Prisca Theologia

[Agonaces of Susa]

"He [Thoth/Hermes Trismegistus] is called the first author of theology: he was succeeded by Orpheus, who came second amongst ancient theologians: Aglaophemus, who had been initiated into the sacred teachings of Orpheus, was succeeded in theology by Pythagoras, whose disciple was Philolaus, the teacher of our Divine Plato. Hence there is one ancient theology (prisca theologia) ... taking its origin in Mercurius and culminating in the Divine Plato." -- Marsilio Ficino, scholarch, Preface to Pimander, 1493

"In the Theologia Platonica, [Marsilio] Ficino gives the genealogy as (1) Zoroaster, (2) Mercurius Trismegistus, (3) Orpheus, (4) Aglaophemus, (5) Pythagoras, (6) Plato .... In the preface to Plotinus commentaries, Ficino says that divine theology began simultaneously with Zoroaster among the Persians and with Mercurius among the Egyptians; then goes on to Orpheus, Aglaophemus, Pythagoras, and Plato...." -- Frances Yates, historian, Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition, 1964

 

[JamesAH]

Interesting!!!!!

 

[Agonaces of Susa]

Interesting!!!!!

 

[Christos Anesti]

In later Islamic tradition Hermes Trismegistus was identified with the prophet Enoch. Enoch like Hermes was thought to have been a culture hero who brought about advanced math, science, and architecture as well as having been a spiritual leader. I always thought that was interesting. I guess they came to believe in three Hermes though. One of them lived before the flood, etc..

 

[laconicstudent]

Of course, Hermes Trismegistus is also considered the founder of Hermetic occultism, which makes it fascinating that his name would even arise in this place.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn - Aries

So yes, I suppose it is "interesting". Also rather dangerous.

 

[Agonaces of Susa]

Of course, Hermes Trismegistus is also considered the founder of Hermetic occultism, which makes it fascinating that his name would even arise in this place.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn - Aries

So yes, I suppose it is "interesting". Also rather dangerous.

Hermeticism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The "Prisca Theologia"

Many Christian writers, including Lactantius, Augustine, Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Campanella and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola considered Hermes Trismegistus to be a wise pagan prophet who foresaw the coming of Christianity.[23] They believed in a "Prisca Theologia", the doctrine that a single, true, theology exists, which threads through all religions, and which was given by god to man in antiquity.[24][25] In order to demonstrate the verity of the 'prisca theologia' Christians appropriated the Hermetic teachings for their own purposes. By this account Hermes Trismegistus was either, according to the fathers of the Christian church, a contemporary of Moses[26] or the third in a line of men named Hermes i.e. Enoch, Noah and the Egyptian priest king who is known to us as Hermes Trismegistus[27] or thrice great on account of being the greatest priest, philosopher and king.[28][29]

This last account of how Hermes Trismegistus received the name "Trismegistus," meaning "Thrice Great," is derived from statements both in the The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, that he knows the three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe.[30] The three parts of the wisdom are alchemy, astrology, and theurgy. The pymander, from where Marsilio Ficino formed his opinion, states that "they called him Trismegistus because he was the greatest philosopher and the greatest priest and the greatest king".[31]

Another explanation, in the Suda (10th century), is that "He was called Trismegistus on account of his praise of the trinity, saying there is one divine nature in the trinity".[32]