Curses! Sarah Veale on Roman 'Curse-Tablets'
We turn from the far-eastern, Jewish magic of the incantation-bowls to the far-western, polytheist magic of the Roman ‘curse-tablets’. Expect intriguing similarities across cultural divides, along with important differences. Featuring the Great Mother goddess, Isis, and a number of supporting player
Primary Sources
Munich Necromantic Handbook
The 'Munich Necromantic Handbook' is a chillingly practical guide to the forbidden arts, offering a rare glimpse into the underground world of medieval sorcery. Unlike traditional grimoires that focus solely on the divine, this anonymous text audaciously blends Christian liturgy with demonic conjura
De Incantationibus
In *De Incantationibus*, Pietro Pomponazzi delivers a masterpiece of Renaissance naturalism, attempting to reconcile strict Aristotelian philosophy with the seemingly inexplicable phenomena of the occult. By dissecting accounts of miraculous healings, prophecy, and 'demonic' possession, Pomponazzi a
Magical Elements (Heptameron) and Agrippa's Fourth Book
This work functions as the missing instruction manual for the practitioner of ceremonial magic. It strips away the dense, figurative language of earlier occult scholarship to reveal the raw machinery of spirit invocation. You will find precise instructions on how to derive the names of intelligences
A Most Rare Compendium of the Whole Magical Art
The text bridges the gap between theology and dark sorcery, providing specific protocols for summoning entities while insisting on the necessity of divine authority. It argues that physical reality is mutable, capable of being altered through the use of specific narcotics, mirrors, and blood pacts.
The Works of Apuleius
Apuleius remains one of the most enigmatic voices of the Roman Empire, serving as a vital bridge between Platonic philosophy and the ancient mystery cults. This collection brings together his most influential works, showcasing his unique perspective as a 'half-and-half Numidian' intellectual who nav
Latin Works Vol. III (On Magic, On Bonds)
This volume represents a monumental achievement in textual recovery, bringing to light Giordano Bruno’s previously unpublished Latin manuscripts after centuries of obscurity. Moving beyond the rigid structures of Aristotelian metaphysics, Bruno proposes a vibrant, mystical cosmology where matter is
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden
The Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden represents a landmark in Egyptology, serving as the latest known manuscript written in the Demotic script. Editors Griffith and Thompson argue that while its contents of magic and medicine are inherently fascinating, the text’s true value lies in its
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden, Vol. 3
This third volume of Griffith and Thompson’s seminal work serves as the ultimate philological grimoire, providing the essential linguistic framework for interpreting one of history’s most significant magical texts. It doesn't just translate; it decodes the 'Voces Magicae'—magical words of power—and
Apuleius: Apology and Florida
Apuleius: Apology and Florida offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into the legal and social tensions of the second-century Roman Empire. Facing a capital charge of sorcery, Apuleius argues that his scientific interest in anatomy and natural history is a mark of philosophical devotion rather than crimin
Hekate-Selene-Artemis and Related Deities in the Greek Magical Papyri and Curse Tablets
In this masterful analysis of the Greek Magical Papyri and ancient curse tablets, Theodor Hopfner challenges the blurred lines between Hekate, Selene, and Artemis to expose a goddess of primal, terrifying power. Hopfner’s Hekate is a 'dead woman among the dead,' a bacchic force who rages among buria
The Headless God
This study shifts the focus from abstract academic theories back to the primary source material of the magical papyri. Preisendanz argues that the headless figure is not a solar deity but a product of ancient anxieties regarding death and cosmic order. He systematically dismantles earlier scholarly
Greek Magical Papyri (Papyri Graecae Magicae)
Karl Preisendanz’s monumental edition of the Greek Magical Papyri offers an unfiltered gaze into the 'working library' of the ancient magician. Far from mere superstition, these texts present a sophisticated theurgy where practitioners employ 'voces magicae,' animal sacrifice, and solar liturgies to
Papyri Graecae Magicae (Complete)
The 'Papyri Graecae Magicae' offers an unparalleled window into the 'lived religion' of late antiquity, presenting a gritty, practical manual of sorcery far removed from abstract philosophy. This collection assembles a dizzying array of rituals—ranging from the high theurgy of self-deification to th
The Eighth Book of Moses
The Eighth Book of Moses is a masterpiece of Greco-Egyptian syncretism, blending Hebrew tradition with Hermetic ritual to present a unique vision of divine creation and human empowerment. At its heart lies a startling cosmogony: a deity whose laughter creates light, water, and the soul itself. The t
The Bornless One (Headless Rite)
The Bornless One (Headless Rite) offers an essential investigation into the evolution of ritual magic, moving from 2nd-century Egyptian syncretism to the high occultism of the Golden Dawn and the A∴A∴. Editor Jon Lange presents a unique perspective that dismantles common myths, specifically clarifyi