PGM I - Magical Handbook (Theban Magical Library)

This manuscript features three columns of Greek cursive script written on fibrous papyrus, including a prominent heading for lamp divination (lychnomanteia). In the central column, a sequence of 'charakteres'—magical symbols with ringed ends—are drawn as part of a ritual to summon an attendant spirit. The text represents a practical manual for theurgy, detailing specific invocations and the preparation of ritual objects.

Designated as PGM I, this is a foundational text of the Greek Magical Papyri, documenting the syncretic blend of Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish esoteric practices in Late Antiquity. It serves as a vital precursor to the Western grimoire tradition and shares the same intellectual milieu as the Corpus Hermeticum and early Neoplatonism.