In a work attributed to Albertus Magnus, but which is probably spurious, we are told that
Alexander the Great found the tomb of Hermes in a cave near Hebron. This tomb
contained an emerald tablet - the Smaragdine Table - on which were inscribed the
following thirteen sentences in Pheonician characters:
1. I speak no lies, but what is true and most certain.
2. What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of the one thing.
3. And as all things were produced by the mediation of one Being, so all things were produced from this one thing by adaptation.
4. Its father is the Sun, its mother is the Moon; the wind carries it in its belly, its nurse is the Earth.
5. It is the cause of all perfection throughout the whole world.
6. Its power is perfect if it be changed into action.
7. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, acting prudently and with judgement.
8. Ascend with the greatest sagacity from the earth to heaven, and then again descend to the earth, and unite together the powers of things superior and things inferior. Thus you will obtain the glory of the whole world, and all obscurity will fly far away from you.
9. This thing is the fortitude of all fortitude, because it overcomes all subtle things, and penetrates every solid thing.
10. Thus were all things created.
11. Thence proceed wonderful adaptations which are produced in this way.
12. Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus, possessing the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
13. That which I had to say concerning the operation of the Sun is completed.
Notes:
The thirteen sentences of the Smaragdine Table are considered to be basic principles in
alchemy; Hermes Trismegistus is cited as one of the fathers of the art.
Another version of the legend suggests that Alexander the Great found the Tabula
Smaragdina in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Alexander mythology persisted through the
entire Near East literally for hundreds of years after his death, and legends of earlier heroes
have been subsumed into his mythos: for instance, both Alexander and the Sumerian hero
Gilgamesh were supposed to have found the fountain (or rose) of immortality somewhere
under the ocean, and both were supposedly unable to bring it back to mankind - foiled by
the depth of the waters which kept the treasure safe. Though Alexander's existence is far
more documented than (for instance) that of King Arthur, exactly the same sort of folk
mythology circulated about both men.
In Rosicrucian tradition, the opening of a chapter in a virgin country was celebrated by the
discovery of a tomb in which are found sacred writings and relics of a 'C.R.C.' - Christian
Rosencrantz. Also, classic Rosicrucian traditions claim membership by Hermes (and
virtually every other alchemist of note!) and further, contain a biography of that
gentleman. Hermes Trismegistus, according to this, was born in Thebes, October 9th 1399
BC; he died aged 142 years on March 22nd 1257 BC, in the Rosicrucian Monastery of El
Amarna; his mummy lies among others in a cachette near El Amarna; and he wrote seven
books and tablets upon "physical and chemical subjects" which were rediscovered,
according to the Rosicrucians, in 400 AD.
The word "smaragdine" means "emerald". The Table was also called "the Table of
Zaradi" - from zaradi, possibly variant Persian for "an underground chamber"?
Alternate translation of the Table:
THE EMERALD TABLE
The Words of the Secret Things
of Hermes Trismegistus
1. True, without deceit, certain and most true.
2. What is below, is like what is above, and what is above is like that which is below, for the performing of the marvels of the one thing.
3. And as all things were from one thing, by the mediation of one thing: so all things were born of this one thing, by adaptation.
4. Its father is the Sun, its mother is the Moon; the wind carried it in its belly; its nurse is the Earth.
5. This is the father of all the perfection of the whole world.
6. Its power is integral, if it be turned into earth.
7. You shall separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, smoothly and with great cleverness.
8. It ascends from the earth into the heaven, and again descends into the earth and receives the power of the superiors and inferiors. So thus you will have the glory of the whole world. So shall all obscurity flee from thee.
9. This is the strong fortitude of all fortitude: because it will overcome every subtle thing and penetrate every solid.
10. Thus was the earth created.
11. Hence will there be marvelous adaptations, of which this is the means.
12. And so I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having three parts of the Philosophy of the whole world.
13. What I have said concerning the operation of the Sun is finished.
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Last Updated February 17, 1998 by Sylvia and Lisa