The Chaldæan Oracles of Zoroaster
Attributed to Julian the Theurgist (2nd century) · tr. Thomas Taylor and others; ed. W. Wynn Westcott · 1895 · 11,191 words
The fragments of the Chaldæan Oracles, the “bible” of the later Platonists, on the Father, the Intellect, the soul’s descent and its return by the fire of theurgy, with Westcott’s introduction.
Opening
The Chaldæan Oracles
Attributed to
Zoroaster
Preface
By SAPERE AUDE
THESE Oracles are considered to embody many of the principal features of Chaldæan philosophy. They have come down to us through Greek translations and were held in the greatest esteem throughout antiquity, a sentiment which was shared alike by the early Christian Fathers and the later Platonists. The doctrines contained therein are attributed to Zoroaster, though to which particular Zoroaster is not known; historians give notices of as many as six different individuals all bearing that name, which was probably the title of the Prince of the Magi, and a generic term. The word Zoroaster is by various authorities differently derived: Kircher furnishes one of the most interesting derivations when he seeks to show that it comes from TzURA = a figure, and TzIUR= to fashion, ASH = fire, and STR = hidden; from these he gets the words Zairaster = fashioning images of hidden fire;—or Tzuraster=the image of secret things. Others derive it from Chaldee and Greek words meaning " a contemplator of the Stars."
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Contents
- The Chaldæan Oracles
- Introduction
- The Oracles of Zoroaster
- Ideas
- Particular Souls
- Matter
- Magical and Philosophical Precepts
- Oracles from Porphyry