Lodovico Lazzarelli

Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447–1500) was a pivotal figure in the Renaissance Hermetic revival, representing a more 'experiential' and initiatory strand of Hermeticism than the purely philosophical approach of Marsilio Ficino. A poet and scholar, Lazzarelli believed that the Hermetic texts were not just ancient wisdom but a guide to a radical spiritual transformation.

Works: His most famous work, the Crater Hermetis (The Mixing-Bowl of Hermes), describes a dialogue between himself and King Ferdinand of Naples, where he explains the process of spiritual generation and the creation of the 'divine man.'

Translations: He translated the final treatises of the Corpus Hermeticum (CH XVI–XVIII), which he titled the Diffinitiones Asclepii. These were published posthumously in 1507 by Symphorien Champier.

Influence: Lazzarelli was a direct influence on the young Cornelius Agrippa, and his focus on 'rebirth' (Palingenesia) through the indwelling of the divine Mind (Nous) remains a cornerstone of the Lazzarellian Hermetic tradition.