Poimandres

Poimandres (Greek: Ποιμάνδρης; also known as Poemandres, Poemander or Pimander) is a chapter in the Corpus Hermeticum. Originally written in Greek, the title was formerly understood to mean "Man-Shepherd" from the words ποιμήν and ἀνήρ, but recent studies on its etymology have shown that it is actually derived from the Egyptian phrase Peime-nte-rê meaning "Knowledge of Re" or "Understanding of Re". It is also a sort of deity or attribute of God as nous.

To quote (John Everard translation):

Then said I, "Who art Thou?"

"I am," quoth he, "Poemander, the mind of the Great Lord, the most Mighty and absolute Emperor: I know what thou wouldest have, and I am always present with thee."

And in the G. R. S. Mead translation:

And I do say: Who art thou?

He saith: I am Man-Shepherd [Ποιμάνδρης], Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest and I’m with thee everywhere.

And in the translation by Salaman, Van Oyen and Wharton:

"Who are you?" said I.

He said, "I am Poimandres the Nous of the Supreme. I know what you wish and I am with you everywhere."

See also

• Hermeticism
• Hermes Trismegistus
• The All

External links

• Pœmandres, the Shepherd of Men – Translation by G.R.S. Mead, 1906.
• Poemander – Translation by John Everard, 1650.
• Pimander – Latin translation by Marsilio Ficino, Milano: Damianus de Mediolano 1493.
• The Corpus Hermeticum from Thrice Great Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis, Volume II at The Internet Sacred Text Archive
• Ἑρμου του Τρισμεγιστου ΠΟΙΜΑΝΔΡΗΣ - Greek text of the 'Poimandres'