The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind (Bollingen Series)

It might not be the most exciting work to read. It certainly isn't too difficult though. Fowden argues his case admirably and with academic scrutiny.To summarise his argument: the hermetica should be restored to a greco-egyptian context. Students should consider the cultural conventions of the time when interpreting the texts. All the hermetica, whether theoretical or technical, should be understood within such a context in order to gain a general understanding of what the hermetic ideology was.I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the cultural background of late antiquity, and particularly those interested in the origins of the mythic figure of Hermes Trismegistus.