Overview of the Corpus Hermetica

The Corpus Hermetica consists of ancient texts centered around the figure of Hermes Trismegistus, with Hermes playing a crucial role in most of the texts. It is a fluid category that includes both ancient and modern Hermetic texts. Another important aspect is the presence of Asclepius, an ancient Egyptian god, as a disciple in the dialogues. The texts primarily consist of dialogues between a master and a disciple, with Hermes being the master. However, there are also texts where Asclepius or others serve as the master. The Corpus as we know it today was constructed during the Renaissance and it derives from older sources that can be traced back to the 11th century and possibly even to the 4th century. The Corpus Hermetica is a collection of 17 Hermetic texts, with Asclepius being commonly added. These texts were cited by various authors, including Lactantius, Augustine, and John Stobaeus, which suggests the existence of earlier collections or anthologies.