Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Afghan · 11-26-2004, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewcriddle

IIUC both Harpocrates and Carpocrates are used in Greek inscriptions when referring to 'Horus the Child'.

I didn't know that. It seems plausible, at any rate, that Carpocrates could be a transliteration of "the ka of Heru-pa-khered".

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewcriddle

It has been suggested that there was no 'historical Carpocrates' but that the group originated in some form of Christian/Egyptian religious syncretism.

Similar doubts have been cast on the 'historical Epiphanes'.

IMHO these doubts are probably unjustified.

Yes. Clement is a little bit too good on the specifics for a 'mythological Carpocrates' to hold much water. However, as Carpocrates was supposedly Alexandrian it does seem a bit of a stretch to think that it is a complete coincidence. Irenaeus's mention of the magical practices of the Carpocratians would imply something more Hermetic than Gnostic as well.

Is it reasonable to suggest that there was a 'historical Carpocrates' who taught a syncresis of Christian, Egyptian and Middle Platonic practices?

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