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1 Introduction
The Sacred Book of Hermes to Asclepius – or, more literally, The Book of Hermes to Asclepius Which is Called Sacred – is a piece of overtly Egyptian astrological lore written in Greek. It describes the 36 decans, each ruling over ten degrees of the 360° zodiac, and gives instructions for making phylacteries (talismanic rings) for each.
These instructions specify the material of the ring, the gemstone to be set in it, the engraving of the gem, and a plant to be placed under the stone, enclosing it in the ring. Note that many of the materials cannot be identified and are either simply transliterated (like ísophrys) or given in quotes (like ‘botrychite’).
The purpose of these phylacteries lies in the relationship of the decans to the twelve zodiacal signs (three to each sign), as outlined at the beginning of the work, as well as the organs they rule individually. […]
The Egyptian character of the work is obvious not only in the ascription to Hermes (who figures as the teacher of Asclepius in many of the so-called Hermetica), but also in the names and iconographic descriptions of the decans. The names in particular, despite certain difficulties produced by the use of different scripts, can partly be identified with the Egyptian names of the decan deities depicted in the “Dendera zodiac”, a bas relief made in the 1st century CE (under emperor Tiberius) to adorn a chapel of Osiris.
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2 Translation
(1) Below, I have lay out for you the shapes and forms of the 36 decans in the zodiac, and how each of them must be engraved and carried (when the respective decan is) in the middle of the ascendant, the (lot of the) Agathos Daemon, and the place of health (? héxis). For once you have made it, carry it, and you will have a great phylactery (‘protective object’), since all diseases that are sent against humans from the influences of the stars are healed through these (decans).
(2) Now, the zodiacal circle has been shaped into parts and limbs, and is attached to the harmony of the cosmos; and its relation to each (body) part is as follows:
(3) Aries ♈︎ is the head of the cosmos,
Taurus ♉︎ the throat,
Gemini ♊︎ the shoulders,
Cancer ♋︎ the chest,
Leo ♌︎ the back (or ‘part behind the midriff’), heart and lungs,
Virgo ♍︎ the belly (or ‘intestines’),
Libra ♎︎ the buttocks,
Scorpio ♏︎ the genitals,
Sagittarius ♐︎ the thighs,
Capricorn ♑︎ the knees,
Aquarius ♒︎ the shanks,
Pisces ♓︎ the feet.
(4) Now, each of the zodiac signs rules its own limb and brings about any disease to do with it. Therefore, if you wish not to suffer what you must suffer from them, engrave the forms and shapes of these decans into stones, place the plant of each below it, and then, when you have made the form, carry it as a phylactery. It is a great and blessed help for your body. Let us begin from ♈︎.
<♈︎ Aries>
(5) First decan of Aries
It has the name Khenlakhōrí (eg. ḫnt ḥry), and the following shape:
He has the face of a boy, lifting his hands up high, holding a scepter above (? ἀπό) his head, and wrapped from his feet up to his knees.
He rules over diseases to do with the head.
Now, engrave him in a slender ‘Babylonian’ stone, place the plant ísophrys below it, enclose it in an iron ring, and wear it.
Abstain from eating boar’s head.
For in this way, by engraving each one in its stone together with its name, you will render them mild.
(6) Second decan
It has the name Khontarét (eg. ḫnt ẖry), or Kaú (eg. kt?), and the following shape:
He is dog-faced, holding a scepter in his right hand, a disk in the left, and wrapped down to his ankles.
He rules over the forehead and nostrils, and all diseases sent against these.
Now, engrave him in an iron stone (i.e., magnet), place the plant mountain rue below it, enclose it in a gold ring, and wear it; for (thus) these ailments are repelled.
But abstain from eating crane.
(7) Third decan
It has the name Sikét (eg. sꜣ.kt), and the following shape:
A woman holding a scepter abover her tambourine(-shaped headdress) and in her right hand, but in the left, a little water-pitcher, and wrapped down to her ankles.
He rules over hearing, the uvula, and the teeth.
Now, engrave him in the ‘bostrychite’ stone, place the plant plantain below it, enclose it in what you wish, and wear it.
But you shall not eat ram’s intestines.
(8) First decan of Taurus
It has the name Sṓou (eg. ḫs.w?),
And the shape of a ram-headed (person), […]
(9) Second decan
It has the name Arôn (eg. ꜥr.t).
The shape of a woman holding a scepter in her two hands, […]
(10) Third decan
It has the name Rhōmenṓs (eg. rmn ḥry or rmn ẖry).
It has a dog-faced shape, […]
(11) First decan of Gemini
It has the name Xokhá (eg. ts-ꜥrk).
And the shape of a donkey-faced (person), holding a key in its right hand, […]
(12) Second decan
It has the name Ouarí (eg. wꜥr.t),
And the shape of a goat-faced (person), […]
(13) Third decan
It has the name Pepísōth (eg. ?),
And a womanly shape, […]
(14) First decan of Cancer
It has the name Sōtheír (eg. ),
And the shape of a dog-faced (person), […]
(15) Second decan
It has the name Ouphisít (eg. ),
And the shape of a woman, […]
(16) Third decan
It has the name Khnoûphos (eg. ),
And its shape is two womanly faces turned away from each other, […]
<♌︎ Leo>
(17) First decan of Leo
It has the name Khnoûmos (eg. ),
And its shape is the face of a lion with solar rays, […]
(18) Second decan
It has the name Ipí (eg. ), and the following shape:
It is a naked man holding a scepter in his right hand, […]
(19) Third decan
It has the name Phátiti (eg. ), and the following shape:
[…]
<♍︎ Virgo>
(20) First decan of Virgo
It has the name Athoúm (eg. ), and the following shape:
[…]
(21) Second decan
It has the name Brysoús (eg. ), and the following shape:
[…]
(22) Third decan
It has the name Amphathám (eg. ), and the following shape:]
<♎︎ Libra>
(23) First decan of Libra
It has the name Sphoukoû (eg. ), and the following shape:
[…]
(24) Second decan
It has the name Nephthímēs (eg. ), and it is as follows in shape:
[…]
(25) Third decan
It has the name Phoû (eg. ),And its shape has the face of a serpent, but the body of a man, with a royal (crown) on its head, […]
(26) First decan of Scorpio
It has the name Bṓs (eg. ),
With the shape of a man, bull-faced and having four wings, […]
(27) Second decan
It has the name Oústikhos (eg. ),
And in shape it is a man […]
(28) Third decan
It has the name Áphēbis (eg. ),
With the whole body of a man, except for the head of a he-goat, […]
(29) First decan of Sagittarius
It has the name Sébos (eg. ).
It is […]
(30) Second decan
It has the name Teûkhmos (eg. ).
Its shape […]
(31) Third decan
It has the name Khthisár (eg. ).
And in shape, it is […]
(32) First decan of Capricorn
It has the name Táïr (eg. ).
And it is headless, but otherwise has the body of a man, […]
(33) Second decan
It has the name Epítek (eg. ).
And […]
(34) Third decan
It has the name Epikhnaûs (eg. ).
It has […]
(35) First decan of Aquarius
It has the name Isý (eg. ), but by some (it is called) Thrṓ (eg. ).
It is a dog-faced man, […]
(36) Second decan
It has the name Sosomnô (eg. ),
With the shape of a man, […]
(37) Third decan
It has the name Khonoumoûs (eg. ).
And it is a man […]
(38) First decan of Pisces
It has the name Tetimṓ (eg. ).
And it is a man […]
(39) Second decan
It has the name Sopphí (eg. ),
And it has the shape of a man; naked, […]
(40) Third decan
It has the name Syrṓ (eg. ).
It is invisible, (but) is called a serpent shaped like a circle, with a beard and a royal (crown) on its head. Engrave it […]
SARTRIX 