Concept
Chaldean Oracles
Overview
The Chaldean Oracles are a set of spiritual and philosophical texts widely used by Neoplatonist philosophers from the 3rd to the 6th century CE. While the original texts have been lost, they have survived in the form of fragments consisting mainly of quotes and commentary by Neoplatonist writers. They were likely to have originally formed a single mystery-poem, which may have been in part compiled, in part in trance, by Julian the Chaldean, or more likely, his son, Julian the Theurgist in the 2nd century CE. Later Neoplatonists, such as Iamblichus and Proclus, rated them highly. The 4th-century emperor Julian (not to be confused with Julian the Chaldean or Julian the Theurgist) suggests in his Hymn to the Magna Mater that he was an initiate of the God of the Seven Rays, and was an adept of its teachings. When Christian Church Fathers or other Late Antiquity writers credit "the Chaldeans", they are probably referring to this tradition.
The Chaldean Oracles show an affinity with gnostic teachings of their time. They describe the transcendent First Paternal Intellect which includes the mediating World-Soul, a female Power (Hecate) similar to Sophia. Fiery emanations from the First Intellect produce the Second Intellect, the Demiurge, who comprehends the cosmos as well as himself, and creates Matter. Farthest from the Highest God (First Father / Intellect) is a dense shell of matter from which the enlightened soul must emerge, shedding its bodily garments. A combination of ascetic conduct and correct ritual are recommended to free the soul from the confines of matter, and to defend it against the demonic powers lurking in the realms between Gods and mortals.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
He adds that these same gods, even granting that on other points their utterances were true, were yet so ill-advised and unsatisfactory in their disclosures about blessedness, that they cannot be either gods or good demons, but are either that spirit who is called the deceiver, or mere fictions of the imagination.
of Hippo Augustine, The City of God, Volume I
States what Chaldean Oracles is; the author is tied to Chaldean Oracles in the knowledge graph.
who saith, But the earth was invisible, and without form, and darkness was upon the deep; that is, "that corporeal thing that God made, was as yet a formless matter of corporeal things, without order, without light." Another he who says, The earth was invisible and without form, and darkness was upon the deep; that is, "this all, which is called heaven and earth, was still a formless and darksome matter, of which…
of Hippo Augustine, The Confessions of St. Augustine
States what Chaldean Oracles is; the author is tied to Chaldean Oracles in the knowledge graph.
Ocean and Tethys were the progeny of Heaven and Earth; and from these sprang Phorcys, Kronos, and Rhea, and ever so many more with them;—and from Kronos and Rhea sprang Zeus, Hera (Jupiter, Juno), and all that we know are called their brethren, together with others still who were their progeny.[287] When therefore all such gods as visibly revolve, and show themselves when they please, were generated, the Artificer…
Plato, The works of Plato
States what Chaldean Oracles is; the author is tied to Chaldean Oracles in the knowledge graph.
Philosophers who discussed Chaldean Oracles
Related ideas
- Gnosticism
- Anima mundi
- Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Michael Psellos
- Damascius
- Julian (emperor)
- Sophia (wisdom)
- Marcus Aurelius
- Augustine of Hippo
- Babylon
- Plato
- Neoplatonism
- Proclus
- Syncretism
- Alexandria
- Bible
- Zoroaster
- Hellenistic period
- Timaeus (dialogue)
- Chaldea
- Hermes Trismegistus
- Iamblichus
- Porphyry of Tyre
- Late antiquity
Place in the tradition
Part of Western esotericism.