From the sands of Alexandria via the Renaissance palaces of the Medicis, to our own times, this spiritual adventure story traces the profound influence of Hermes Trismegistus -- the 'thrice-great one', as he was often called -- on the western mind. For centuries his name ranked among the most illustrious of the ancient world.
Considered by some a contemporary of Moses and a forerunner of Christ, this almost mythical figure arose in fourth century BC Alexandria, from a fusion of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek god Hermes. Master of magic, writing, science, and philosophy, Hermes was thought to have walked with gods and be the source of the divine wisdom granted to man at the dawn of time.
Gary Lachman has written many books exploring ancient traditions for the modern mind. In The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus, he brings to life the mysterious character of this great spiritual guide, exposing the many theories and stories surrounding him, and revitalizing his teachings for the modern world.
Through centuries of wars, conquests and religious persecutions, the fragile pages of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus have still survived. This is a book for all thinkers and enquirers who want to recover that lost knowledge and awaken a shift in human consciousness.
Industry Reviews
'This book provides a very readable introduction to the history of Western Esotericism. However, the most exciting aspect of the book is Lachman's thesis that Hermeticism is grounded in a common spiritual or religious experience and that this experience can be grounded in recent neuropsychological research. This fascinating hypothesis invites further ... investigation.' -- De Numine 'Truly great individuals are discussed for centuries after their existence. ''The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus: From Ancient Egypt to the Modern World'' discusses this figure of ancient Alexandria who is an icon of ancient science and philosophy, as the two were closely related in ancient times. Analyzing history and the mindset of the times, author Gary Lachman hopes to explain this figure to modern reader s to give them greater insight into a time long past. ''The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus'' is an excellent addition to any history collection, highly recommended.' -- Midwest Book Review, May 2011 'It is a bewildering tale which has many twists and turns which Lachman considers not only in its historical but also cultural and philosophical connections across time. He also helps us unravel the development of hermecticism, Gnosticism, and connections across the ages to such seminal and initiatory characters as Rudolf Steiner, G.I. Gurdjeff, Giordano Bruno, Marcilio Ficino, Pico Mirandolla, Cornelius Agrippa, Robert Fludd, Dr John Dee, and Athansius Kircher.' -- Stephen Cox Trust, 2011 'Gary Lachman offers us a fascinating history of the myth of Hermes Trismegistus and the translation of the Corpus Hermeticum ... This is a comprehensive book covering all aspects of the tradition of Hermes, from the early periods through to modern explorations of Hermetic science as it resonates with altered states of consciousness. Lachman is an easy to read author yet has a near encyclopaedic knowledge of esotericism and is hence able to offer many different perspectives on the subject at hand. From the Egyptian influence on Greek philosophy to Islam and the Renaissance, Freemasons and the Rosicrucians this is a truly informative journey through all aspects of Hermes Trismegistus.' -- Living Traditions Magazine 'Immensely erudite and continuing the work of GRS Mead and Frances Yates, the book traces the influence of hermetic thinking through different areas of the Western tradition drawing on a wide range of scholarship. It gives the reader quite a different flavour of the development of Western philosophy than would be found in any standard textbook.' --David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network Review 'Here is an entertaining, mostly historical introduction to a body of religious knowledge that has a deep influence on the course of Western philosophy - Hermeticism...This is a concise and interesting introduction. Lachman covers much historical ground from Alexandria, via the Italian Renaissance and the Order of the Golden Dawn, to today.' -- Northern Earth 'Lachman's [book] at times is quite a deep study of the philosophy and psychology of esoteric sprituality.' --David V Barrett, Fortean Times.
