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Hermeticism
Hermeticism
can refer to one of two things:
The study and practice of
occult
philosophy
and
magic
, of a type associated with writings attributed to the
god
Hermes Trismegistus
, "Thrice-Greatest Hermes," a
syncretistic
deity who combines aspects of the
Greek
god
Hermes
and the
Egyptian
god
Thoth
. Hermeticism is also associated with
alchemy
. These beliefs were influential in
European
occult lore, especially from the
Renaissance
forward, when they were revived by people like
Giordano Bruno
and
Marsilio Ficino
. Hermetic magic underwent a
19th century
revival in Western Europe, where it was practiced by people such as the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
and
Eliphas Lévi
.
From the arcane language associated with these beliefs, comes the second meaning:
The deliberate use of obscure, convoluted, or esoteric imagery in various arts.
See also:
Hermetica