70 W. Chr. Kriegsmann. Hermetis Trismegisti phoenicum aegyptiorum. s.l. s.n. [after 1657]
An attempt by the Orientalist W. Chr. Kriegsmann to prove that Hermes Trismegistus was of Phoenician origin. With the aid of the Hebrew language he produced a Latin version which was to reflect the Phoenician Ur-text better. He often closely approaches the Arabic text of the Tabula as we know it now from the work of Geber (Jabir ibn Hayyan). Ruska believes that the chemical explanation supplied is imperfect. See no 13.
Encyclopedic:
"As a divine fountain of writing, Hermes Trismegistus was credited with tens of thousands of writings of high standing, reputed to be of immense antiquity. Plato's Timaus and Critias state that in the temple of Neith at Sais, there were secret halls containing historical records which had been kept for 9,000 years. Clement of Alexandria was under the impression that the Egyptians had forty-two sacred writings by Hermes, encapsulating all the training of Egyptian priests. Siegfried Morenz has suggested (Egyptian Religion) "The reference to Thoth's authorship...is based on ancient tradition; the figure forty-two probably stems from the number of Egyptian nomes, and thus conveys the notion of completeness." The Neo-Platonic writers took up Clement's "forty-two essential texts".
The so-called "Hermetic literature", the Hermetica, is a category of papyri containing spells and induction procedures. In the dialogue called the Asclepius (after the Greek god of healing) the art of imprisoning the souls of demons or of angels in statues with the help of herbs, gems and odors, is described, such that the statue could speak and prophesy. In other papyri, there are other recipes for constructing such images and animating them, such as when images are to be fashioned hollow so as to enclose a magic name inscribed on gold leaf."
Ref. Ruska, 220-23.
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Hermes, His Centiloquium, or his hundred Aphorisms Rendered into English.
1.The Sun and Moon next under God are the life of all things living; yet many nativities have no Hylech; yet because the Sun and Moon friendly behold their Ascendant, or be therein free from affliction, their life shall be the longer continued. 2.All diurnal nativities are strengthened by the Sun, when well beheld of the Fortunes; Nocturnal of the Moon, when she is so fortified; if this happen not, yet if good planets are found in angles, the nativity shall be good. 3.When Mars shall be Lord of the Ascendant, and posited in the tenth, it confers on the native Dignity and Power, which will be accompanied with Injury and Cruelty, and may be therefore called an Infortune, rather than a Happiness. 4.Jupiter in good aspect of the Infortunes, changeth their Malevolency into good; Venus cannot effect any such thing unless Jupiter assist her; therefore in procuring good and prohibiting evil, Jupiter is found much better than Venus. 5.An artist cannot make a commixtion of the Significations of the Stars, before he know their friendships and enmities, which is threefold. First, according to their nature; secondly, according to their Houses; and thirdly, according to their aspects. 6.Venus is conjuncted with Mercury, she imbraceth language and discipline; she delights and pleasures; Jupiter unlike to Mars, he loves mercy and justice; Mars impiety and cruelty. 7.Make the Sun or one of the Superiors to signify Princes and great men, scribes and rustics the inferior planets, and chiefly the Moon. 8.The significations of the conjunction is not lessened by an aspect, but an aspect is by a conjunction, as having lesser force. 9.Give no judgment, neither elect anything while Scorpio is Ascending; neither when the angles are oblique and crooked; or if mars be in the ascendant, the event will prove cross, and the matter come to no good end; for Scorpio is a sign of falsity. 10.Good planets afflicted of the infortunes from the sixth or twelfth houses bode ill. 11. rumours spread when the moon is in the first face of Scorpio, is false and knavishly forged. 12.The judgments of astrologers are not many times true, by reason of error of their instruments or the querent’s ignorance, or when the Sun is near the M.C, or when the arguments of promise and denial of the thing are equal in the figure. 13.When the Moon shall be South, descending in Scorpio or Pisces, begin not then to build; for a fabric then erected, quickly comes to ruin. 14.Mercury being strong and in proper places of the heavens, well configured of other stars or planets in nativities, denotes convenient Dignity to the Native thereby; but Mercury of himself is a weak planet. 15.Whoso contendeth with another, and overcomes, when the Significators are in by corporeal sign, gets a great victory, but if overcome loseth much; for then the good or evil is doubled. 16.Give no judgment, before thou knoweth the intent of the Querent; for many ask they know not what, nor they can express what they intend. 17.When thou shall be interrogated for a father, behold the fourth house; for a brother the third house; for a son the fifth house, for a wife, the seventh; but if for a sick person, behold Ascendant only. 18.When the moon shall come to the quadrate to the fortunes or the infortunes, and the testimonies of the helps or hindrances of the matter doubtful, it is to be doubted that the strength of the bad planets will more impede than the others can assist. 19.In the beginning of journeys, and returns thereon, let not the Moon be in the Ascendant, fourth or ninth houses, although she be not afflicted; in the entering of a city, place her neither in the Ascendant, second or fourth houses. 20.There are three ways of discovering the accidents proper to men, i.e. from the Nativity, from the birth of his first child or by a question propounded, with which the mind was solicitous and affected. 21.Every beginning when the Moon shall be joined to a retrograde planet, will soon be destroyed, and if she shall be otherwise impeded, the mischief shall happen the sooner. 22.Make Saturn and the Sun Significators of Kings and Princes, with the planet and planets in the tenth; but their helpers take from the eleventh, and the assisters of vulgar persons from the second. 23.When a King or a Prince sets forth to a Journey, be sure you reject that time when Cancer ascends. 24.Gemini and Sagittarius obey the Head and Tail of the Dragon more than other signs, therefore do they work more mischief in those signs, than in any other. 25.When either Taurus or Libra ascend in Women’s nativities, and mars in them, she will be immodest and unchaste; the same if capricorn shall ascend. 26.The virtues of the planets are received by the sun, when he is posited either in the Ascendant or M.C. in conjunction of them; the Moon in the night time receives them also, if in the aforesaid places she be joyned to them. 27.Jupiter dissolves Saturn’s malice, and Venus dissolves Mars’. 28.When a Question is propounded of a woman, take venus as her natural Significatrix, but more particularly the seventh house; but if a question be asked of an enemy, respect the twelfth house; but, then more particularly the seventh house also. 29.When anyone goeth to war, especially a King, let the Ascendant be one of the houses of the superior planets, or the Sun; and let the Lord of the Ascendant and the Sun be potent in the figure, but Lord of the seventh weak and unfortunate. 30.The Moon increasing in light and motion, and in conjunction with Saturn and Jupiter, is generally good in all things; but if she be diminished in light, it is ill; understand the contrary wholly when she is in conjunction with Venus and Mars. 31.Let not Jupiter be under the Sun beams or otherwise impeded, when you either pawn or lend things; which if he shall so be , and not received of the impediting planets, there will be but little or no hopes of redemption. 32.The fortunate planets going to conjunction or aspect of the infortunes in any figure diminish their evil influence; if the figure be good, the greater good they do; if ill the less; but the malevolents in square or opposition of the benevolents, diminish and abate of their virtue, the other aspects hinder not. 33.Saturn passing out of one sign into another, causeth strange apparitions in the Heavens, which the Arabians call Assub; or curtail other signs of a fiery nature. 34.The conjunction of Jupiter and Sun, produceth a temperate air, chiefly when they are in air signs, from a conjunction of Saturn and Sun comes cold, and from the conjunction of Mars and the Sun, in a bicorporeal sign, and in the spring time proceed a cloudy air, whence diseases very frequently follow. 35.In the Summer, when the Sun enters the terms of Mars, heat is caused; in the Winter drought; and scarcity of rains and waters. 36.In the nativities and questions of Men, make Hylech and Alcbacoden, and their directions, chiefly in questions concerning Kings and great men, by which their accidents are chiefly known, let them be good or evil. 37.If the Ascendant be fortunate, and the lord thereof unfortunate, it shews a healthful body, but an afflicted mind; but if the contrary happen, judge the contrary. 38.Always note the configuration of the stars, not by their signs, but orbs. 39.Let the Moon be increasing in light and free from the Aspects of the infortunes, when you could cure sore eyes. 40.The Part of Fortune with ill planets in the fourth, ninth or tenth houses, denoteth death to the sick. 41.When the significators of either good or evil shall be stationary and angular, it shall be the more durable; but it shall be the more mutable and variable, if the significators shall be cadent from angles and retrograde. 42.The lord of the second hath the same strength in hurting, as the lord of the eighth; the lord of the sixth, the same with the Lord of the twelfth. 43.Mars occidental in Cancer, not beheld of Saturn, Jupiter, Venus or the Sun, makes a good phlebotomat but if Mars shall be in Capricorn, it makes a destroyer of men, and one that delights to shed blood. 44.The best artist in the world may err, if he mistakes the significator. 45.When Saturn shall be elevated above Venus, and in square to her, it makes the native shameless, and a perfect woman-hater, but if Venus is elevated above Saturn, he shall be a great friend to women. 46.If in any nativity, Mercury shall be in the Ascendant Oriental and swift, the Native will be eloquent and learned in the liberal science; the same happeneth, if he shall be in Sagittarius in his own terms. 47.The first of the angles is the Ascendant, the second the M.C., the third the seventh house, and the fourth the I.C. but of the rest, the eleventh is first, then the second, then the fifth, then the ninth, then the third; but the sixth, eighth and twelfth are accounted the worst. 48.Mars his influence is never abated, unless by the interposure of a benevolent planet. 49.Let your Significator agree with his whom you mean to supplicate. 50.The Ascendant, or a planet found in the last degree of a sign, the Significations must be taken from the sign following; but if in 29 degrees in the same sign, the strength of a planet is considered three ways, viz. in the degree where it is found, the next preceding and succeeding. 51.Who should consider of future contingents from the conjunction of the planets, but things past or present, by their separations. 52.When Jupiter shall be in Cancer, removed from the Ascendant, and no way impedited of any other star, the native will be rational and very expert in science; but delightful to lead a recluse life, he shall not have the applause of his learning. 53.In the world many evils will happen, when in one month there shall be eclipse of both luminaries; chiefly in those places subject to the signs they are in. 54.When the Moon shall be in the Combust way, or Peregrine in the beginning of a journey, the person will either fall Sick in his Journey, or shall be otherwise grievously troubled and molested. 55.It behoves the Astrologer to consider the time in Directions of the planets; but in the Fixed Stars it is not so needful. 56.The Father’s Estate shall pass to the Son, if Saturn shall be fortunate, and in friendly aspect of the Lord of the Ascendant; but this more freely, if Saturn shall be Lord of the fourth. 57.Fortunate planets being in signs where they have no Dignity, their Benignity is translated another way. 58.Mars Almuten of a nativity and not joyned to good planets, signifies the Native to suffer by Envy and Hatred. 59.The fortunate stars confer great felicity, when they shall be received of each other in their proper Houses; and when the evil planets are so received, they refrain from doing much mischief. 60.The native will be sickly and weak, when Saturn is elevated above Mars; but if Mars shall be elevated above Saturn, he shall be fat and lusty. 61.In Men’s nativities, if the Part of Marriage shall fall in signs obedient, and in women’s in sign Imperant, the Woman shall rule the Man, and he shall obey; if it fall otherwise, say the contrary. 62.If the Lords of the Triplicity of the Conjunction of the Lights shall friendly respect each other, the first to the second, the second to the third, it bodes eminent prosperity, and a freedom from sorrow. 63.Mercury in Pisces in deep or pitted degrees, make the native foolish and slow of speech, and if Jupiter shall be in the houses of Mars, he will be sordid and needy, and receive hurt from soldiers; but if in the houses of Saturn, chiefly Capricorn, and in such degrees, he will be morose rigid, and odious to all men. 64.Mercury in Reception of Mars by houses, or if he shall be in aspect with him, falling from an Angle, the Native will be a Lover of Hunting, and play at Dice and Tables; but if they shall not be Cadent, he shall prove an excellent Souldier. 65.Planets under the Sun’s beams, or within 12 degrees thereof, are unfortunate, unless in the same degree with him; but when they are pulled 18 degrees from him, they are fortunate. 66.The Dragon’s Head with the Infortunes, denotes terrible mischiefs, for that increaseth their malice; but with the Fortunes it works good, and increaseth their Benignity, but the Significations of Dragon’s Tail are to be taken in the contrary way. 67.Mercury in the sixth house of a nativity, the native will change from one Religion to another, and will have his felicity partly impedited by reason of his inconstancy. 68.The first sign hath preeminence in signification, when two signs have to do in the matter. 69.Accept the beginning of everything from the Moon, but the end from her dispositor. 70.If Jupiter in the Revolution of the world shall be in his House, Exaltation or Oriental in an Angle, and otherwise free from evil, he signifies plenty of all things. 71.When the Moon and Lord of the Ascendant shall be impedited by the Lord of the eighth, the sick person hath cause to fear. 72.It is ill to begin any Law-suits, or other Controversies, when the Moon is ill dignified; the plaintiff without doubt will be overcome. 73.All Rebellions breaking out at the beginning of the year, are not easily Suppressed. 74.The Moon in ruminating signs, joined to Retrograde Planets, it is not then good to Purge, Physick will work upward to the Patients injury. 75.Oriental Planets signifying either good or evil, perform their work speedily; Occidental more slowly. 76.The middle stay of a solar eclipse is by the degree of the Conjunction of the Lights. 77.There will happen many Wars and Difficulties, when in a Revolutional Figure of the world, Saturn and Jupiter shall be in their Exaltations. 78.Be wary and circumspect in your Judgment when a Fortune is with a Malevolent, nor be thou over-confident that the malice of the Infortune will be averted. 79.There are twelve signs, one of which is constantly ascending, the Ascendant signifies the Body, and the Lord thereof the Mind; let not that sign ascend for your purpose whose lord is impedited. 80.Planets in Fixed Signs shew that matter durable, in Bicorporeal Signs doubtful, in Moveable Signs convertible to good or evil. 81.In matters of Secresie, let not the Moon be Combust, but going from Combustion. 82.When the Moon is in a Fixed Sign, neither cut out, or put on any new Garment, chiefly in Leo, for it is extream dangerous; it is the same if she be in Conjunction or Opposition to the Sun, or impedited to the Infortunes. 83.The Moon hath great power in all Questions, except when Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius ascend; for either of those signs abate of her Signification, chiefly Leo and Aquarius. 84.Saturn is under the Sun beams, until he be 15 degrees from him; understand the same of Jupiter. 85.Refuse the Moon in Cancer or Virgo for Marriages, unless it be in Marrying of Widows. 86.An Infortune in his own House or Exaltation and Oriental, is better than a Fortune, who is Retrograde or impedited. 87.There will be some impediment in that part of the body, represented by the Sign afflicted at birth. 88.Immense prosperity is portended, when the Lords of the Triplicity of the Luminaries shall have virtue in an Angle or Succedent House, and be their proper places, remote from the Aspects of the Infortunes; and if the Lord of the Ascendant shall be well seated also, the happiness shall be the more and the greater. 89.The Sextile and Trine Aspects have the same quality in effect, but the Sextile is less forcible than the Trine, either in good or evil. 90.Saturn performs evil slowly, but Mars swift; and therefore Mars is reputed to hurt more than Saturn. 91.When the three Superior Planets shall be joined in a Regal Sign, it is termed a great Conjunction, and when the Sun beholds them, they make most potent and flourishing Kingdoms. 92.Those doubts are soon resolved that are propounded, when the Moon and the planets whom she applies, are in Signs having voice, and in the fifth or third Houses, or in Opposition to them. 93.The Infortunes in the eighth House have their malice increased; but the Benevolents, these portend neither good nor evil. 94.There will neither good or evil be performed, but when the good or bad planets in a Nativity or Revolution shall aspect the Moon by a Quadrat. 95.If Mercury be afflicted in the sixth House, the Native will die in Prison; if Saturn shall be in the twelfth, and Venus in the Eighth, he shall end his days by Precipitation. 96.When the Sun by day and Moon by night shall be impedited, the person is to be feared. 97.The Significations of the Stars are always varied, as they vary in their Configurations and Latitude. 98.The Moon in the fourth, seventh, ninth or twelfth, shews the true cause of the Question propounded, the same is known by her separation from Mercury; and if the Ascendant and Moon shall be in double-bodied Signs, the cause of the Question is confirmed. 99.An Infortune in his House or Exaltation, denotes the matter signified by him to come to a good end, but with delays; but if he shall be impedited in the Ascendant, though in his own House or Exaltation, the matter will be obstructed and come to an ill end. 100.The Event of every Enterprize that is doubtful, is termed by these Significators, viz. by the fourth House and his Lord, and the planets strong in the same; also by the Light of the time, and his Lord, and by the Planet and his Dispositor to whom the Light of the time is joined.
