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Hermes Trismegistus: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Hermes 11-rev.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Statue of Hermes by Ernst Herter, commissioned by Elizabeth of Austria]] | [[File:Hermes 11-rev.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Statue of Hermes by Ernst Herter, commissioned by Elizabeth of Austria]] | ||
Hermes was known in ancient times as the great sage to whom is attributed sacred writings and alchemical and astrological works. Because of his learning and profound skill in the arts and sciences, the Egyptians gave him the name ''Trismegistus'', which means “thrice-great.” The title “thrice-great” also applies to his role as philosopher, priest and king | Hermes was known in ancient times as the great sage to whom is attributed sacred writings and alchemical and astrological works. Because of his learning and profound skill in the arts and sciences, the Egyptians gave him the name ''Trismegistus'', which means “thrice-great.” The title “thrice-great” also applies to his role as philosopher, priest and king. | ||
Hermes walked the earth for tens of thousands of years. He was on [[Atlantis]], walked its streets, was in its temples and halls of learning and gave forth his teaching. He figures as the great archetype of the messenger of the gods. | The ascended master '''Hermes Trismegistus''' is also known as the '''God Mercury'''. Hermes walked the earth for tens of thousands of years. He was on [[Atlantis]], walked its streets, was in its temples and halls of learning and gave forth his teaching. He figures as the great archetype of the messenger of the gods. | ||
James Campbell Brown writes in his ''History of Chemistry'': | James Campbell Brown writes in his ''History of Chemistry'': | ||
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Until the seventeenth century, Hermes was thought to have been a contemporary of [[Moses]]. His writings were considered by Christians to be almost as sacred as the Bible. Church Father Justin Martyr even went so far as to compare him to Jesus. The Greek Church Father Clement of Alexandria spoke of forty-two “Books of Thoth” dealing with priestly education, temple ritual, geography, astrology, guidance for kings, hymns to the gods and medicine. Regrettably, these were lost in the burning of the library at Alexandria. | Until the seventeenth century, Hermes was thought to have been a contemporary of [[Moses]]. His writings were considered by Christians to be almost as sacred as the Bible. Church Father Justin Martyr even went so far as to compare him to Jesus. The Greek Church Father Clement of Alexandria spoke of forty-two “Books of Thoth” dealing with priestly education, temple ritual, geography, astrology, guidance for kings, hymns to the gods and medicine. Regrettably, these were lost in the burning of the library at Alexandria. | ||
Scholars today tell us Hermes was an ancient Egyptian sage, or perhaps a succession of sages. They believe that a whole line of teachers or a priesthood may have written under the name | Scholars today tell us Hermes was an ancient Egyptian sage, or perhaps a succession of sages. They believe that a whole line of teachers or a priesthood may have written under the name Hermes. The prevailing theory is that the Hermetic writings may span several centuries, dating as late as the first or second century <small>A</small>.<small>D</small>. | ||
According to an ancient Egyptian historian, Hermes wrote 36,525 books. His subjects included alchemy, astrology and theology. He was looked to as the custodian of wisdom and literature. In order to enlighten the people, Hermes had his instructions engraved in hieroglyphics upon tables or columns of stone throughout Egypt. | According to an ancient Egyptian historian, Hermes wrote 36,525 books. His subjects included alchemy, astrology and theology. He was looked to as the custodian of wisdom and literature. In order to enlighten the people, Hermes had his instructions engraved in hieroglyphics upon tables or columns of stone throughout Egypt. | ||
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Scholar Hargrave Jennings writes: | Scholar Hargrave Jennings writes: | ||
<blockquote>Another Thoth, or Hermes, is said to have lived at a later period. He was equally celebrated with the former, and to him is particularly appropriated, by some, the name of Trismegistus. According to Manetho [an Egyptian priest and historian c. 300 | <blockquote>Another Thoth, or Hermes, is said to have lived at a later period. He was equally celebrated with the former, and to him is particularly appropriated, by some, the name of Trismegistus. According to Manetho [an Egyptian priest and historian c. 300 <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>.], he [this second Thoth] translated from engraved tables of stone, which had been buried in the earth, the sacred characters of the first Hermes. He wrote the explanation of them in books, which were deposited in the Egyptian temples.<ref>Hargrave Jennings, ''The Divine Pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus'' (San Diego, Calif.: Wizards Bookshelf, 1985), pp. iii, iv, v.</ref></blockquote> | ||
[[File:Trismegistos.jpg|thumb|Hermes Trismegistus, from ''Viridarium chymicum'', D. Stolcius von Stolcenbeerg (1624)]] | [[File:Trismegistos.jpg|thumb|Hermes Trismegistus, from ''Viridarium chymicum'', D. Stolcius von Stolcenbeerg (1624)]] | ||
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According to scholar Walter Scott, some of the Hermetic texts may have been written down by the pupils of Ammonius Saccas, a renowned third-century Alexandrian teacher and one of the founders of the Neoplatonic movement. He was a teacher of [[Origen]]. [[Helena P. Blavatsky|Helena Blavatsky]] considered that the most important goal of the Theosophical Society was to revive the work of Ammonius Saccas. Blavatsky wrote: | According to scholar Walter Scott, some of the Hermetic texts may have been written down by the pupils of Ammonius Saccas, a renowned third-century Alexandrian teacher and one of the founders of the Neoplatonic movement. He was a teacher of [[Origen]]. [[Helena P. Blavatsky|Helena Blavatsky]] considered that the most important goal of the Theosophical Society was to revive the work of Ammonius Saccas. Blavatsky wrote: | ||
<blockquote>It was Ammonius who first taught that every religion was based on one and the same truth; which is the wisdom found in the Books of Thoth (Hermes Trismegistus), from which books Pythagoras and Plato had learned all their philosophy.<ref>H. P. Blavatsky, ''Isis Unveiled'' (Wheaton, | <blockquote>It was Ammonius who first taught that every religion was based on one and the same truth; which is the wisdom found in the Books of Thoth (Hermes Trismegistus), from which books Pythagoras and Plato had learned all their philosophy.<ref>H. P. Blavatsky, ''Isis Unveiled'' (Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), vol. 1, p. 444.</ref></blockquote> | ||
Today, | Today, fewer than twenty sermons and some additional fragments of Hermes’ teachings remain. In 1945 three Hermetic tracts were discovered at Nag Hammadi, thus indicating a link between the Gnostic and Hermetic schools. The Gnostics, who flourished in the second century <small>A</small>.<small>D</small>., believed that the most important element in the soul’s spiritual quest was gnosis—a Greek word meaning “knowledge.” We see this same principle reflected in the Hermetic teachings. Scholar Giovanni Filoramo says: | ||
<blockquote>The Hermes texts were written in the form of gentle scholarly dialogues in which Hermes teaches a closed group of disciples. They are imbued with an irrepressible desire for knowledge of God. Their ideological structure is an attitude of genuine, deep devotion as the way to knowledge of oneself and of God.<ref>Giovanni Filoramo, ''History of Gnosticism''.</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>The Hermes texts were written in the form of gentle scholarly dialogues in which Hermes teaches a closed group of disciples. They are imbued with an irrepressible desire for knowledge of God. Their ideological structure is an attitude of genuine, deep devotion as the way to knowledge of oneself and of God.<ref>Giovanni Filoramo, ''History of Gnosticism''.</ref></blockquote> | ||
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[[Thoth]] | [[Thoth]] | ||
[[Mercury (the planet)]] | |||
== For more information == | == For more information == | ||
MP3 audio album [http://store.summitlighthouse.org/emerald-matrix-the-perfect-light ''Emerald Matrix | MP3 audio album [http://store.summitlighthouse.org/emerald-matrix-the-perfect-light ''Emerald Matrix: The Perfect Light''] includes a lecture on Hermes and a dictation by him. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||