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Kore Kosmou

Kore Kosmou (The Virgin of the World) is a Hermetic text preserved in the excerpts of Stobaeus, presenting a dialogue between Isis and Horus on the creation of the cosmos and the nature of the soul.|||Preserved in the excerpts of Stobaeus (5th century CE). Greek text.|||Composed in Greek in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 1st–3rd century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||Presents a dialogue between Isis and Horus on the creation of the cosmos, the nature of the soul, and the fall of humanity. One of the most important Hermetic texts.|||Festugière, A.-J. La Révélation d'Hermès Trismégiste. Les Belles Lettres, 1944–1954.|||Litwa, M. D. Hermetica II. Cambridge University Press, 2018.|||Kore Kosmou — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/th3/index.htm|G. R. S. Mead's translation of the Virgin of the World.;; Kore Kosmou — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kore_Kosmou|Background and discussion.|||" I am Isis, the queen of the cosmos, and I have come to reveal the mysteries of creation." — Kore Kosmou (paraphrase)

Collection: Hermetic Literature Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed in Greek in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 1st–3rd century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Preserved in the excerpts of Stobaeus (5th century CE). Greek text.

Why It Matters for Study

Presents a dialogue between Isis and Horus on the creation of the cosmos, the nature of the soul, and the fall of humanity. One of the most important Hermetic texts.

" I am Isis, the queen of the cosmos, and I have come to reveal the mysteries of creation." — Kore Kosmou (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " I am Isis, the queen of the cosmos, and I have come to reveal the mysteries of creation." — Kore Kosmou (paraphrase) " I am Isis, the queen of the cosmos, and I have come to reveal the mysteries of creation." — Kore Kosmou (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Festugière, A.-J. La Révélation d'Hermès Trismégiste. Les Belles Lettres, 1944–1954.
Litwa, M. D. Hermetica II. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Kore Kosmou — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/th3/index.htm|G. R. S. Mead's translation of the Virgin of the World.;; Kore Kosmou — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kore_Kosmou|Background and discussion.