Complete Hermetica (1505 Paris Edition)

[He] obscured [others], so that he was deservedly called "Thrice-Greatest."
He was the first among philosophers to turn himself from
natural philosophy Physicis: the study of the physical world and its laws and
mathematics to the contemplation of divine things.
He was the first to dispute most wisely concerning the
majesty of God, the order of demons Ficino uses "demons" in the Neoplatonic sense: spiritual intermediaries between humans and the divine, not necessarily evil spirits, and the
changes of souls original: "animarum mutationibus," referring to the migration or reincarnation of souls. He was therefore called the
first author of theology. Following him,

Orpheus
Aglaophe-
mus
Pythago-
ras.
Philolaus.
Plato.
●

Orpheus obtained the second rank of this
Ancient Theology Prisca Theologia: the Renaissance idea that a single, true theology exists which flows through ancient philosophers to Christianity.
Aglaophemus was initiated into the sacred rites of Orpheus.
Pythagoras succeeded Aglaophemus in theology,
whom Philolaus followed, the teacher of our
divine Plato. Therefore, a single sect of Ancient Theology,
consistent with itself in every way, was formed
from these six theologians in a wonderful order,
taking its beginnings from Mercury and being
perfectly completed by the divine Plato.
Mercury wrote many books
pertaining to the knowledge of divine things,
in which—O immortal God—what secret
mysteries and what stupendous oracles are revealed!
He speaks not only as a philosopher,
but oftentimes as a prophet
and sings of things to come. He foresaw the ruin
of the old religion, the rise of the new faith,
the coming of Christ, the future
judgment, the resurrection of the world,
the glory of the blessed, and the
punishments of sinners. Because of this,
Augustine

Aurelius Augustine doubted whether he
uttered these many things through skill in the stars
or by the revelation of demons.
Lactantius, however, does not hesitate
to number him among the Sibyls and the prophets.
Finally, out of the many

Two books
of Mercury.

books of Mercury, two are especially divine.
One concerns the divine will;
the other the power and wisdom of God.
The former is titled Asclepius;
Apuleius

the latter Pimander The Pimander (or Poimandres) is the most famous text of the Corpus Hermeticum, describing the creation of the world. Apuleius
the Platonist made the former Latin;
the other remained among the Greeks until
these times. But recently, brought from Macedonia
Pistorien-
sis.

into Italy by the diligence of Leonardo of Pistoia A monk and agent for Cosimo de' Medici who discovered the manuscript, a man...