Why is Hermes called “thrice greatest”?
The appellation "Thrice Greatest" was given to Hermes because he was considered the greatest of all philosophers, the greatest of all priests, and the greatest of all kings. It is worthy of note that the last poem of America's beloved poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was a lyric ode to Hermes. (See Chambers' Encyclopædia.)
What did Hermes do in the Bible?
The first Hermes, comparable to Thoth, was a "civilizing hero", an initiator into the mysteries of the divine science and wisdom that animate the world; he carved the principles of this sacred science in hieroglyphs. The second Hermes, in Babylon, was the initiator of Pythagoras.
What topics did Hermes study?
He covered topics such as medicine, chemistry, law, art, music, magic, philosophy, geography, mathematics and anatomy. His knowledge was so vast and all-encompassing that the ancient Egyptians called him the messenger or communicator of the gods. Who Was Hermes Trismegistus?
What was Hermes like as a philosopher-priest?
One outstanding point in connection with Hermes is that he was one of the few philosopher-priests of pagandom upon whom the early Christians did not vent their spleen.
What is Hermes Trismegistus known for?
Hermes Trismegistos, the Greek name for the Egyptian god Thoth, was the reputed author of treatises that have been preserved. Thoth was the scribe of the gods, the inventor of writing, and the patron of all the arts dependent upon writing; he was sometimes thought…
Is Hermes the god of alchemy?
Both Thoth and Hermes were gods of writing and of magic in their respective cultures. 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.
What did Hermes Trismegistus teach?
The third Hermes was the first teacher of alchemy.
What did Hermes Trismegistus do with alchemy?
The alchemists often used distillation in their attempts to change matter from one form to another, a process that required making a glass tube airtight. The method they used was attributed to their legendary patron, Hermes Trismegistus — hence the description 'hermetically sealed. '
Who was the ugliest god?
HephaestusHephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.
Was Hermes a good god?
Despite his virtuous characteristics, Hermes was also a dangerous foe, a trickster and a thief. He brought the souls of the dead to the underworld, and was honoured as a god of sleep.
Is Hermes Trismegistus Jesus?
4 Hermes /Toth was an engineer from the destroyed Atlantis and was an incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Did Hermes Trismegistus really exist?
The eponymous patron of Hermeticism never existed: Hermes Trismegistus was a fiction, a fruitful fiction with lasting effects. The figure of this legendary Egyptian sage arose from the merging of two deities of highly divergent origin: the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes.
Who is the god of obsession?
Goddess. the Greek goddess, Atë, is the personification of the term, atë, in Greek mythology. She is known as the Greek goddess of evil, misfortune, obsession, guilt, infatuation, and mischief. She was known to lure men into actions that would end in their demise usually.
Who is the god of alchemy?
Hermes TrismegistusThe central figure in the mythology of alchemy is Hermes Trismegistus (or Thrice-Great Hermes). His name is derived from the god Thoth and his Greek counterpart Hermes. Hermes and his caduceus or serpent-staff, were among alchemy's principal symbols.
Who came first Thoth or Hermes?
Before The God Hermes: The Egyptian God Thoth He is one of the oldest Egyptian gods, and evidence for his worship goes back to at least the early Old Kingdom Period (2686-2160 BC), if not before.
Who is god of medicine?
Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, was the son of Apollo and a mortal, a princess named (ironically, in the age of the coronavirus) Coronis. Asclepius had an eventful entry into the world.
Corpus Hermeticum
Controversy remains as to the actual date of the <italic>Corpus Hermeticum</italic>.
That the Greatest Human Evil is Unacquaintance With God
People, where are you rushing, so intoxicated and having so fully drunk the strong wine of reasoning unaccompanied by acquaintance? You cannot hold it; already you are about to throw it up.
Evidence that Hermes Trismegistus was a real person
As with so many myths and legends, we can never be sure if Hermes Trismegistus was a real person or not.
If he was real, when would he have been alive?
The earliest records of Hermes Trismegistus date back to the first century AD. However, the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus were much older than this, and they may date back to as early as 500 BC, when Thoth was thought to have been incarnated into human form.
Was his message lost or stolen?
This argument becomes very relevant when we consider how many cults and religions were founded in the name of Hermes Trismegistus.
Hermetic Writings
The texts studied and attributed to Hermes Trismegistus are called Hermetic Writings. These include The Emerald Tablet, Asclepius, Corpus Hermeticum, and The Divine Pymander. The most well-known is the Emerald Tablet which has been translated into many languages over the years.
Why was he called Hermes Trismegistus?
There are many theories about why this Egyptian sage and priest-king should be known as Hermes Trismegistus. One is that he was known as the Thrice-Greatest because he embodied the three aspects of the divine: creator, preserver, and destroyer.
Was he just a myth?
The fact that Hermes Trismegistus has been associated with so many different people and time periods makes it hard to believe that he was real at all. However, we know that the ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and believed in reincarnation.
The Many Cultures and Religions that claim him as their own
Many different cults and religions have claimed Hermes Trismegistus over the centuries. Most notably, he has been associated with Alchemy, The Magi, Gnosticism, Astrology/Astronomy (and astronomy in general), Freemasonry, Kabbalah, and Hermetism, among others.
What is the key tenet of hermeticism?
A key tenet of Hermeticism is the Unity of the Cosmos and the sympathy and interconnection of all things. Without this unity we could not accomplish the mystic union, but it also makes possible the spiritual connection, without which magic, astrology and alchemy could not function. The Traditional View of Hermes Trismegistus. TOP.
Who translated the Corpus Hermeticum?
Marsilio Ficino , the great Renaissance philosopher and astrologer, was asked by his Medici patron to put aside all other work to translate the Corpus Hermeticum, series of treatises attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The availability of the complete Corpus Hermeticum in Latin set off an explosion of interest in Hermetic philosophy and ...
When did Trismegistus exist?
But this of Suidas may be applied to several ages, for that Pharaoh was the general name of their kings; or possibly it might be intended before the name of Pharaoh was given to their kings, which, if so 1, he makes Trismegistus to exist 400 years before Moses, yea, before Abraham's descent into Egypt.
When was the corpus hermeticum first published?
Yates, at 400. A date of the 2nd to 4th centuries A.D. is now generally accepted as the date of the earliest known versions of the Corpus Hermeticum. Casaubon's view that the Corpus Hermeticum was, "...made up partly from the writings of Plato and the Platonists and partly from Christian sacred books.".
Why is Hermes revered?
He was revered through the form of the planet Mercury because this body is nearest to the sun: Hermes of all creatures was nearest to God, and became known as the Messenger of the Gods.
What were Hermes's major achievements?
Among the arts and sciences which it is affirmed Hermes revealed to mankind were medicine, chemistry, law, arc, astrology, music, rhetoric, Magic, philosophy, geography, mathematics (especially geometry), anatomy, and oratory. Orpheus was similarly acclaimed by the Greeks.
What is the first work of Hermes?
Among the fragmentary writings believed to have come from the stylus of Hermes are two famous works. The first is the Emerald Table, and the second is the Divine Pymander, or, as it is more commonly called, The Shepherd of Men, a discussion of which follows.
Where did Hermes get his name?
The name Hermes is derived from "Herm," a form of CHiram, the Personified Universal Life Principle, generally represented by fire. The Scandinavians worshiped Hermes under the name of Odin; the Teutons as Wotan, and certain of the Oriental peoples as Buddha, or Fo. There are two theories concerning his demise.
Where did Hermes place his foot?
Hermes placed His foot upon the skull of the vanquished Typhon. The next instant, with a blaze of unbearable glory that sent the neophyte staggering backward against a pillar, the immortal Hermes, followed by streamers of greenish mist, passed through the chamber and faded into nothingness.
Who wanted to know why men should be deprived of immortality for the sin of ignorance alone?
Then Hermes desired to know why men should be deprived of immortality for the sin of ignorance alone.
Who studied mathematics with the Egyptians?
Pythagoras studied mathematics with the Egyptians and from them gained his knowledge of the symbolic geometric solids. Hermes is also revered for his reformation of the calendar system. He increased the year from 360 to 365 days, thus establishing a precedent which still prevails.
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How many books did the Greek diety Hermes write?
He is also credited to have written somewhere between 20,000 and 36,525 works, of which 42 were kept in the great Library of Alexandria, which was destroyed multiple times.
What is the Hermetic tradition?
Being opposed by the Church, the Hermetic tradition was forced into the occult underground, and now permeates Western esoteric traditions. This includes secret societies such as the Freemasons, Rosicrucians, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Thelema, as well as modern Paganism, New Age and Wicca.
What is the Hermeticism of theology?
Hermeticism is said to hold “prisca theologia,” a doctrine that claims a true theology at the root of all religions that was given to man in antiquity.
When was the destruction of hermetic wisdom?
The Destruction of Hermetic Wisdom. Much of the Hermetic and alchemical literature was destroyed, and the remainder shifted to the Islamic world in 400-600 AD, eventually emerging in medieval Europe and through the Renaissance.
Who was the Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer who studied the Hermetic arts?
The Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer Pythagoras (570 – 495 BC) was said to be an initiate to the Hermetic arts, which he studied in Egypt. Plato (424/423 – 348/347 BC) was deeply influenced by Pythagoras, and was also inspired by the Hermetic teachings; some claim he also studied with the Egyptian masters. Both Pythagoras and Plato were influential for early modern scholars of the Scientific Revolution.
Was Hermes Trismegistus a sage?
Hermes Trismegistus may have been an actual living king, philosopher and priest, as well as a sage, scientist and sorcerer. He was known by many names, and was considered to be an amalgamation of several people and mythological figures of ancient history.
Who is Hermes' god?
Mercury (Roman Paganism): The Roman adaptation of Hermes is the god Mercury, who is the patron of commerce.
Why is Hermes Trismegistus called the triple great?
It is debated why Hermes Trismegistus was called “Thrice-Great” but it is thought that it is because he knows three parts of the wisdom of the universe: alchemy (the operation of the sun), astrology (the operation of the stars) and theurgy (the operation of the gods).
What does "hermetically sealed" mean?
In modern day, the term “ Hermetically sealed ” is commonly used to mean airtight and impervious to gases. The word “ Hermetic ” today typically means secret or sealed. Hermeticism was generally veiled in secrecy and only those who were truly ready could receive the Hermetic teachings.
What is the name of the Egyptian god of wisdom?
Thoth (Egyptian Paganism): Egyptian god of wisdom, learning and communications. He is the scribe of the gods and was believed to have invented language, the alphabet and writing (i.e. hieroglyphs). The Egyptians credit him as the author of all works of science, philosophy, religion, wisdom and magic.
Who is the author of Hermetica?
Hermes Trismegistus – traditionally credited as the author of the Hermetica and legendary founder of Western alchemy. (Maier, 1617) Thoth is often portrayed with the head of an ibis, and holds a pen and a tablet, or a pen and a palm branch. Thoth Deux fois Grand, le Second Hermés, N372.2A, Brooklyn Museum.
Who is the Greek god of science?
Hermes (Greek Paganism): The Greeks identified Thoth with Hermes, the son of Zeus and the god of science, commerce, language and writing, as well as the messenger of the gods and the first teacher of alchemy.
Was Hermes Trismegistus a sage?
Hermes Trismegistus may have been an actual living king, philosopher and priest, as well as a sage, scientist and sorcerer. He was known by many names and he was considered to be an amalgamation of several people and mythological figures of ancient history.
Overview
The epithet "thrice great"
Fowden asserts that the first datable occurrences of the epithet "thrice great" are in the Legatio of Athenagoras of Athens and in a fragment from Philo of Byblos, circa AD 64–141. However, in a later work, Copenhaver reports that this epithet is first found in the minutes of a meeting of the council of the Ibis cult, held in 172 BC near Memphis in Egypt. Hart explains that the epithet is derived from an epithet of Thoth found at the Temple of Esna, "Thoth the great, the great, the gre…
Origin and identity
Hermes Trismegistus may be associated with the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. Greeks in the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt recognized the equivalence of Hermes and Thoth through the interpretatio graeca. Consequently, the two gods were worshiped as one, in what had been the Temple of Thoth in Khemenu, which was known in the Hellenistic period as Hermopolis.
Hermes, the Greek god of interpretive communication, was combined with Thoth, the Egyptian g…
Hermetic writings
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance the Hermetica enjoyed great prestige and were popular among alchemists. Hermes was also strongly associated with astrology, for example by the influential Islamic astrologer Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi (787–886). The "hermetic tradition" consequently refers to alchemy, magic, astrology, and related subjects. The texts are usually divided into two categories: the philosophical and the technical hermetica. The former deals mai…
Islamic tradition
Antoine Faivre, in The Eternal Hermes (1995), has pointed out that Hermes Trismegistus has a place in the Islamic tradition, although the name Hermes does not appear in the Qur'an. Hagiographers and chroniclers of the first centuries of the Islamic Hegira quickly identified Hermes Trismegistus with Idris, the Islamic prophet of surahs 19.57 and 21.85, whom Muslims also identified with Enoch (cf. Genesis 5.18–24). According to the account of the Persian astrologer A…
Baháʼí writings
Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Baháʼí Faith, identifies Idris with Hermes in his Tablet on the Uncompounded Reality.
In literature
The first verses of the Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal refer to "Satan Trismegistus" who pulls human puppet strings to rule the world. That image echoed Plato's dialogues . The verses are the following: On evil’s pillow, / Satan Trismegistus rocks our spirits—enchanted by / the subtle chemist, the will’s / precious metals turn to vapor.
Bibliography
• Aufrère, Sydney H. (2008) (in French). Thot Hermès l'Egyptien: De l'infiniment grand à l'infiniment petit. Paris: L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2296046399.
• Bull, Christian H. 2018. The Tradition of Hermes Trismegistus: The Egyptian Priestly Figure as a Teacher of Hellenized Wisdom. Leiden: Brill. (the standard reference work on the subject)
Evidence That Hermes Trismegistus Was A Real Person
If He Was Real, When Would He Have Been Alive?
Was He An Egyptian Priest-King?
Was His Message Lost Or Stolen?
Hermetic Writings
Why Was He called Hermes Trismegistus?
- There are many theories about why this Egyptian sage and priest-king should be known as Hermes Trismegistus. One is that he was known as the Thrice-Greatest because he embodied the three aspects of the divine: creator, preserver, and destroyer. Another is that his teachings contained the three great mysteries of life: the mystery of existence, the ...
Was He Just A Myth?
The Many Cultures and Religions That Claim Him as Their Own
Hermes Trismegistus’S Impact on History and Culture
Why His Message Is Still Relevant Today