Hermes Trismegistus is a Hellenistic Egyptian figure associated with the fusion of the Greek deity Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. The Greek name Trismegistus means “Twice Great,” which corresponds to the Egyptian epithet “great, great, great,” which was a title for Thoth.
Hermes Trismegistus is associated with the collection of philosophical and esoteric writings known as the Hermetica, which includes texts on astrology, alchemy, and divine wisdom, among other topics. These texts, composed in Greek and Latin between the 1st and 3rd centuries A.D., influenced the development of Western esoteric traditions and played a crucial role in the Renaissance when they were rediscovered and translated into Latin.
Hermes Trismegistus is frequently portrayed as a wise elderly man, and he is revered as the patron of astrology and alchemy, the inventor of writing, and a guide for souls in the afterlife. His combination of myth, historical elements, and esoteric knowledge makes him a potent symbol in the Western esoteric tradition.
Hermes Trismegistus and the idea of Hermeticism are not directly related to the Hermes of Greek mythology, who was the deity of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, and border crossings.
