From the book
Stobaeus, Volume I
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordBasileia is kingship or royal rule.
- In StobaeusThe Hermetic account distinguishes rule over souls, bodies, art, knowledge, and other things, relating earthly condition to the zone from which a soul descends.
- In this edition“Kingship” preserves the royal image; “rule” is useful when explaining its extension.
- A place to beginSeveral forms of kingship correspond to differing domains.
- English renderings
- kingship; royal rule
Meaning
Basileia is kingship or royal rule. It can extend to supremacy within a field as well as political sovereignty.
Use in the book
The Hermetic account distinguishes rule over souls, bodies, art, knowledge, and other things, relating earthly condition to the zone from which a soul descends. Kingship therefore has a deliberately varied range. Not every instance in the list describes a territorial monarchy.
Places to read
- I.49.69.18Several forms of kingship correspond to differing domains.
Translation in this edition
“Kingship” preserves the royal image; “rule” is useful when explaining its extension.
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 466. The construction linking a royal zone with a corresponding condition is difficult; the English gives a provisional sense without altering the Greek.