The First Hermes (1)

Text
Abu Maˁshar, Book of Thousands 14-15 (Pingree):
Hermes is a title, like Caesar or Khusrau. Its first bearer, who lived before the Flood, was whom the Persians call Abanjhan, the grandson of Jayumart (= Kayumart), the Persian Adam; and he whom the Hebrews call Khanukh (= Enoch), whose name in Arabic is Idris. The Harranians call upon his wisdom (= declare his prophethood).

Ibn Abī Uṣaibiˁa, ˁUyūn al-anbāˀ 16-17:
He (= Asclepius) was a pupil of Hermes the Egyptian. Abū Maˁshar says: “There were three persons called Hermes. Hermes the First, he upon whom the threefold Grace was conferred, lived before the Flood. The meaning of Hermes is appellative, as is the case of Caesar and Khusrau. The Persians, in their historical books, call him Hōshang, that is, the Righteous, and it is he whose prophecy the Harranians mention. The Persians say that his grandfather was Kayōmarth, that is, Adam. The Hebrews say that he is Akhnūkh (= Enoch), that is, Idris in Arabic.

Sources (list of abbreviations)
Abu Maˁshar, Book of Thousands 14-15 (Pingree)
Ibn Abī Uṣaibiˁa, ˁUyūn al-anbāˀ 16-17

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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