Hermes Trismegistus, Classical god. 16th century woodcut of Hermes Trismegistus, the syncretism (joining) of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. Literature on magic, alchemy and astrology was attributed to this god and became popular during the Middle Ages in what was known as the Hermetic revival. Amongst the texts are some which cast spells to protect objects, hence the origin of the term hermetically sealed". Taken from a woodcut of the title page of Zadith Ben Hamuel's De chemica Senioris..., Strassburg, 1566."