Abstract
NHC II, 6 Exegesis of the Soul relates the story of Psyche, who leaves the « house of her father », attracted by the matter. After many trials (including prostitution), she is brought back to the upper world by a « saviour ». The text is illustrated by two exempla : Ulysses detained by Calypso, and Helena, carried off by Paris. Both symbolize the soul, imprisoned in the matter, and going back to the intelligible world. Our study shows that both exegesis date back to the first century A.D. — as attested by Plotin and by a stucco of the so-called Pythagorician Basilica in Rome. The myth, of pythagorician or platonician origin, would have been transformed by some disciples of Simon Magus, for the benefit of his ladyfriend, Helena, by confusing Psyche with the jewish-hellenistic Sophia. Such would be the origin of the valentinian myth of Sophia-Ennoia.
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