The Divine Double in Second and Third Century Literature

In the second and third century, there was a surge of interest in the concept of the Divine Double, a divine counterpart or alter ego that each individual possessed. This idea was present in diverse religious and philosophical literature of the ancient Mediterranean, including Christian, Manichaean, and Platonic texts. The book 'Our Divine Double' by Charles M. Stang delves into this concept. Stang argues that the Divine Double presents a coherent understanding of the self that transcends religious and philosophical traditions. According to this understanding, the self is not singular but constituted as a bi unity or one and two. In order to encounter the reality of this proper self, one must be initiated through an encounter or visit by the Divine Double and embark on a journey of conforming to it. This forgotten chapter in the history of mysticism highlights the idea of humans becoming increasingly divine.