The Corpus Hermeticum: Initiation Into Hermetics, The Hermetica Of Hermes Trismegistus [Commentary]

The Corpus Hermeticum: Initiation Into Hermetics, The Hermetica Of Hermes Trismegistus [Commentary]

The Corpus Hermeticum stands as one of the most enigmatic and influential texts of Western esotericism. Composed of fifteen tractates, along with the Perfect Sermon or Asclepius , these writings form the core of the Hermetic tradition. Attributed to the mythical sage Hermes Trismegistus—a fusion of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian deity Thoth. The Hermetic philosophy is a synthesis of religious, mystical, and philosophical thought that purports to hold the key to divine wisdom, a primordial theology ( prisca theologia ) granted to humanity in ancient times. It presents a spiritual worldview where the universe is animated by a divine intelligence, and the seeker, through gnosis , may ascend towards ultimate truth. The treatises divide into several groups. The first and most famous, Poemandres (CH I), recounts a revelation granted to Hermes Trismegistus by a divine being known as Poemandres or "Man-Shepherd," a manifestation of the universal Mind. The next set of texts, the "General Sermons" (CH II-IX), take the form of dialogues and discourses, expounding on key Hermetic principles. Following these is The Key (CH X), a summary of the foundational teachings, and a quartet of mystical writings (CH XI-XIV) that delve deeper into spiritual ascent and divine consciousness. The collection concludes with the Definitions of Asclepius unto King Ammon (CH XV), which may be fragments of once more extensive works. The texts of the Corpus Hermeticum were first compiled into a single volume during the Byzantine era. That single surviving copy eventually reached the hands of Lorenzo de Medici in the fifteenth century. This complete edition of the Corpus Hermeticum , translated by G. R. S. Mead , offers an authoritative and faithful rendering of these ancient texts. Originally published in 1906, Mead’s translation remains a cornerstone for those exploring Hermetic thought. It provides an accessible yet profound introduction to a tradition that has fascinated scholars, mystics, and seekers for centuries.