi text --
from a pagan disciple of Hermes, reads:

"I have found the beginning of the power
that is above all powers,
the power without beginning.
I see a fountain bubbling with life.
I have said, 'O my son, I am Mind.
I have seen ...
no words can reveal it ..."

[Editor: Describes mystical illumination from
a universal and cosmic intelligence.
A great pity it is that so much of
the "pagan literature" was destroyed,
if it was not lucky enough to have been interpolated
(Josephus, Lucian, Marcus, etc).

The widely distributed books of the author
Apollonius obviously were destroyed.
His biography by Philostratus c.216 CE,
was exceedingly lucky to have survived.
It's tale of preservation to the arduous road
back to light is an intriguing story.]

Magdlyn

Is this your point? If so, I agree. We had 1000 yrs of lack of progress, or even regression (the Dark Ages), b/c of it. We'd probably be flying solar powered jets to our colonies on Mars and the Moon by now.

Lógos Sokratikós

Not because of the disappearance of the Hermes Trismegistus cult, though.

mountainman

On the contrary man, the evidence suggests that it was
collegiate scribes, such as those unearthed at Nag Hammadi
as descibed above, who's respect for the writings of Hermes
transmitted knowledge in the fourth century.

At the same archeological site, clear evidence is seen
for the perversion of the literature by (what I am claiming
as a 4th century inspired) "christian regime".

The "christian regime" is the perpetuation of Constantine's
Nicene regime, which ruled from Constantinople for 1000 years
on the basis of a pile of fictitious literature that "the boss"
had fabricated. It had a new and an old part. The new
part was fabricated, and the old part simply stolen from
the subjugated Hebew/Jewish provinces of the empire.

In addition to this line of argument, IMO one also needs
to understand that while the Hermetic tradition as indicated
in the above description at Nag Hammadi, was about to get
chopped up and axed under the persecutions of the
christian regimes of the fourth century (See Vlassis),
a separate strand of the Hermetic tradition went to the
Arabian and Persian empire.

It provides evidence that Hermes was regarded as the
bearer of both the knowledge of literature, and writing,
and of scientific subjects. Here is a relevant article:

Hermes Trismegistus and Apollonius of Tyana in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh - Keven Brown.

The Hermes Trismegistus cult were associated with the
preservation of knowledge in the fourth century, and
would have been represented on the college of pontiffs
headed by the role of Pontifex Maximus. This role after
1000 years fell to Pope Damasius c.365 CE, a decade
after the C14 date given above at Nag Hammadi.

The christian regime burnt and destroyed literature
if it was not perverted by changing it to "christian".
The temples and the priests of all cults, Hermes
Trismegestus certainly included were raised and
executed.

When you say "Not because of the disappearance
of the Hermes Trismegistus cult, though", I'd be
more cautious.


Best wishes,


Pete Brown

Antipope Innocent II

His thesis seems to be that not only did Jesus not exist, but the whole of Christianity didn't exist until it was invented wholesale by Constantine in the Fourth Century. All and any evidence of Christianity before that, therefore, must be forgeries.

It's pretty unlikely we'd be flying to Mars thanks to any of the pagan literature that was actively destroyed by the Church. It's also pretty unlikely we'd be doing so thanks to any of the texts that were lost due to the upheavals which followed the fall of the Roman Empire - which is what actually caused the "Dark Ages". Greek and Roman scientists were more interested in ideas than practical applications of technology anyway. And their slave-based economies didn't give a lot of incentives for the adoption of technology.

Interestingly, it was the labour shortages and disruptions caused by the fall of the Empire and the fragmentation of the "Dark Ages" that actually stimulated the adoption of mechanical power (wind and water power) on a large scale. And it was medieval monastic communities which were at the forefront of harnessing and developing this technology which, eventually, led to the Industrial Revolution.

mountainman

Malevolent despotism of the 4th century christian regime

It continues past the 4th century of course.
It is stuff like this which starts dark ages.
Before this happened (IMO 325 CE) the
literature was being preserved, and not
perverted and destroyed.

Citations from
Vlasis Rassias, Demolish Them!
Published in Greek, Athens 1994


353 An edict of Constantius orders the death penalty for all kind of worship
through sacrifice and "idols".

354 A new edict orders the closing of all the pagan temples. Some of them
are profaned and turned into brothels or gambling rooms.

Execution of pagan priests begins.

A new edict of Constantius orders the destruction of the pagan temples and
the execution of all "idolaters".

First burning of libraries in various cities of the empire.

The first lime factories are organized next to the closed pagan temples. A
major part of the holy architecture of the pagans is turned into lime.

357 Constantius outlaws all methods of divination (astrology not excluded).

359 In Skythopolis, Syria, the Christians organize the first death camps for
the torture and executions of the arrested non-Christians from all around
the empire.

361 to 363 Religious tolerance and restoration of the pagan cults is
declared in Constantinople (11th December 361) by the pagan emperor Julian
(Flavius Claudius Julianus).

363 Assassination of Julian (26th June).

364 Emperor Jovian orders the burning of the Library of Antioch.

An Imperial edict (11th September) orders the death penalty for all those
that worship their ancestral gods or practice divination ("sileat omnibus
perpetuo divinandi curiositas").

Three different edicts (4th February, 9th September, 23rd December) order
the confiscation of all properties of the pagan temples and the death
penalty for participation in pagan rituals, even private ones.

The Church Council of Laodicea (Phrygia - western Asia Minor) orders that
religious observances are to be conducted on Sunday and not on Saturday.
Sunday becomes the new Sabbath. The practice of staying at home and resting
on Saturday declared sinful and anathema to Christ.

365 An imperial edict from Emperor Valens, a zealous Arian Christian (17th
November), forbids pagan officers of the army to command Christian soldiers.

370 Valens orders a tremendous persecution of non-Christian peoples in all
the Eastern Empire. In Antioch, among many other non-Christians, the
ex-governor Fidustius and the priests Hilarius and Patricius are executed.
The philosopher Simonides is burned alive and the philosopher Maximus is
decapitated. All the friends of Julian are persecuted (Orebasius,
Sallustius, Pegasius etc.).

Tons of books are burnt in the squares of the cities of the Eastern Empire.

372 Valens orders the governor of Minor Asia to exterminate all the Hellenes
and all documents of their wisdom.

373 New prohibition of all divination methods is issued. The term "pagan"
(pagani, villagers, equivalent to the modern insult, "peasants") is
introduced by the Christians to demean non-believers.

375 The temple of Asclepius in Epidaurus, Greece, is closed down by the
Christians.

380 On 27th February Christianity becomes the exclusive religion of the
Roman Empire by an edict of the Emperor Flavius Theodosius, requiring that:

"All the various nations which are subject to our clemency and moderation
should continue in the profession of that religion which was delivered to
the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter."

The non-Christians are called "loathsome, heretics, stupid and blind".

In another edict, Theodosius calls "insane" those that do not believe to the
Christian God and outlaws all disagreement with the Church dogmas.

Ambrosius, bishop of Milan, begins the destruction of pagan temples of his
area. The Christian priests lead the hungry mob against the temple of
goddess Demeter in Eleusis and try to lynch the hierophants Nestorius and
Priskus. The 95 year old hierophant Nestorius ends the Eleusinian Mysteries
and announces "the predominance of mental darkness over the human race."

381 At the Council of Constantinople the 'Holy Spirit' is declared 'Divine'
(thus sanctioning a triune god). On 2nd May, Theodosius deprives of all
their rights any Christians who return to the pagan religion. Throughout the
Eastern Empire the pagan temples and libraries are looted or burned down. On
21st December, Theodosius outlaws visits to Hellenic temples.

In Constantinople, the Temple of Aphrodite is turned into a brothel and the
temples of the Sun and Artemis to stables.

382 "Hellelujah" ("Glory to Yahweh") is imposed in the Christian mass.

384 Theodosius orders the Praetorian Prefect Maternus Cynegius, a dedicated
Christian, to cooperate with local bishops and destroy the temples of the
pagans in Northern Greece and Minor Asia.

385 to 388 Prefect Maternus Cynegius, encouraged by his fanatic wife, and
bishop 'Saint' Marcellus with his gangs, scour the countryside and sack and
destroy hundreds of Hellenic temples, shrines and altars. Among others they
destroy the temple of Edessa, the Cabeireion of Imbros, the temple of Zeus
in Apamea, the temple of Apollo in Dydima and all the temples of Palmyra.

Thousands of innocent pagans from all sides of the empire suffer martyrdom
in the notorious death camps of Skythopolis.

386 Theodosius outlaws the care of the sacked pagan temples.

388 Public talks on religious subjects are outlawed by Theodosius. The old
orator Libanius sends his famous epistle "Pro Templis" to Theodosius with
the hope that the few remaining Hellenic temples will be respected and
spared.

389 to 390 All non-Christian calendars and dating-methods are outlawed.
Hordes of fanatic hermits from the desert flood the cities of the Middle
East and Egypt and destroy statues, altars, libraries and pagan temples, and
lynch the pagans. Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, starts heavy
persecutions against non-Christian peoples, turning the temple of Dionysius
into a Christian church, burning down the Mithraeum of the city, destroying
the temple of Zeus and burlesques the pagan priests before they are killed
by stoning. The Christian mob profanes the cult images.

391 On 24th February, a new edict of Theodosius prohibits not only visits to
pagan temples but also looking at the vandalized statues. New heavy
persecutions occur all around the empire. In Alexandria, Egypt, pagans, led
by the philosopher Olympius, revolt and after some street fights they lock
themselves inside the fortified temple of the god Serapis (the Serapeion).
After a violent siege, the Christians take over the building, demolish it,
burn its famous library and profane the cult images.

392 On 8th November, Theodosius outlaws all the non-Christian rituals and
names them "superstitions of the gentiles" (gentilicia superstitio). New
full scale persecutions are ordered against pagans. The Mysteries of
Samothrace are ended and the priests slaughtered. In Cyprus the local bishop
"Saint" Epiphanius and "Saint" Tychon destroy almost all the temples of the
island and exterminate thousands of non-Christians. The local Mysteries of
goddess Aphrodite are ended. Theodosius's edict declares:

"The ones that won't obey pater Epiphanius have no right to keep living in
that island."

The pagans revolt against the Emperor and the Church in Petra, Aeropolis,
Rafia, Gaza, Baalbek and other cities of the Middle East.

393 The Pythian Games, the Aktia Games and the Olympic Games are outlawed as
part of the Hellenic "idolatry". The Christians sack the temples of Olympia.

395 Two new edicts (22nd July and 7th August) cause new persecutions against
pagans. Rufinus, the eunuch Prime Minister of Emperor Flavius Arcadius
directs the hordes of baptized Goths (led by Alaric) to the country of the
Hellenes. Encouraged by Christian monks the barbarians sack and burn many
cities (Dion, Delphi, Megara, Corinth, Pheneos, Argos, Nemea, Lycosoura,
Sparta, Messene, Phigaleia, Olympia, etc.), slaughter or enslave innumerable
gentile Hellenes and burn down all the temples. Among others, they burn down
the Eleusinian Sanctuary and burn alive all its priests (including the
hierophant of Mithras Hilarius).

396 On 7th December, a new edict by Arcadius orders that paganism be treated
as high treason. Imprisonment of the few remaining pagan priests and
hierophants.

397 "Demolish them!" Flavius Arcadius orders that all the still standing
pagan temples be demolished.

398 The 4th Church Council of Carthage prohibits everybody, including
Christian bishops, from studying pagan books. Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza,
demolishes almost all the pagan temples of his city (except nine of them
that remain active).

399 With a new edict (13th July) Flavius Arcadius orders all remaining pagan
temples, mainly in the countryside, be immediately demolished.

===================

SNIP.

mountainman

That is correct, and not a generation earlier.
Notably Constantine had to create laws for
people climbing on board the new religion
because it had its benefits which HE, as pope
of popes, dispensed.

Forgeries of fictitious authors, and forgeries of extant
authors, notably the key figure of Porphyry.

Here is a diagram - discussed here




Do some backgrond reading on Porphyry.
Last I knew mathematics is required to get to Mars.
And that the Pythagorean theorem is not too
far from relativity, whether special or general.

Last thing we heard of Porphyry was Constantine
saying things like ... "he got his just reward".
Bullneck was a malevolent despot the likes
of which will hopefully never be repeated.

Porphyry's writings were burnt.
The greatest academic of the empire
in the fourth century ..
Next check Hypatia.
Another mathematician.
There were many others.
They were non christians.
By the CONSTANTINIAN default.


We have been told bullshit by Bullneck.
Christianity did not preceed Him.

Where are the archeological and/or scientific
citations to prenicene christianity?

Start with de Rossi's stone.
Have a good look at the Prosenes
inscription. Maybe take a tour
of Dura-Europa "house-church",
or visit the catacombs. For the
brave, a tour to Phrygian headstones,
or the tip at Oxyrhynchus.

Show me something unambiguously
christian before the Boss took over
the Roman empire, and you'll be in
my good books.



Best wishes,




Pete Brown