Prayer, Magic, and the Stars in the Ancient and Late Antique World

Prayer, Magic, and the Stars in the Ancient and Late Antique World

Author: Scott Noegel

Publisher: Penn State Press

Published: 2010-11-01

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 9780271046006

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In the religious systems of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean, gods and demigods were neither abstract nor distant, but communicated with mankind through signs and active intervention. Men and women were thus eager to interpret, appeal to, and even control the gods and their agents. In Prayer, Magic, and the Stars in the Ancient and Late Antique World, a distinguished array of scholars explores the many ways in which people in the ancient world sought to gain access to--or, in some cases, to bind or escape from--the divine powers of heaven and earth. Grounded in a variety of disciplines, including Assyriology, Classics, and early Islamic history, the fifteen essays in this volume cover a broad geographic area: Greece, Egypt, Syria-Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Topics include celestial divination in early Mesopotamia, the civic festivals of classical Athens, and Christian magical papyri from Coptic Egypt. Moving forward to Late Antiquity, we see how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each incorporated many aspects of ancient Near Eastern and Graeco-Roman religion into their own prayers, rituals, and conceptions. Even if they no longer conceived of the sun, moon, and the stars as eternal or divine, Christians, Jews, and Muslims often continued to study the movements of the heavens as a map on which divine power could be read. The reader already familiar with studies of ancient religion will find in Prayer, Magic, and the Stars both old friends and new faces. Contributors include Gideon Bohak, Nicola Denzey, Jacco Dieleman, Radcliffe Edmonds, Marvin Meyer, Michael G. Morony, Ian Moyer, Francesca Rochberg, Jonathan Z. Smith, Mark S. Smith, Peter Struck, Michael Swartz, and Kasia Szpakowska. Published as part of Penn State's Magic in History series, Prayer, Magic, and the Stars appears at a time of renewed interest in divination and occult practices in the ancient world. It will interest a wide audience in the field of comparative religion as well as students of the ancient world and late antiquity.


Stone Magic of the Ancients

Stone Magic of the Ancients

Author: Markus Jaquemain

Publisher: Golden West Publishers (AZ)

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9781885590046

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The CiP shows the subtitle as The Petroglyphs and Shrine Sites of the Upper Little Colorado Region: The Magic of the Image and the Power of the Place: A Collection of Prehistoric Rock Art Images that Still Radiate the Magic of Their Making. Presents black and white photographs and accompanying drawings that clarify the image of such anthropomorphs, tools and weapons, death and spirits, natural features, tracks, animals, place markers, and geometric designs. Each section ends with a vignette postulating a context and function of the art. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Arbatel

Arbatel

Author: Joseph Peterson

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780892541522

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In many ways, Arbatel is unique among texts on magic. Unlike the vast majority of writings, it is clear, concise, and elegantly written. The practical instructions are straightforward and undemanding. When it first appeared in 1575, it attracted the attention of people with a surprisingly broad range of agendas, including some of the finest minds of the time. Often quoted and reprinted, both praised and condemned, its impact on western esoteric philosophy has been called "overwhelming."Arbatel's magic is full of wonder and free from the sinister elements usually associated with texts on the subject. But it is about more than magic; filled with gnomic wisdom, it urges us to help our neighbors, be positive and grateful, and use time wisely. Above all, it teaches us to pay attention, looking for the wondrous and miraculous. In fact, to the author this virtually defines the magus. * Included are illustrations, bibliography, index, and original Latin text. * First English translation published since in 1655.


The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt

The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt

Author: Rosemary Clark

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9781567181302

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In The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt, Rosemary Clark presents a comprehensive guide to a modern practice of ancient Egyptian theurgy. Included are daily rituals, annual ceremonies, and the founding of a temple tradition for either the sole practitioner or a gathering of celebrants. The dimensions of Sacred Science-esoteric architecture, cosmic resonance, and magical practice-are outlined in detail and demonstrated in a program for practical, everyday use. Authentic and richly detailed, this guidebook also: - Presents beautiful rituals patterned on ancient Egyptian texts for modern initiates - Serves as an excellent reference on many aspects of the Egyptian mysteries that have not been accessible elsewhere - Contains a complete repertoire of ancient hymns, litanies, spells, and ceremonies that allows for reading in the ancient tongue Enter the timeless realm of Egyptian sacred ritual. Experience for yourself the ultimate realization of ancient Egyptian spirituality-the assumption of divine knowledge and grace.


Curse of the Ancients (Infinity Ring, Book 4)

Curse of the Ancients (Infinity Ring, Book 4)

Author: Matt de la Peña

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Published: 2013-06-04

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 0545484596

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Fix the past. Save the future. What is the secret history connecting the SQ to the Ancient Maya?Book includes an all-new, full-color Hystorian's Guide - your key to unlocking the fourth episode of the action-packed Infinity Ring game.


Magic in the Ancient World

Magic in the Ancient World

Author: Fritz Graf

Publisher:

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13:

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Ancient Greeks and Romans often turned to magic to achieve personal goals. Magical rites were seen as a route for direct access to the gods, for material gains as well as spiritual satisfaction. In this survey of magical beliefs and practices from the sixth century B.C.E. through late antiquity, Fritz Graf sheds new light on ancient religion. Graf explores the important types of magic in Greco-Roman antiquity, describing rites and explaining the theory behind them. And he characterizes the ancient magician: his training and initiation, social status, and presumed connections with the divine world. With trenchant analysis of underlying conceptions and vivid account of illustrative cases, Graf gives a full picture of the practice of magic and its implications. He concludes with an evaluation of the relation of magic to religion.


Invincible Magic Book of Spells: Ancient Spells, Charms and Divination Rituals for Kids in Magic Training

Invincible Magic Book of Spells: Ancient Spells, Charms and Divination Rituals for Kids in Magic Training

Author: Catherine Fet

Publisher:

Published: 2018-10-07

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9781726835916

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Practical everyday magic spells for the young fans of Harry Potter, Descendants, Sofia the First, and other books and films of the magic fantasy genre.These spells use only safe everyday objects and substances you have at home or outside (like milk, sugar, salt, mirror, a ring, a ribbon, tree leaves, rocks, etc.); absolutely no use of fire, or anything gross, or any ingredients or items you may not have in your kitchen at the moment (like rosewater, or sage, or a crystal ball).These spells are not based on any witchcraft, New Age, or esoteric religion lore or rituals. This is fantasy-fiction-style educational activity material for kids ages 7-12, that helps them develop imagination, and engage in fantasy play which is vital for their intellectual and emotional development;Introduces to them a few facts of math, sciences, and history;Helps develop their interest in reading, and grow their reading fluency with an easy, 1st-2nd grade core vocabulary.If a kid in your life runs around waving a magic wand, talks about "dark chronicles," "immortal secrets, " dragons and hidden chambers filled with ancient manuscripts... If your kid recites Harry Potter spells in pseudo-Latin, and mixes magic potions in your kitchen sink...Your kid is ready for magic training. Buy this spell book for that child without delay! Your young magician will stop wasting your dish detergent, and start using actual classical Latin to punctuate his/her powerful spells.By the way, is this kid resistant to reading? Well, resistance is futile when you are dealing with a real ancient hands-on practical spell book, where you read a couple sentences, then do what you've just read about, then read again, and do again, read-do, read-do.... In addition to its easy vocabulary, the book is beautifully illustrated to increase your kid's reading enthusiasm.Just like the ancients who made most of the great discoveries in math, the sciences, and arts in pursuit of magic, your child will play with the ideas of intelligence in nature, and the great unknown beyond, and develop curiosity about the world.Upon working with this 30-page book, your student of magic arts will know a fact or two about sciences and history, will be able to recite the Pythagorean Theorem and the Fibonacci Sequence (no kidding), and will answer many questions you've always had, like:How to find the North star?Why does your breath fog up the mirror?Who introduced Arabic numerals to replace Roman Numerals in Medieval Europe?What kind of writing system did Ancient Egyptians have?What are fractals?Who spoke Latin (besides Harry Potter at Hogwarts)?What is divination?How numerologists predict the future?Who was Pythagoras?When were the Middle Ages?What is an Ankh?What are the phases of the Moon?What are the directions of the wind in your area?Why do oil and water never mix?...And more!If you are curious about my qualifications for offering this spell-binding collection of actual real true spells to advance your kid's magical training, here is all you need to know about me.Currently residing in New York City, I've spent my life doing magic and taming dragons at home and at work. With an M.A, in Linguistics and years spent perusing Gothic manuscripts in underground library cells at universities on both sides of the Atlantic, I have a decent command of classical Latin and Greek, with a few European languages thrown in.But the most important thing about me is that I am the mother of a magic-obssessed 6-year old. My son hates reading, but he will read if the book contains the secret magical lore not available on the Disney Channel, or in his Catholic school curriculum. I started writing this book for him during summer vacation, to help him get fluent in reading, so that one day he may understand that the only magic in the world that opens all doors is...knowledge.


The Scrolls of the Ancients

The Scrolls of the Ancients

Author: Robert Newcomb

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: 2004-06-15

Total Pages: 646

ISBN-13: 0345478436

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“Plenty of adventure and magic . . . continues Robert Newcomb’s tradition of mixing adventure with an interesting and well-realized magical world.”—SF Site Prince Tristan and his twin sister, Shailiha, are the Chosen Ones, prophesied to unite the opposing magics of the dark Vagaries and the benevolent Vigors. But before they can fulfill their destiny, they must search out the mysterious Scrolls of the Ancients which hold the key to unlocking great mystical secrets. They are not the only ones on a dire quest. Krassus, a devoted servant of the Vagaries, has located one of the Scrolls and through it has attained great and ominous powers. Now he needs but one thing: a man who unknowingly possesses magic in his blood almost as potent as that of the Chosen Ones. Tristan and Shailiha must find that man before Krassus’s dark enchantments turn him into the most dangerous weapon of evil the world has ever known—if it’s not already too late. . . .