Note 88 — Chapter X
David Shea translation
According to Sheristání, there is a sect called Hernânites, or Herranites, disciples of a certain Hernán, a branch of the Sabeans, of whom hereafter; these sectaries designate, as authors of their scientific treatises, four prophets, among whom are Agatho démon and Hermes.
Agatho démon, that is to say, “the good genius,” was an Egyptian god. According to general belief, this denomination is the approximative translation of Knef, or “the good principle,” and in that acceptation it was applied to other deities, as for instance, to the Nile, and typified as the emblem of wisdom, prudence, life, health, youth, eternity, and infinitude, in the inoffensive serpent; now and then this form is combined with that of other animals. According to some authors, Agatho demon was the Egyptian Chetnuph; and to him are attributed a number of works, a list of which is given by Fabricius in his “Bibliotheca græca.”