Springing from the Alexandrian mix of Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian and Gnostic traditions, the Corpus Hermeticum tells us about the great philosophical frameworks in which the early Hermetic philosophers were operating.

After having been lost for almost a millennium, the Corpus Hermeticum caused a great stir when it was rediscovered in 1460 and became widespread with the introduction of Gutenberg's printing press. Once believed to be older than the writings of both Plato and Socrates, the Corpus Hermeticum influenced many of the Renaissance thinkers and have forever shaped the western mystery tradition.