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Hermeticism
Hermeticism, or Hermetism, is a philosophical and religious tradition rooted in the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic figure combining elements of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This system encompasses a wide range of esoteric knowledge, including aspects of alchemy, astrology, and theurgy, and has significantly influenced various mystical and occult traditions throughout history. The writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, often referred to as the Hermetica, were produced over a period spanning many centuries (c. 300 BCE – 1200 CE) and may be very different in content and scope.
One particular form of Hermetic teaching is the religio-philosophical system found in a specific subgroup of Hermetic writings known as the 'religio-philosophical' Hermetica. The most famous of these are the Corpus Hermeticum, a collection of seventeen Greek treatises written between approximately 100 and 300 CE, and the Asclepius, a treatise from the same period, mainly surviving in a Latin translation. This specific historical form of Hermetic philosophy is sometimes more narrowly referred to as Hermetism, to distinguish it from other philosophies inspired by Hermetic writings of different periods and natures.
The broader term, Hermeticism, may refer to a wide variety of philosophical systems drawing on Hermetic writings or other subject matter associated with Hermes. Notably, alchemy often went by the name of "the Hermetic art" or "the Hermetic philosophy". The most famous use of the term in this broader sense is in the concept of Renaissance Hermeticism, which refers to the early modern philosophies inspired by the translations of the Corpus Hermeticum by Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) and Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447–1500), as well as by Paracelsus' (1494–1541) introduction of a new medical philosophy drawing upon the 'technical' Hermetica, such as the Emerald Tablet.
Throughout its history, Hermeticism has been closely associated with the idea of a primeval, divine wisdom revealed only to the most ancient of sages, such as Hermes Trismegistus. During the Renaissance, this evolved into the concept of prisca theologia or "ancient theology", which asserted that a single, true theology was given by God to the earliest humans and that traces of it could still be found in various ancient systems of thought. This idea, popular among Renaissance thinkers like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494), eventually developed into the notion that divine truth could be found across different religious and philosophical traditions, a concept that came to be known as the perennial philosophy. In this context, the term 'Hermetic' gradually lost its specificity, eventually becoming synonymous with the divine knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, particularly as related to alchemy and magic, a view that was later popularized by nineteenth- and twentieth-century occultists.
In Late Antiquity, Hermetism originated in the cultural and religious melting pot of Hellenistic Egypt, a period marked by the fusion of Greek, Egyptian, and other Near Eastern religious and philosophical traditions. The central figure of Hermes Trismegistus, who embodies both the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, emerged as a symbol of this syncretism. Hermes Trismegistus was revered as a divine sage and is credited with a vast corpus of writings known as the Hermetica, which expound on various aspects of theology, cosmology, and spiritual practice.
Hermetism developed alongside other significant religious and philosophical movements such as early Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, the Chaldean Oracles, and late Orphic and Pythagorean literature. These doctrines were "characterized by a resistance to the dominance of either pure rationality or doctrinal faith." Plutarch's mention of Hermes Trismegistus dates back to the first century CE, indicating the early recognition of this figure in Greek and Roman thought. Other significant figures of the time, such as Tertullian, Iamblichus, and Porphyry, were also familiar with Hermetic writings, which influenced their own philosophical and religious ideas.
The texts now known as the Corpus Hermeticum are generally dated by modern scholars to the beginning of the second century or earlier. These writings focus on the oneness and goodness of God, the purification of the soul, and the relationship between mind and spirit. Their predominant literary form is the dialogue, where Hermes Trismegistus instructs a perplexed disciple on various teachings of hidden wisdom.
In fifth-century Macedonia, Joannes Stobaeus compiled an extensive Anthology of Greek poetical, rhetorical, historical, and philosophical literature. Among the preserved excerpts are significant numbers of discourses and dialogues attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.
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Hermeticism
Hermeticism, or Hermetism, is a philosophical and religious tradition rooted in the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic figure combining elements of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This system encompasses a wide range of esoteric knowledge, including aspects of alchemy, astrology, and theurgy, and has significantly influenced various mystical and occult traditions throughout history. The writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, often referred to as the Hermetica, were produced over a period spanning many centuries (c. 300 BCE – 1200 CE) and may be very different in content and scope.
One particular form of Hermetic teaching is the religio-philosophical system found in a specific subgroup of Hermetic writings known as the 'religio-philosophical' Hermetica. The most famous of these are the Corpus Hermeticum, a collection of seventeen Greek treatises written between approximately 100 and 300 CE, and the Asclepius, a treatise from the same period, mainly surviving in a Latin translation. This specific historical form of Hermetic philosophy is sometimes more narrowly referred to as Hermetism, to distinguish it from other philosophies inspired by Hermetic writings of different periods and natures.
The broader term, Hermeticism, may refer to a wide variety of philosophical systems drawing on Hermetic writings or other subject matter associated with Hermes. Notably, alchemy often went by the name of "the Hermetic art" or "the Hermetic philosophy". The most famous use of the term in this broader sense is in the concept of Renaissance Hermeticism, which refers to the early modern philosophies inspired by the translations of the Corpus Hermeticum by Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) and Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447–1500), as well as by Paracelsus' (1494–1541) introduction of a new medical philosophy drawing upon the 'technical' Hermetica, such as the Emerald Tablet.
Throughout its history, Hermeticism has been closely associated with the idea of a primeval, divine wisdom revealed only to the most ancient of sages, such as Hermes Trismegistus. During the Renaissance, this evolved into the concept of prisca theologia or "ancient theology", which asserted that a single, true theology was given by God to the earliest humans and that traces of it could still be found in various ancient systems of thought. This idea, popular among Renaissance thinkers like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494), eventually developed into the notion that divine truth could be found across different religious and philosophical traditions, a concept that came to be known as the perennial philosophy. In this context, the term 'Hermetic' gradually lost its specificity, eventually becoming synonymous with the divine knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, particularly as related to alchemy and magic, a view that was later popularized by nineteenth- and twentieth-century occultists.
In Late Antiquity, Hermetism originated in the cultural and religious melting pot of Hellenistic Egypt, a period marked by the fusion of Greek, Egyptian, and other Near Eastern religious and philosophical traditions. The central figure of Hermes Trismegistus, who embodies both the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, emerged as a symbol of this syncretism. Hermes Trismegistus was revered as a divine sage and is credited with a vast corpus of writings known as the Hermetica, which expound on various aspects of theology, cosmology, and spiritual practice.
Hermetism developed alongside other significant religious and philosophical movements such as early Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, the Chaldean Oracles, and late Orphic and Pythagorean literature. These doctrines were "characterized by a resistance to the dominance of either pure rationality or doctrinal faith." Plutarch's mention of Hermes Trismegistus dates back to the first century CE, indicating the early recognition of this figure in Greek and Roman thought. Other significant figures of the time, such as Tertullian, Iamblichus, and Porphyry, were also familiar with Hermetic writings, which influenced their own philosophical and religious ideas.
The texts now known as the Corpus Hermeticum are generally dated by modern scholars to the beginning of the second century or earlier. These writings focus on the oneness and goodness of God, the purification of the soul, and the relationship between mind and spirit. Their predominant literary form is the dialogue, where Hermes Trismegistus instructs a perplexed disciple on various teachings of hidden wisdom.
In fifth-century Macedonia, Joannes Stobaeus compiled an extensive Anthology of Greek poetical, rhetorical, historical, and philosophical literature. Among the preserved excerpts are significant numbers of discourses and dialogues attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.
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