The Visions of Zosimos of Panopolis: text, translation, and commentary

Thesis

This thesis presents a new critical edition, English translation, and commentary of The Visions of Zosimos of Panopolis, one of the most enigmatic and mysterious figures from Classical Antiquity, and the first alchemist to whom some biographical information can be confidently assigned. Written in Panopolis (in Roman Egypt) in the early fourth century CE, The Visions narrates a series of dreams supposedly experienced by Zosimos himself. In these dreams, Zosimos claims to have witnessed a range of horrifying images: men eating themselves; people being burned alive; eyes dissolving into blood, and many more. Encoded into this metaphorical dream-based framework, however, are the steps of two alchemical praxes: one scientific, which supposedly allowed the alchemist to transform any base matter into gold; and another metaphysical, which supposedly allowed the alchemist to purify themselves spiritually and to ascend to a higher realm. Writing in a period of fascinating intellectual syncretism in Egypt (and particularly Panopolis), Zosimos blends a range of religious and philosophical doctrines – especially Gnostic, Hermetic, and Platonic – into the spiritual fabric of The Visions, as the alchemist treats figures such as Christ and Hermes as equally central to his worldview, while also treating figures such as Plato, Moses, and Thoth as equally authoritative sources of some ancient mystical wisdom. Indeed, Zosimos’ text is a generic blend – part technical manual, part apocalyptic revelation, part Hermetic treatise, part philosophical allegory – which challenges its readers to decode its hidden mysteries. The Visions is a captivating blend of the intellectual milieux of Zosimos’ day; this thesis attempts to leave no stone unturned, connecting the scientific, religious, philosophical, literary, and historical aspects of Zosimos’ text, and presenting a view of the ancient world which is both consistent and coherent.

Authors: Werrett, J

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-gab6xyvky
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Subjects: Classical literature