If Hermes Trismegistus was probably the greatest sage why then?...?

If Hermes Trismegistus was probably the greatest and most revered wise sage of the ancients, and he proposed one God, one Source, one All, why then did the ancients like the Greeks and Egyptians have many gods?



Only the Hebrews and Christians in ancient days where the ones who embraced one God philosophy. Which happens to coincide with the discoveries of probably the greatest sage of all, who lived in a culture where many gods where worshiped.



What do you believe caused this to happen?

If Hermes Trismegistus was probably the greatest sage why then?...?
Primarily political reasons. The difference between the Greek/Egyptian cultures and the Hebrew/Christian cultures are that the latter were neither nations nor conquerers whereas the former were both. As such when the Greeks or Egyptians took over a region it became necessary to keep the new members of their empire satiated. Now tossing their god/gods out the window is hardly the most effective way to do this. As such, the gods of the conquered city states and tribes were often incorporated into the religions of the conquerer leading to the expansive pantheons we are more familiar with.