Hermes Trismegistus is a legendary Hellenistic period figure that originated as a syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. He is the purported author of the Hermetica, a widely diverse series of ancient and medieval pseudepigraphica that lay the basis of various philosophical systems known as Hermeticism.
Hermes depicted with a kerykeion (caduceus), a kithara, a petasos (round hat) and a traveler's cloak, Vatican Museums
Thoout, Thoth Deux fois Grand, le Second Hermès, N372.2A, Brooklyn Museum
Hermes Trismegistus, floor mosaic in the Cathedral of Siena
Pages from a 14th-century Arabic manuscript of the Cyranides, a text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus
Hermes is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine aided by his winged sandals. Hermes plays the role of the psychopomp or "soul guide"—a conductor of souls into the afterlife.
Hermes Ingenui (Vatican Museums), Roman copy of the second century BC after a Greek original of the 5th century BC. Hermes has a kerykeion (caduceus), kithara, petasos (round hat) and a traveler's cloak.
Archaic bearded Hermes from a herm, early 5th century BC.
Hermes' winged sandals are evident in this Getty Villa copy of a Roman bronze recovered from the Villa of the Papyri, Naples
Statue of Hermes wearing the petasos and a voyager's cloak, and carrying the caduceus and a purse. Roman copy after a Greek original (Vatican Museums).
