Related Terms • Caduceus • Rose cross • Nine worlds Related Resources • Hermetic Tradition • Freemasonry • Templars • The Tarot Glossaries  • Symbol Glossary • Alternative Religions Glossary • Glossary of Magick and the Occult

This alchemical symbol, most often referred to as the Cross of Hermes, appears mainly in watermarks used by printers during the English Renaissance, who often attributed patronage of their craft to Hermes.

The emblem's lower portion represents the hermetic maxim, "as above, so below," and is related to the Masonic square and compass. The upper numeral "4" is the sacred number of Hermes and represents the four directions and the the crossroads sacred to the god. This is the "sign of the cross" used by kabbalists; this self-blessing was later adopted by the Church of Rome.

Hermetic Cross

Related symbols:

Related Resources:

• Hermetic Tradition
  Named after Hermes Trismigestus (Hermes the three times great), the Greek moniker of the Egyptian God Tehuti (Thoth), alleged author of hundreds of mystical tractates, the Hermetic tradition is an eclectic spiritual tradition that encompasses elements from from many religions.
• Hellenismos/Greek Revival
  The Hellenistic revival...modern attempts to reconstruct the rich religious traditions of Ancient Greece.
• Religio Romana
  Religio Romana is the main name under which various Neopagan groups attempt to accurately reconstruct ancient Roman Pagan worship.