The Hermes Trismegistus of legend was a person, an Egyptian sage or succession of sages, who, since the time of Plato, has been identified with Thoth, the reputed author of the "Ritual of the Dead," or, as styled in Egyptian phraseology, the "Manifestation of Light" to the Soul, who through it declared the will of the Gods and the mysterious nature of Divine things to Man. This Hermes - and there was but one among the ancient Egyptians - was worshipped as a god. Tertullian says, "In ancient times most authors were supposed to be, I will not say god-like, but actually gods; as, for instance,...