University of Arizona

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The Thrice Great Hermes

The First English Translation of Writings Attributed to an Egyptian God (1657)

Artwork representing Hermes Trismegistus

Professor Willard explores writings attributed to “the Egyptian Hermes” that were brought to Europe during the Italian Renaissance and were gradually translated into all the major languages. The first English translation promoted the already contested view that they were older than the five books of Moses and showed similarities between Christianity and the religion of ancient Egypt.

 

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