Hermetica

Hermetica refers to a body of ancient and medieval writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary sage who combines the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian deity Thoth. Collectively, these texts form the spiritual and philosophical foundation of Hermeticism, a tradition that explores the nature of God, the cosmos, humanity, and salvation. The writings present a monotheistic or henotheistic worldview and often emphasize the unity of all things and the possibility of attaining gnosis or inner illumination.

The core of the Hermetica is the Corpus Hermeticum, a collection of philosophical and theological tracts written in Greek during late antiquity in the Graeco-Egyptian world. The corpus includes dramatic dialogues and teachings such as Poimandres (The Vision of Hermes), The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth, and The Asclepius. These texts articulate a cosmology in which creation is the result of the divine mind, and humans can awaken to their true divine nature through study, contemplation, and ethical living. The Emerald Tablet, a short text commonly associated with Hermeticism and famous for the maxim “as above, so below,” is often linked to Hermetic tradition though its status within the core corpus is debated.

Origins and dating are subjects of scholarly debate. The Hermetica were composed in Greek in the early centuries CE, drawing on Egyptian, Jewish, and Hellenistic philosophical streams. The tradition was later transmitted in Arabic and Latin. In the Renaissance, the rediscovery and Latin translations of the Corpus Hermeticum, notably by Marsilio Ficino in the 15th century, helped shape Renaissance philosophy, science, and esoteric thought. Hermeticism influenced later alchemy, magic, astrology, and occult currents, while remaining a subject of study for scholars concerned with ancient religion and philosophy.