Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[bi3mw]

This is very good. Zosimos definitely has some interesting imagery that I believe is relevant to the VMS.

Yes, Zosimos, as a proponent of mystical or symbolic alchemy, would certainly have enjoyed Q13.

Zosimos und die Gnosis:

In welcher Weise diese in hellenistischem Gewände auftretende hermetische Gnosis auch später noch verstanden wurde, zeigt ein in dieser Tradition stehender Alchemist des 4. Jahrhunderts namens Zosimos (aus Panopolis in Ägypten), der in dem erhaltenen 24. Buch («Omega») seiner «Chemeutika» folgende Lehre vertritt: Der «erste Mensch», auch «innerer Adam», «pneumatischer Mensch» oder «Licht» (Licht-Adam) genannt, wird von den Archonten im Paradies überredet, den von ihnen geschaffenen «äußeren (körperlichen) Adam», der «aus der Schicksalsmacht (heimarmene)» und den vier Elementen besteht, «anzuziehen» und damit zu beleben. Die Verwendung gnostischer Gedanken, vor allem derjenigen, die um den Gott «Mensch» kreisen, haben in der Alchemie, deren erster greifbarer Vertreter Zosimos für uns ist, bis in die neuere Zeit einen Nachhall gefunden.

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Zosimos and Gnosticism:

The way in which this Hermetic Gnosticism—presented in a Hellenistic guise—was still understood later on is illustrated by a 4th-century alchemist named Zosimos (from Panopolis in Egypt), who belonged to this tradition and who, in the surviving 24th book (“Omega”) of his *Chemeutika*, expounds the following doctrine: The “first man,” also called the “inner Adam,” the “pneumatic man,” or “Light” (Light-Adam), is persuaded by the Archons in Paradise to “clothe” and thereby animate the “outer (physical) Adam” they created, who consists of the “power of fate (heimarmene)” and the four elements. The use of Gnostic ideas—especially those centered on the God “Man”—has resonated in alchemy, whose first tangible representative for us is Zosimos, right up to modern times.

Kurt Rudoplh, die Gnosis, Koehler & Amelang, Leipzig, 1977, pp. 125 -126
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Note: In ancient Gnosticism, “archons” are a term for lower spiritual beings who, although indirectly descended from God, do not know Him and do not act in accordance with His will.

In Gnosticism, the God “Man” can certainly also be female ( or rather androgynous ). “Light-Adam” is therefore not meant to be gender-specific. It is only through the “Fall” into the physical world and the union with matter that the division into genders occurs.

The Light Adam, as a mythological archetype, is a single being, but according to Gnostic logic, his essence (the Light/Pneuma) necessarily manifests itself in many individual human beings ( Pneumatics ). Who knows what kind of visual representation a 15th-century artist might have developed from this ( Many redeemed naked nymphs who have returned to their transcendent state of origin ? )   These would then participate alchemically in the restoration of creation to its primordial divine order.