Hermes Trismegistus (Ancient Greek: Ἑρμῆς ὁ Τρισμέγιστος, "thrice-greatest Hermes"; Latin: Mercurius ter Maximus) is the purported author of the Hermetic Corpus, a series of sacred texts that are the basis of Hermeticism.
Hermes Trismegistus may be a representation of the syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. In Hellenistic Egypt, the Greeks recognized the congruence of their god Hermes with Thoth. Subsequently, the two gods were worshiped as one, in what had been the Temple of Thoth in Khemnu, which the Greeks called Hermopolis.
Both Thoth and Hermes were gods of writing and of magic in their respective cultures.[citation needed] Thus, the Greek god of interpretive communication was combined with the Egyptian god of wisdom as a patron of astrology and alchemy. In addition, both gods were psychopomps, guiding souls to the afterlife. The Egyptian priest and polymath, Imhotep, had been deified long after his death and therefore assimilated to Thoth in the classical and Hellenistic period.The renowned scribe, Amenhotep, and a wise man named Teôs, were equally deified as gods of wisdom, science and medicine and thus placed alongside Imhotep in shrines dedicated to Thoth-Hermes during the Ptolemaic period.
A Mycenaean Greek reference was found on two Linear B clay tablets at Pylosto a deity or semi-deity called ti-ri-se-ro-e (Linear B; Tris Hḗrōs, "thrice or triple hero")] and could be connected to the later epithet "thrice great", Trismegistos, applied to Hermes/Thoth. On the aforementioned PY Tn 316 tablet, as well as other Linear B tablets found in Pylos, Knossos and Thebes, there appears the name of the deity "Hermes" as e-ma-ha (Linear B: ), but not in any apparent connection with the "Trisheros". This interpretation can not be disputed. Homer refers to Hermes as the god that led the souls of the dead to the underworld and in many cases he was present in the court of the underworld where Hades reigned. All these customs were transfered to Egypt by the Minoans and the Myceneans later on in the 14th c. B.C.
Hermes Trismegistus (Ἑρμῆς and Ἑρμῆς Τρισμέγιστος), the reputed author of a variety of works, some of which are still extant. In order to understand their origin and nature, it is necessary to cast a glance at the philosophy of the New Platonists and its objects. The religious ideas of the Greeks were viewed as in some way connected with those of the Egyptians at a comparatively early period. Thus the Greek Hermes was identified with the Egyptian Thot, or Theut, as early as the time of Plato. (Phileb. § 23; comp. Cic. de Nat. Deor. 3.22.) But the intermixture of the religious ideas of the two countries became more prominent at the time when Christianity began to raise its head, and when pagan philosophy, in the form of New Platonism, made its last and desperate effort against the Christian religion. Attempts were then made to represent the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians in a higher and more spiritual light, to amalgamate it with the ideas of the Greeks, and thereby to give to the latter a deep religious meaning, which made them appear as a very ancient divine revelation, and as a suitable counterpoise to the Christian religion. The Egyptian Thot or Hermes was considered as the real author of every thing produced and discovered by the human mind, as the father of all knowledge, inventions, legislation, religion, &c. Hence every thing that man had discovered and committed to writing was regarded as the property of Hermes. As he was thus the source of all knowledge and thought, or the λόγος embodied, he was termed τρὶς μέγιστος, Hermes Trismegistus, or simply Trismegistus. It was fabled that Pythagoras and Plato had derived all their knowledge from the Egyptian Hermes, who had recorded his thoughts and inventions in inscriptions upon pillars. Clemens of Alexandria (Strom. 6.4. p. 757) speaks of forty-two books of Hermes, containing the sum total of human and divine knowledge and wisdom, and treating on cosmography, astronomy, geography, religion, with all its forms and rites, and more especially on medicine. There is no reason for doubting the existence of such a work or works, under the name of Hermes, at the time of Clemens. In the time of the New Platonists, the idea of the authorship of Hermes was carried still further, and applied to the whole range of literature. Iamblichus (De Myst. init.) designates the sum total of all the arts and sciences among the Egyptians by the name Hermes, and he adds that, of old, all authors used to call their own productions the works of Hermes. This notion at once explains the otherwise strange statement in Iamblichus (De Myst. 8.1), that Hermes was the author of 20,000 works; Manetho even speaks of 36,525 works, a number which exactly corresponds with that of the years which he assigns to his several dynasties of kings. Iamblichus mentions the works of Hermes in several passages, and speaks of them as translated from the Egyptian into Greek (De Myst. 8.1, 2, 4, 5, 7); Plutarch also (De Is. et Os. p. 375e.) speaks of works attribute to Hermes, and so does Galen (De Simpl. Med. 6.1) and Cyrillus (Contr. Jul. 1.30). The existence of works under the name of Hermes, as carly as the second century after Christ, is thus proved beyond a doubt. Their contents were chiefly of a philosophico-religious nature, on the nature and attributes of the deity, on the world and nature; and from the work of Lactantius, who wrote his Institutes chiefly to refute the educated and learned among the pagans, we cannot help perceiving that Christianity, the religion which it was intended to crush by those works, exercised a considerable influence upon their authors. (See e. g. Div. Instit. 1.8, 2.10, 7.4, 13.)
The question as to the real authorship of what are called the works of Hermes, or Hermes Trismegistus, has been the subject of much controversy, but the most probable opinion is, that they were productions of New Platonists. Some of them appear to have been written in a pure and sober spirit, and were intended to spread the doctrines of the New Platonists, and make them popular, in opposition to the rising power of Christianity, but others were full of the most fantastic and visionary theories, consisting for the most part of astrological and magic speculations, the most favourite topics of New Platonism. Several works of this class have come down to our times, some in the Greek language and others only in Latin translations; but all those which are now extant are of an inferior kind, and were, in all probablility, composed during the later period of New Platonism, when a variety of Christian notions had become embodied in that system. It may be taken for granted, on the whole, thatnone of the works bearing the name of Hermes, in the form in which they are now before us, belongs to an earlier date than the fourth, or perhaps the third, century of our era, though it cannot be denied that they contain ideas which may be as ancient as New Platonism itself.
Works
We here notice only the principal works which have been published, for many are extant only in MS., and buried in various libraries.
1. Λόγος, τέλειος
perhaps the most ancient among the works attributed to Hermes. The Greek original is quoted by Lactantius (Div. Instit. 7.18), but we now possess only a Latin translation, which was formerly attributed to Appuleius of Madaura. It bears the title Asclepius, or Hermetis Trismegisti Asclepius sive de Natura Deorum Dialogus, and seems to have been written shortly before the time of Lactantius. Its object is to refute Christian doctrines, but the author has at the same time made use of them for his own purposes. It seems to have been composed in Egypt, perhaps at Alexandria, and has the form of a dialogue, in which Hermes converses with a disciple (Asclepius) upon God, the universe, nature, &c., and quite in the spirit of the New Platonic philosophy.
Editions
It is printed in some editions of Appuleius, and also in those of the Poemander, by Ficinus and Patricius. The latter editions, as well as the Poemander, by Hadr. Turnebus, contain:
2. Ὅροι Ἀσκληπιον πρὸς Ἄμμωνα βασιλέα
This is probably the production of the same author as the preceding work. Asclepius, who here calls Hermes his master, discusses questions of a similar nature, such as God, matter, man, and the like.
3. Ἑρμον τοῦ τρισμεγίστου Ποιμάνδρης
his is a work of larger extent, and in so far the most important production of the kind we possess. The title Ποιμάνδρης, or Poemander (from ποιμήν, a shepherd, pastor) seems to have been chosen in imitation of the ποιμήν, or Pastor of Hermas [HERMAS], who has sometimes even been considered as the author of the Poemander. The whole work was divided by Ficinus into fourteen, but by Patricius into twenty books, each with a separate heading. It is written in the form of a dialogue, and can scarcely have been composed previous to the fourth century of our era. It treats of nature, the creation of the world, the deity, his nature and attributes, the human soul, knowledge, and the like; and all these subjects are discussed in the spirit of New Platonism, but sometimes Christian, oriental, and Jewish notions are mixed up with it in a remarkable manner, showing the syncretism so peculiar to the philosophy of the period to which we have assigned this work.
Editions
It was first published in a Latin translation by Ficinus, under the title Mercurii Trismegisti Liber de Potestate et Sapientia Dei, Tarvisii, 1471, fol., which was afterwards often reprinted, as at Venice in 1481, 1483, 1493, 1497, &c. The Greek original, with the translation of Ficinus, was first edited by Hadr. Turnebus, Paris, 1554, 4to., and was afterwards published again in Fr. Flussatis, Candallae Industria, Bordeaux, 1574; in Patricius' Nova de universis Philosophia Libris quatuor comprehensa, Ferrara, 1593, fol., and again in 1611, fol., and at Cologne in 1630, fol., with a commentary by Hannibal Rosellus.
4. Ἰατρομαθηματικὰ ν̓̀ περὶ κατακλίσεως νοσούντων προδνωστικὰ ἐκ τῶς μαθηματικῆς ἐπιστήμης πρὸς Ἄμμωνα Αἰγύπτιον.
This is a work of less importance, and contains instructions for ascertaining the issue of a disease by the aid of mathematics, that is, of astrology, for the author endeavours to show that the nature of a disease, as well as its cure and issue, must be ascertained from the constellation under which it commenced. The substance of this work seems to have been unknown to Firmicus (about the middle of the fourth century), and this leads us to the supposition that it was written after the time of Firmicus.
Editions
The work was published in a Latin translation in Th. Boder's De Ratione et Usu Dierum Criticorum, Paris, 1555, 4to., and in Andr. Argolus' De Diebus Criticis Libri duo, Patavii, 1639, 4to. The Greek original was published by J. Cramer (Astrolog. No. vi. Norimbergae, 1532, 4to.), and by D. Hoeschel. (Aug. Vindelic. 1597, 8vo.)
5.
De Revolutionibus Nativitatum
This is likewise an astrological work, and intended to show how the nativity should be regulated at the end of every year. The original seems to have been written in Greek, though some say that it was in Arabic; but it was at any rate composed at a later time than the work mentioned under No. 4.
Editions
We now possess only a Latin version, which was edited by Hieronymus Wolf, together with the Isagoge of Porphyrius, and some other works, Basel, 1559, fol.
6.
Aphorismi sive Centum Sententiae Astrologicae,
Also called Centiloquium, that is, one hundred astrological propositions, which are supposed to have originally been written in Arabic.
Editions
We now have only a Latin translation, which has been repeatedly printed, as at Venice, 1492, 1493, 1501, 1519, fol., at Basel, 1533, fol., 1551, 8vo., and at Ulm, 1651, 1674, 12mo.
7.
Liber Physico-Medicus Kiranidum Kiram, id est, regis Persarum vere aureus gemmeusque,
&c.,
This belongs to the same class of medico-astrological works. This work is referred to even by Olympiodorus, and must therefore have existed in the fourth century of our era. It is divided into four parts, and is a sort of materica medica, arranged in alphabetical order, for it treats of the magic and medicinal powers of a variety of stones, plants, and animals, and under each head it mentions some mineral, vegetable, or animal medicine. It is generally supposed that this work was originally compiled from Persian, Arabic, or Egyptian sources.
Editions
This is as yet printed only in a Latin translation, published by Andr. Rivinus (Leipzig, 1638, and Frankfurt, 1681, 12mo.), though the Greek original is still extant in MS. at Madrid, under the title of Κυρανίδες (from κύριος, lord or master).
Works attribted to Hermes but produced in the middle ages
Some of the works bearing the name of Hermes seem to be productions of the middle ages, such as,--
8.
Tractatus vere Aureus de Lapidis Philosophici Decreto
That is, on the philosopher's stone. The work is divided into seven chapters, which are regarded as the seven seals of Hermes Trismegistus.
Editions
It was published in Latin by D. Gnosius, Leipzig, 1610, and 1613, 8vo.
9.
Tabala Smaragdina
an essay, professing to teach the art of making gold.
Editions
It was published at Niirnberg, 1541 and 1545, 4to., and at Strassburg, 1566, 8vo.
10. Περὶ βοτανῶν χυλώσεως
This is only a fragment, but probably belongs to an earlier period than the two preceding works, and treats of similar subjects as the Κυρανίδες.
Editions
It is printed at the end of Roether's edition of L. Lydus, de Mensibus, with notes by Baehr.
>11. Περὶ σεισμῶν
on earthquakes, or rather on the forebodings implied in them. It is only a fragment, consisting of sixty-six hexameter lines, and is sometimes ascribed to Hermes Trismegistus, and sometimes to Orpheus.
Editions
It was first edited by Fr. Morel, with a Latin translation by F. A. Baif, Paris, 1586, 4to., and afterwards by J. S. Schoder, 1691, 4to. It is also contained in Maittaire's Miscellanea, London, 1722, 4to., and in Brunck's Analecta, iii. p. 127.
Further Information
For a more detailed account of the works bearing the name of Hermes Trismegistus, see Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. i. pp. 46-94; and especially Baumgarten-Crusius, De Librorum Hermeticorum Origine atque Indole, Jena, 1827.
Sources / Bibliography / Photos
Sources / Bibliography / Photos
Θεοδόσης Πελεγρίνης, Μάγοι της Φιλοσοφίας, εκδ. Ελληνικά Γράμματα, Αθήνα 1997.
Κατελής Βίγκλας, «Ο Μύθος του Ερμή του Τρισμέγιστου. Ο Ερμητισμός κατά την Αναγέννηση», ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΑ ΘΕΜΑΤΑ, τεύχ. 128, Ιούλιος 2013, 11-23.
Pœmandres, the Shepherd of Men – Translation by G.R.S. Mead, 1906.
Poemander – Translation by John Everard, 1650.
Pimander – Latin translation by Marsilio Ficino, Milano: Damianus de Mediolano 1493.
The Corpus Hermeticum from Thrice Great Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis, Volume II at The Internet Sacred Text Archive
Ἑρμου του Τρισμεγιστου ΠΟΙΜΑΝΔΡΗΣ - Greek text of the 'Poimandres
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
Budge, E.A. Wallis (1904). The Gods of the Egyptians Vol. 1. pp. 414–5.
Hart, G., The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, 2005, Routledge, second edition, Oxon, p 158
- Bailey, Donald, "Classical Architecture" in Riggs, Christina (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Egypt (Oxford University Press, 2012), p. 192.
- http://www.ams.org/journals/bull/2006-43-02/S0273-0979-06-01111-6/S0273-0979-06-01111-6.pdf
- 'Thoth or the Hermes of Egypt: A Study of Some Aspects of Theological Thought in Ancient Egypt',p.166-168, Patrick Boylan,Oxford University Press, 1922.
- [1] Archived September 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
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- Fowden, G., "The Egyptian Hermes", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987, p 216
- Copenhaver, B. P., "Hermetica", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992, p xiv.
- Heiser, James D. (2011). Prisci Theologi and the Hermetic Reformation in the Fifteenth Century (1st ed.). Malone, Tex.: Repristination Press. ISBN 978-1-4610-9382-4.
- Yates, F., "Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition", Routledge, London, 1964, pp 14–18 and pp 433–434
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- Yates, F., "Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition", Routledge, London, 1964, p 27 and p 293
- Copenhaver, B.P., "Hermetica", Cambridge University Press, 1992, p xlviii
Copenhaver, Hermetica, p. xlviii
Copenhaver, Hermetica, p. xli
Haanegraaff, W. J., New Age Religion and Western Culture, Brill, Leiden, New York, 1996, p 390
(Yates Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition pp. 2–3)
Cudworth, Ralph - The True Intellectual System of the Universe. First American Edition by Thomas Birch, 1837. Available at Googlebooks.
Prophets in the Quran: An Introduction to the Quran and Muslim Exegesis, p.46. Wheeler, Brannon. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002
Thomson, Ahmad. Dajjal,page 10
"Sayyid A. Amiruddin | An Authorized Khalifah of H.E Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani". Ahmedamiruddin.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
Kevin Van Bladel, The Arabic Hermes. From pagan sage to prophet of science, Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 168 "Abu Mas'har’s biography of Hermes, written approximately between 840 and 860, would establish it as common knowledge."
(Faivre 1995 pp. 19–20)
Stapleton, H.E.; R.F. Azo & M.H. Husein (1927). Chemistry in Iraq and Persia in the Tenth Century AD: Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 8. Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal. pp. 398–403.
"Hermes Trismegistus and Apollonius of Tyana in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
Ebeling, Florian, The secret history of Hermes Trismegistus: Hermeticism from ancient to modern times [Translated from the German by David Lorton] (Cornell University Press: Ithaca, 2007), ISBN 978-0-8014-4546-0.
Festugière, A.-J.,La révélation d'Hermès Trismégiste. 2e éd., 3 vol., Paris 1981.
Fowden, Garth, 1986. The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Princeton University Press, 1993): deals with Thoth (Hermes) from his most primitive known conception to his later evolution into Hermes Trismegistus, as well as the many books and scripts attributed to him.
Yates, Frances A., Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition. University of Chicago Press, 1964. ISBN 0-226-95007-7.
Lupini, Carmelo, s.v. Ermete Trismegisto in "Dizionario delle Scienze e delle Tecniche di Grecia e Roma", Roma 2010, vol. 1.
Merkel, Ingrid and Allen G. Debus, 1988. Hermeticism and the Renaissance: intellectual history and the occult in early modern Europe Folger Shakespeare Library ISBN 0-918016-85-1
CACIORGNA, Marilena e GUERRINI, Roberto: Il pavimento del duomo di Siena. L'arte della tarsia marmorea dal XIV al XIX secolo fonti e simologia. Siena 2004.
CACIORGNA, Marilena: Studi interdisciplinari sul pavimento del duomo di Siena. Atti el convegno internazionale di studi chiesa della SS. Annunziata 27 e 28 settembre 2002. Siena 2005.
Aufrère, Sydney H. (2008) (in French). Thot Hermès l'Egyptien: De l'infiniment grand à l'infiniment petit. Paris: L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2296046399.
Copenhaver, Brian P. (1995). Hermetica: the Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a new English translation, with notes and introduction, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995 ISBN 0-521-42543-3.
Hornung, Erik (2001). The Secret Lore of Egypt: Its Impact on the West. Translated by David Lorton. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801438470.
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