The way of Hermes: Jamblichus, Zosimos the alchemist and the Hermetic revelation

Abstract

In his work, known as De mysteriis, the platonic philosopher, Jamblichus puts on the character of an Egyptian priest Abamon. His aim was to answer his master’s critical remarks about Egyptian religion. The main points of Porphyrius’ attack were that the Egyptian religion was based mainly on material principles and the main topic of its teaching was about astral determinism. Jamblichus leaned on the teaching of the Egyptian god Thot-Hermes, and also explained his own philosophical teachings about the principles of theurgy.

In my paper I analyze the eighth book of the work, and I prove that Jamblichus’ main sources were the Hermetic literature attributed to the Thrice-Greatest Hermes, and he read Hermetic treatises known also by us. In the second part I examine Zosimos the alchemist's statements about Hermes. The ideas of both authors are interesting because they grant evidence that the reception history of Hermetica had an early beginning and also in these early texts there are a lot of elements that will be manifested in the figure of the Thrice-Greatest Hermes, the sage who reveals the hidden divine teaching to the chosen ones.