Corpus Hermeticum

"Hermetic Texts" are a series of writings in Greek and Latin containing religious and philosophical teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. Among them, the Corpus Hemeticum and the Asclepius -both included in this volume-, the most representative and valued. The Corpus Hermeticum is made up of a series of seventeen texts, including the famous Poimandres, which first appeared as a collection in the 14th century, their origin being Greek and difficult to date. In relation to the Asclepius, it is a text of Latin origin attributed to Apuleyus, although it is a translation of an earlier text. Regarding its content, the Platonic and Pythagorean imprint on the basis of an esoteric teaching that undoubtedly came from old Egypt is clear. The almost sacred character that these texts had is also evident, evidenced by the fact that their anonymous authors composed these dialogues as if it were the god Hermes himself who instructed his disciples. The present selection and version, by the scholar Walter Scott, published in London in 1924, enjoys a well-deserved reputation both for the reliability of the translation and for the comprehensive study that accompanies it.