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The Gnostics and Their Remains

By Charles William King

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Contents

PREFACE   v

Introduction  xiii 

PART I.

 

GNOSTICISM AND ITS SOURCES.

 

Introduction--Gnosticism and its origin--Pistis-Sophia--Book of Enoch--Gnosticism in its beginning--Influence of Judaism on the Ancients--The Zendavesta--The Kabbala and the Talmud--Indian Sources of Gnosticism, Manes--Buddhism--Simonianism--Basilides--The Ophites--Machinery of the Gnosis

 

PART II.

 

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 Worship of Serapis--The Figured Representations of Serapis--Probable Origin of Serapis--Monuments of the Serapis-worship--The Caduceus and its Symbolism--Death, as Represented in Ancient Art--Tomb-treasures--Gnostic connection with Superstitious Practices, the Evil Eye--Ceraunia of Jade converted into a Gnostic Talisman

113

PART III.

 

ABRAXAS, ABRAXASTER AND ABRAXOID GEMS.

 

Agathodaemon Worship--The Chnuphis Serpent--The Abraxas--Abraxaster, or Borrowed Types--Abraxoids, or Gems confounded with the true Gnostic--The True Abraxas Gems--The god Abraxas, as described by the Christian Fathers--"Abraxas," Etymology of--"Abraxas," its numerical Value--The Abraxas Religion--The Ineffable name in its Hindoo Form--Abraxas-gems, their Materials, Workmanship, and Nature--Legends and Formula.

213

 

PART IV.

 

THE FIGURED MONUMENTS OF GNOSTICISM.

 

Gnostic Siglæ, Symbols, Legends Explained--The Name ΙΑΩ--Abraxas, a New Type of--Original Purpose of these Formulæ--The Gnostic Theogony--The Schema of the Ophites--The Cause of Sin--State after death of the Uninitiated--Future Punishments, and the Infernal Hierarchy--Talismanic Leaden Scrolls--Leaden Books--Numerals, Their Virtues--Magic Squares

303

PART V.

 

TEMPLARS, ROSICRUCIANS, FREEMASONS.

 

Preservation of Gnostic Symbols among the Freemasons--Masonic Pretences--"Constitutiones Artis Geometriae"--Henry VI. and his Masons--Hindoo and. Chinese Symbols--Masons’ Marks--Stonehenge--The Carbonari--De Quincey--The Rosy Cross--"Vultus Triformis"--Hosea Lux--Lodges First Established--Templars Suppressed--"Mystery of Baphomet Revealed"--Articles of Accusation against the Templars--Orphic Mysteries--Clarkson on the Temple Church--"Baphometic Vases"--Manicheism in France--The Assassins of the Lebanon--The Druses--The Sufi of Persia--Lodges first Established--Spartacus Weishaupt--Wren--"Scottish Knights"--Cypher Writing--"Book of Kells"--Brand-marking, National and Mystic

373

DESCRIPTION OF WOODCUTS

432

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES

435

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX, by Joseph Jacobs, B.A.

449

INDEX

459