Source books · Neoplatonism
On the Mysteries
How this book fits
- Traditions
- Neoplatonism
- Role in the tradition
- Primary source Written from inside the tradition: scripture, revelation, a grimoire, a manifesto or a practical treatise.
- Public attention
- Notable Wikipedia has an article about it in 8 languages.
Read it
- Taylor's translation ↗ gutenberg.org checked September 11, 2026
- Read at esotericarchives.com ↗ esotericarchives.com checked September 11, 2026
From Wikipedia
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians, also known as the Theurgia and under its abbreviated Latin title De Mysteriis Aegyptiorum, is a work of Neoplatonic philosophy primarily concerned with ritual and theurgy and attributed to Iamblichus.
From the Wikipedia article On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians, revision 1359535328, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata Q3359785: “theosophic-theurgic tractate”.
In this study
In the chronology, in Iamblichus's account.
Written as a response to Porphyry and framed as by the Egyptian priest 'Abammon'. It argues for divination, sacrifice, sacred symbols and theurgy as legitimate means by which humans participate in the gods.