On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

To this, one might add—as the final mark of excellence—that it is the most copious, the clearest, and the most satisfactory defense of genuine ancient theology currently available.

This theology, along with the sacred rituals associated with it (called theurgy), has for the most part—since its destruction—been viewed only through its corruptions among barbarous nations, or during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Overwhelmed by corruption, it gradually declined and eventually vanished from what is called the civilized part of the globe. This will become evident to the intelligent reader from the following remarks, which summarize what I have discussed more extensively elsewhere. These remarks also demonstrate that the religion of the Chaldeans, Egyptians, and Greeks is no less scientific than it is sublime.

In the first place, this theology celebrates the immense principle of things as something superior even to existence itself; as exempt from the totality of all things, of which it is nevertheless the ineffable source; and