Hermes the Babylonian (1)

Text
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 10:
Persons interested in the art of alchemy, which is the making of gold and silver from other metals, state that the first man who spoke about the science of this art was Hermes, the wise man and Babylonian, who moved to Egypt when the peoples were dispersed from Babylon. He was the king of Egypt, a wise man and philosopher, for whom the Art (= alchemy) was validated, and about which (= the Art) he wrote a number of books. He observed the specific and spiritual properties of phenomena and his knowledge of the art of alchemy was substantiated by this investigation and observation. He also knew about the making of talismans and wrote many books about them. … There has been a difference of opinion about him. It is said that he was one of the seven attendants whom they established for the care of the seven shrines, and that he was in charge of the Shrine of ˁUṭārid (Mercury), by whose name he was called, for in the Chaldean tongue, ˁUṭārid is Hermes. It is related that for various reasons he migrated to the land of Egypt, which he ruled (as king).

Source (list of abbreviations)
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 10

Bibliography

Amar Annus

URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0000426.php