The most extensive excerpts from the Hermetic texts (sayings of Hermes, sayings of Isis, independent excerpts) come from Stobaeus.

The Trismegistus Hermes is named after the Greek version of the Egyptian god Thoth following the syncretism of Greek and Egyptian religion during the Hellenistic period.

Thoth, as a bearer of a dual theosophical tradition with both philosophical and practical-magical character, passed it on to Trismegistus Hermes.

From the Greek translation of Thoth's sacred texts and with the addition of elements from Greek philosophy (mainly Platonism, Pythagoreanism, and Stoicism) as well as from Jewish tradition and various other Eastern philosophies, the first Greek Hermetic texts emerged, also with a dual orientation, philosophical and practical-magical.

The Hermetic tradition continued to be cultivated in the Greek language until the early post-Christian centuries, when those philosophical texts were shaped that were gathered during the Renaissance and continue to be published today under the title Hermetic Texts.

However, the other side of the dual Hermetic tradition also continued to produce a series of more popular works with a magical-practical character up until the Middle Ages, among which the 'Kyraanides' hold a prominent position.

[Excerpt from a publisher or edition presentation text]