Arbatel de magia veterum
Encyclopedia
Arbatel de magia veterum (English: Arbatel of the magic of the ancients) is a treatise on ceremonial magic
written in Latin
, first published in 1575 in Basel
, Switzerland
. The author is unknown, but textual evidence suggests that the author was Italian
.
The brief introduction outlines a scheme of nine chapters, of which only the first, called the Isagogue, seems to be present, at least as described in the introduction:
However, though there are no later samples of the eight remaining chapters labelled as such, the promised content of all of them is at least addressed in the "forty and nine Aphorisms" actually at hand. It is possible that the claim of eight additional chapters is some manner of game or thematic strategy on the part of the author.
The present text of the Isogogue or Arbatel de magia veterum is arranged in seven sections ("septenaries"), each one further divided into a numbered sequence of aphorisms. Beginning with the third septenary, the work includes a discussion of the so-called "Olympian spirits
".
The treatise is commonly known in English as the Arbatel of Magic or Arbatel of Magick, after the title of an English translation of the Arbatel de magia veterum by Robert Turner published in 1655, London
. A later edition was published by Andreas Luppius, Wesel
, 1686. Luppius' edition includes a number of innovations.
Another English translation of the Arbatel, apparently independent of Turner's, is known in a single manuscript
copy, MSS Sloane
3851, folio 10r—29v. It includes a reproduction of a magic seal unknown in other versions.
In 1997, Joseph H. Peterson produced a bilingual online edition (the English based on Turner's edition and the Latin on the 1575 edition) which incorporated elements from all four versions as well textual corrections.
In 2003, "Sadena" produced an English online edition, claiming to correct errors in Turners' scholarship as well as deficiencies due to unavailable typescripts and other technological problems relating to the printing. These included dubious "corrections" of the Hebrew on the frontispiece (e.g., the author complains that the "beth" appears to be a "kaph", when it is in fact a beth correctly rendered in Rashi script.)
Sadena alleges that all later translations are translations of Turner rather than the original Latin manuscript, apparently not accounting for Sloane 3851.
The book describes and gives details of the olympians. The olympians are called:
Each olympian has under his command a certain amount of spirits. It also gives a picture of each Olympian's character.
Ceremonial magic
Ceremonial magic, also referred to as high magic and as learned magic, is a broad term used in the context of Hermeticism or Western esotericism to encompass a wide variety of long, elaborate, and complex rituals of magic. It is named as such because the works included are characterized by...
written in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, first published in 1575 in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The author is unknown, but textual evidence suggests that the author was Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The brief introduction outlines a scheme of nine chapters, of which only the first, called the Isagogue, seems to be present, at least as described in the introduction:
- The first is called Isagoge, or, A Book of the Institutions of Magick: or which in forty and nine Aphorisms comprehendeth, the most general Precepts of the whole Art.
However, though there are no later samples of the eight remaining chapters labelled as such, the promised content of all of them is at least addressed in the "forty and nine Aphorisms" actually at hand. It is possible that the claim of eight additional chapters is some manner of game or thematic strategy on the part of the author.
The present text of the Isogogue or Arbatel de magia veterum is arranged in seven sections ("septenaries"), each one further divided into a numbered sequence of aphorisms. Beginning with the third septenary, the work includes a discussion of the so-called "Olympian spirits
Olympian spirits
Olympian spirits refers to seven spirits mentioned in several renaissance and post-renaissance books of ritual magic/ceremonial magic, such as the Arbatel de magia veterum, The Secret Grimoire of Turiel and The Complete Book of Magic Science...
".
The treatise is commonly known in English as the Arbatel of Magic or Arbatel of Magick, after the title of an English translation of the Arbatel de magia veterum by Robert Turner published in 1655, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A later edition was published by Andreas Luppius, Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
, 1686. Luppius' edition includes a number of innovations.
Another English translation of the Arbatel, apparently independent of Turner's, is known in a single manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
copy, MSS Sloane
Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, PRS was an Ulster-Scot physician and collector, notable for bequeathing his collection to the British nation which became the foundation of the British Museum...
3851, folio 10r—29v. It includes a reproduction of a magic seal unknown in other versions.
In 1997, Joseph H. Peterson produced a bilingual online edition (the English based on Turner's edition and the Latin on the 1575 edition) which incorporated elements from all four versions as well textual corrections.
In 2003, "Sadena" produced an English online edition, claiming to correct errors in Turners' scholarship as well as deficiencies due to unavailable typescripts and other technological problems relating to the printing. These included dubious "corrections" of the Hebrew on the frontispiece (e.g., the author complains that the "beth" appears to be a "kaph", when it is in fact a beth correctly rendered in Rashi script.)
Sadena alleges that all later translations are translations of Turner rather than the original Latin manuscript, apparently not accounting for Sloane 3851.
The book describes and gives details of the olympians. The olympians are called:
- AratronAratronAratron is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over Saturn....
, ruler of SaturnSaturnSaturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
- BethorBethorBethor is an Olympian spirit in the Grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over Jupiter....
, ruler of JupiterJupiterJupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
- PhalegPhaleg (spirit)Phaleg is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum who rules over Mars....
, ruler of MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
- OchOch (spirit)Och is believed to be an Olympian spirit in the grimoire Arbatel de magia veterum who rules the Sun....
, ruler of SolSunThe Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
- HagithHagith (spirit)Hagith is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over Venus....
, ruler of VenusVenusVenus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
- OphielOphielOphiel is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over Mercury....
, ruler of MercuryMercury (planet)Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
- PhulPhulPhul is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over the Moon....
, ruler of LunaMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
Each olympian has under his command a certain amount of spirits. It also gives a picture of each Olympian's character.