Picatrix (The Aim of the Sage)

alMajriti,MaslamatiibnAhmad
TheGhyatalHakmfi'lsihr,orPicatrix,asitisknownintheWest,isan
importantArabicmagicaltext.Itisperhapsthelargestandmostcomprehensive
ofthegrimoires,orhandbooksofmagic.TheattributiontotheAndalusian
mathematicianalMajriti(oralMadjriti)(d.ca.10047)isconsideredpseudo
epigraphic.TheLatintranslationdatesto1256andthecourtofAlphonsothe
Wise,kingofCastille,andexertedaconsiderableinfluenceonWesternmagic
thereafter.ItissaidthatmuchofFicino'sastrologicalmagicderivesfrom
thePicatrix(seeI.P.Couliano,ErosandMagicintheRenaissance,University
ofChicaoPress,1987,p.118).ThePicatrixismentionedbyJohannes
TrithemiusinBook2ofhisnotoriousSteganographia(1500)andin
hisAntipalusMaleficiorum(c.1500).Onecopy(BritishLibrary,Sloane
manuscript3679)passeddownfromSimonForman(d.1611)toRichardNapier
(d.1634)toEliasAshmole(d.1692)toWilliamLilly(d.1681).
E.M.ButlerwronglyassociatesitwithGio.Peccatrix,(nodoubta
pseudonym)whoeditedanItalianversionoftheKeyofSolomon(British
Library,Sloanemanuscript1307).MisledbysomecommentsbyMathersand
others,Dr.ButlerincorrectlyconcludedthatthePicatrixwas"anItalianedition
oftheClavicle,stronglyimpregnatedwithblackelements"(RitualMagic,1949,
p.135.)
Recent editions include:
(Arabic)
Pseudo-Magriti, Das Ziel des Weisen, Herausgegeben von
Hellmut Ritter, B.G. Teubner / Liepzig / Berlin 1933. Studien
der Bibliothek Warburg Herausgegeben von Fritz Saxl. XII.
Picatrix ("Das Ziel des Weisen" von Pseudo-Majriti) 1.
Arabischer Text.
(German)
"Picatrix" Das Ziel des Weisen von Pseudo-Magriti,
Translated into German from the Arabic by Hellmut Ritter
and Martin Plessner, London, The Warburg Institute,
University of London, 1962

(French)
B. Bakhouche, F. Fauquier, B. Prez-Jean: Picatrix - Un trait
de magie mdival. 388 p., 130 x 210 mm, 2003,
Paperback ISBN 2-503-51068-X, EUR 37.91. Newest critical
edition.
(French)
S. Matton, La magie arabe traditionelle, Paris, 1977
(incomplete)
(Latin)
Picatrix: The Latin Version of the Ghyat Al-Hakm, ed.
David Pingree (London, Warburg Institute, 1986).
(Spanish)
Abul-Casim Maslama ben Ahmad: Picatrix (El fin del sabio y
el mejor de los dos medios para avanzar). Edicin de
Marcelino Villegas Editora Nacional. Coleccin Biblioteca
de visionarios, heterodoxos y marginados. (Madrid, 1982).
(English)
The Complete Picatrix, translated by John Michael Greer &
Christopher Warnock from Pingree's Latin critical edition
(Renaissance Astrology Press, 2010) ISBN 978-1-25776785-4
(English)
An English translation of the first two books of Picatrix was
released in August of 2002, and Volume Two with books 3
and 4 in 2008, by Ouroboros Press, translated from the
Arabic by Hashem Atallah.

I hope that by giving this account of its contents, other editions

and studies of this important text may be encouraged:
JHP

SUMMARY
(FromMartinPlessner'sintroduction,pp.lixlxxv.)
Thefollowingpagesareintendedasaguidetoandan
epitomeofthisoftendisorderlybook.Aglanceatthetableof
contentsisenoughtoshowthatthesequenceofchaptersis
erraticandcloserinspectionrevealsthatthescopeof
individualchaptersisfarwiderthanappearsatfirstsight.
Philosophicdoctrines(which,accordingtotheauthor,arethe
basisofthetalismanicart),theoryofmagic,astronomical,
astrologicalandphysicallore,extensivedirectionsforthe
practiceoftheart,andaccountsofthepeoplesbywhomitis
employedarejumbledtogetherthroughoutthebook,withno
discernibleguidingprinciple.Ifasystematicarrangementis
anywhereperceptible,itisintheastrologicaland
astronomicalmaterial,thougheventhisisfarfromself
containedormethodicallyordered.Subjectswhichbelong
togetherareseparated(e.g.,thegeographicalsectionson
pp.171ff.and394ff.),long,discursivedefinitions,appearing
inunexpectedplaces,furtherbreakthesequence(e.g.,pp.78
and343).andthereisagreatdealmoretomakethereader's
taskmoredifficult.
Thismannerofwritingmaywellbeintentional,
whethertomakethemagicalsectionsappearlesssuspectby
interlardingthemwiththeoreticalpassages,ortomakecertain
doctrinesseemlessstrangebyadministeringtheminsmall
doses,ortodemonstratetheequalvalidityofthemagicaland
philosophicalmaterial,orforacombinationofallthree
reasons.Atallevents,asimilarmethodofpresentationis
apparentinoneoftheprincipalsourcesofTheAimofthe
Sage,theencyclopediaoftheBrethrenofPurity(Ihwnal
Saf).
Whatfollowsisasurveyofthewhole,withasketchof
thesources,asfarastheycanatpresentbeidentified.No
attempthasbeenmadetoimposealogicalorderonthe
illogicalityofthebook.

BOOK I

Inthepreface,aftersomeautobiographicalmaterial,the
authorgiveshisreasonforwritingthework,whichistoshed
lightonthenatureofmagic,asecretcloselyguardedbythe
ancientphilosophers.Headdsasummaryofthecontentsof
hisfourbooks(pp.13).Thisisreplaced,insome
manuscripts,byadetailedlistofcontents,arrangedby
chapter,ofwhichatranslationwillbefoundonpp.lxxvi
lxxviiiofthepresentvolume.
Chapter1(pp.47)demonstratestheimportanceof
philosophy,ontheonehandfortheunderstandingofmatters
divine,naturalandmoral,andontheotherasthepremisefor
magic,whichisitsconclusio.Inthefirstsectionthereare
verbalechoesofalFrb'sClassificationofthe
Sciences(Ihsal'Ulm)andtheNeoPlatonicdoctrinesof
thepseudoEmpedocles.Thechapterendswithanexcursus
onthedefinitionofsomelogicalconcepts,suggestedbythe
wordconclusio.
Chapter2givesadefinitionofmagicaccordingtothe
IhwnalSaf',andoftalismansaccordingtoJabiribnHajjn.
Thetalismaniscomparedtotheelixirofthealchemists(pp.7
9).Magicistobedividedintotwoparts,theoreticaland
practical,thefirstbeingconfinedtotheknowledgeofthe
heavens(withtheparenthesisthatspeechisakindofmagic)
andthesecondconsistinginmakinguseofthenatural
kingdoms,animal,vegetableandmineral(pp.910).This
principleofdiscriminationholdsgood,byandlarge,forthe
arrangementofthewholework.Thechapterconcludeswith
certainastronomicalandastrologicalmatters.
Chapter3dealswiththereasonsfortheheavens'being
sphericalinform,withthedegreesandtheimagesascending
inthem,andcomparesthepowerofthedegreeswiththatof
theplanets(pp.1214).SomepassagesarerelatedtotheKitb
alBahtofJbir,whichislaidundersuchheavycontribution
laterinTheAimoftheSage.
Chapter4.Sincethesuccessfuluseoftalismans
dependsupontheirbeingusedinconjunctionwiththecorrect
constellations,thischapterisdevotedtothelatter.Theauthor
givesadescriptivelistofthetwentyeightmansionsofthe
moon,accordingtothe"Indian"system,andassignstoeach
itscorrecttalisman.Analysisofthepassageshowsthatitisa
compoundof"Indian"doctrines,thetenetsofDorotheusof

Sidon(bothattestedbyIbnabi'lRijl)andelementsfroma
listascribedtoHermes(attestedbytheIhwnalSaf')
(pp.1421).Atthebeginningofthechapter,theauthor
advisedthemagicianofthenecessitytopreparehimself
inwardlyforhistask:thisisnow,inanexcursus,broughtinto
harmonywiththedispositioninherentinvariousnatural
substancestoabsorbmagicalinfluences,andthisagainis
followedbysuggestionsastothepositionsofthemoon
favorableforcertainenterprises(pp.2224).Theauthoropens
thefinalsectionwithhisusualformulatotheeffectthatheis
returningtothetruesubjectofhisbook.
Chapter5enlargesthediscussionofthelunarmansions,
bygivingthirtyoneexamplesofconstellationsofadifferent
kind,favorabletothemanufactureoftalismans.Someofthe
talismansaredescribed,butnoindicationisgivenofhowto
makethemeffective,asubjectwhichlateroccupiesalarge
partofthebook(pp.2434).Insertedinthemiddleofthe
discussionisanaccountofthedifferenteffectsofthevarious
aspects(p.29).Therefollowremarksonthedependenceof
thetalismansontheheavenlybodiesandtheimportanceof
themagician'sconcentrationofhisenergytowardshis
purpose,againwithverbalechoesfromtheIhwnalSaf'.
Alongwiththesegoaphorismsfrom"Plato"andTbitibn
Qurra,aswellastwoextractsfromatreatiseascribedto
Aristotle,whichislaterquotedentireinBookIV,chapter4.
(pp.3436).Examplesaregivenofthe"incantation"of
talismanstomakethemeffective.Theseformulaearealsoto
befoundintheIhwnalSaf',wheretheyareattributedto
Hermes.Thiscompletesthepracticalinstructiongivenin
BookI.Thencomesapostscriptandthechapterconcludes
withanevaluationofmagicandalchemy(pp.3839).
ThetwofinalchaptersofBookIareentirelydevotedto
philosophy.Chapter6dealswiththenatureofman.Starting
fromthepremisethatmanisamicrocosm,theauthoropens
withanenumerationofthecharacteristicswhichmakeman
superiortoallothercreatures(pp4041).Hethengivesthe
familiarcorrespondencesbetweenthepartsofthehuman
bodyandthoseofthemacrocosm.Thoughatfirstthereare
onlyreminiscencesofthelhwnalSaf',wesoonfindwhole
pagestogetherwhichareidenticalwiththatwork,and,in
part,withtheworkeditedbyGoldziherasTheBookofthe
EssenceoftheSoul(Kitbma`nalnafs)(pp.4246).The

humanbeingasheisactuallyfoundonearthisshownto
dependfromhisidea,theuniversalman,andthisdependence
isillustratedbyasuccessionofhypostases(pp.4750).
NumeroussingleechoesofNeoPlatonicandpseudo
Empedocleanpropositionsmaybeidentifiedhere,butthe
passageasawholehasnotsofarbeensatisfactorilyclarified.
Theauthorexpresslystatesthatthissixthchapterisnota
digression,butdealsratherwiththeessenceofmagic,by
whichheclearlymeansthatthechainofhypostasesprovesa
connectionbetweentheupperandthelowerworld,theprime
tenetintheartofmagic.Amentionoftheobscuritywith
whichtheancientsclothedthisschemeismadetheoccasion
foraconsiderationofboththesuperficialandtheessential
natureofknowledgeandofthemodeofstudy(pp.5051).
Chapter7takesupagainforitsthemethegreatchainof
being,theauthor'sideasonwhichcannotyetbegiventheir
correctplaceinthehistoryofNeoPlatonicthought.Hethen
revertsingreaterdetailtotheconceptofHyle,anditsplacein
thechain,thediscussionofsuchtheoreticaltopicsbeing
justifiedbythefactthatthey"correcttheunderstandingand
sharpentheapprehension"(pp.5154).

BOOK II
Chapter1.Thecorrespondencesbetweenearthly
creaturesandtheircelestialarchetypes,whichwere
mentionedattheendofBookI,formtheopeningtopicofthis
chapter.Thisisthesubjectoftheninthaphorismotthe
pseudoPtolemaicCentiloquium.Nextcomesthestoryofa
magicalcure,takenfromtheCommentaryofIbnalDjaon
thisaphorism,whichrecountshow,inhisyouth,theauthor
cametooccupyhimselfwithmagicwhiletestingIbnal
Dja'sprescriptionforthecure(pp.5557).Thenfollowsan
excursusonsensoryperception,includingaquotationfrom
theIhwnalSaf',andothermodesofcognition(pp.5758).
Thechapterendswithanaccountofthecontributionsmade
byindividualbranchesofknowledgetothe,understandingof
thecorrespondencesbetweenthetwoworlds(pp.5859).
Chapter2treatsthesubjectofthecelestialimagesand
theirsignificance,i.e.,thefortyeightconstellationsknownto
theGreeksandtheparanatellontaofthethirtysixdecans.The
threedecansofAriesinthe"Indian"systemareselectedfrom
AbMa`sharbywayofexampleandafullexplanationof

theirparanatellontagiven(pp.5962).IbnWahshjafollows
thesamemethodofinterpretation:heusesthetriplicities,
whilethe"Indiansage"Tumtumandothersusethedegrees
(p.62).Examplesoftheimagesascendinginthedegreesare
givenandtheirsignificanceexplained,withreferencetoa
bookbyJbirwhichhasnotsurvived(pp.6268).Finally,the
authorcomputesthepossiblenumberofplanetary
conjunctionsinasingledegree,onthebasisofaworkby
"Herrnes",extending,ashedoesso,asectionofJbir'sKitb
alBaht(pp.6365).
Chapter3isverylongandismainlyconcernedwiththe
effectsofthemoon,beginningwiththesignificanceofits
phases.Theultimatedependenceofthemoon'soperationon
thatofthesunisemphasized(pp.6567).Thisisfollowedby
ademonstrationoftheanalogybetweenthephasesofthe
moon,theagesofmanandtheseasonsoftheyearetc.Then
thereisashortinterpolationmaintainingthatcomposite
bodiesaresubjecttoperpetualchangefromthemotionsofthe
stars,withoutchangingtheirspecificshapes.Afterthiscomes
thenatureofeclipses(pp.6769).Almostalltheforegoingis
derivedfromtheNabataeanAgricultureofIbnWahshja.The
authornowrevertstothemoonandfollows,formanypages,
thetheoryoftheIhwnalSaf',whichdiffersfromthatof
IbnWahshjainthatitlinkstheperiodsofthemoon'sgreatest
influencetoitsconjunctionwithotherplanetsandthehouses
inwhichtheystand(pp.6974).Therestofthechapteris
devotedtothetheoryoftheelections,inwhichthemoon
playsanimportantpart,andisintroducedbyadiscussionof
theimpedimentalunae,theunfavorablepositionsofthe
moon,whichgobacktoDorotheusofSidon.Asectionis
devotedtotheartofconvertingtheascendantintoafortunate
one.Thewholepassageisalmostcompletelypervadedby
correspondencesandparallelswithIbnAbi'lRijl,andin
certainpartswithSahlb.Bishr(pp.7481).Aninterpolated
notegivesamathematicaldefinitionoftheaspects(p.78).
ThechapterconcludesbycontrastingAristotle'sexhortation
toAlexandertopracticeastrologyandtheIslamicprohibition
oftheart.
Chapter4,ashortone,discussesthedoctrineofthe
trepidationofthesphereofthefixedstars,whichmustbe
takenintoaccountinthedrawingupofastronomicaltables.
ThisistakenverbatimfromTheoAlexandrinus,withthe

additionofapostscript,whichisapparentlytheworkofthe
compiler(pp.8183).
Chapter5isaparticularlygoodexampleofthe
characteristicallycuriousarrangementofthesubjectmatter
inTheAimoftheSage.Itbeginswiththestatementthata
"masterofancienttimes"dividedthewholeartofmagic
underthreeheads:talismans,theworshipoftheplanetsand
incantations.Eachofthesebecamethespecialprovinceof
certainpeoples:the"Indians",forexample,excelledin
incantations.Fromthiswepasstoanenumerationofthe
variousartsanddoctrinesofthese"Indians",withemphasis
on,amongothertopics,thecombinationofstarstocompose
certainmagicalfigures(pp.8386).Mentionofthe"Indian"
theoryofthenatureofdreamsistheoccasionforanaccount
oftheauthor'sownideasonthesubject,whicharebasedon
thoseofalFrb,andcertainquotationsfromthe
latter'sIdealState.Therefollowsthetheoryofdivinationand
prophecy,thesecondofwhichhasalsocloseaffinitieswith
theworkofalFrb,thoughhisnameisnotmentioneduntil
theconclusionofthesection,wherethereisanirrelevant
quotationfromhistreatiseonalchemy(pp.8790).Theauthor
nowrevertstohis"Indians"andadoptstheirdoctrineofthe
superiorityoftalismanoverelection,sincethetalisman,as
wellasbeingrenderedeffectivebythepowerofthe
constellationwhichdominatesit,receivesextrapowerfrom
thespecificqualities(virtutes)ofthesubstancesofwhichitis
composed(pp.9091).
Chapter6beginswiththeimportanceofthevirtutesin
reinforcingtheeffectsofthestarseveninthosenatural
processeswhichareindependentofhumanagency.Man
makestalismansunawaresassoonashebeginstomanipulate
natureinsuchprocessesasdyeingcloth,breedinganimalsor
compoundingdrugs,aswellasinthemanufactureofobjects
ofeverydayusefromtheproductsofnature,asincooking,
spinningandthelike.Nowinthemanufactureofatalisman,
asinmedicine,themakerisconsciouslyseekingtousea
simpleorcompoundsubstance,whichisitselfpredisposed
towardsthedesiredeffect(pp.9194).Justastheproductmay
beinfluencedindifferentwaysbythetreatmentitreceives,so
alsotheinfluenceofastardependsuponitsposition.This
analogyissoonabandonedandtheauthorturnstothetheory
ofthestars'effectsinawaywhichisunrelatedtowhathas

gonebefore.Thefirstpartofthischapteristakenoverentire
fromJbir'sKitbalBaht,whilethesecondpartapparently
consistsofquotationsfromthathalfoftheworkwhichhas
notcomedowntous.Someofthetheoriespresentedare
extremelydifficulttounderstandandinterpret,astheauthor
himselfadmits.Themainsourceofthedifficultyliesinthe
factthatthediscussionconcernstheaetherandthesphereof
thefixedstarsandtheirbearingonmotionsandeffects(pp.
9499).Therefollowsapassageontherelativeeffectsof
differentplanetsinconjunctionwithoneanother,which,
thoughbasedonthesametheories,islessobscure(pp.99
100).Thechapterconcludeswithafurthersummaryofthe
theory,againinconformitywiththesurvivingportionof
Jbir'sbook(pp.100101).
Chapter7.Theimportanceofsimilarityand
dissimilarityfortheexplanationofcertainsiderealeffectswas
repeatedlymentionedinChapter6.InChapter7,theauthor
takestheopportunityofdefiningsimilarityasanaspectofthe
logicalcategoryofrelationappliedtothetalismanicart.He
thenentersonadetaileddiscussionofthecategoryof
quantity,consideringlines,surfaces,time,place,speechand
numberasfarastheyaresignificantfortalismans,witha
shorteraccount,attheend,ofpositionandquality(pp.101
107).ThewholeissummarizedfromJbir'sKitbalBaht.
Chapter8isalsotakenfromJbir.Itcontainsatable
showingthesimplequalitiesheat,cold,moistureanddryness
andwhatresultsfromthevariousstepsinforming
combinationsofthem.Thetableisprecededbyadiscussion
ofdetails,ofantiqueorigin(AntiochusofAthens).Afterthis
comestherationaleofthesequenceofthecombinationsof
thequalities,likewisefromJbir(pp.107110).Theauthor
closesthisverydifficultsection,whoseimportanceforthe
wholeisnoteasilydiscernible,withthesewords:
"I set forth such miraculous and confusing matters
from all the sciences for this reason only, that you
may be purified for the earnest study of these
marvelous arts and may achieve what the ancient
sages achieved and attain the heights that they
attained".
Chapter9takesupagainthenotionofthecombination
ofthestarsinmagicalfigures(seeChapter5)andgives

instructionsformakingsixtalismansengravedwithsuch
figures(pp.111113).
Chapter10dealswithtalismansmadebyengraving
certainfiguresonthestonesandmetalswhichbelongtothe
planets.Itfallsintothreeparts,ofwhichthefirstisan
enumerationofthemineralsbelongingtothevariousplanets.
TheArabicmanuscriptsofTheAimoftheSage,unlikethose
ofthetranslations,showstrikingdeviationsfromtheusual
classification.Itisthereforepossiblethatthecorrespondences
ofthetranslationswiththenormmaybeduetoareworking
ofthetext.Atallevents,itisremarkablethatsomeofthe
deviations(e.g.ironinsteadofleadforSaturn,copperinstead
ofironforMars)arealsofoundinBookIII,chapter7,the
chapteronSabianprayerstotheplanets.Thefirstpartends
withillustrationsofthefigures,someofwhichstillsurviveas
signetsoftheplanets(pp.113114).Thesecondpart
describestheimagesoftheplanetarygods.Theauthorgives
threesources,thoughthereareinfactmore,aswillbeseen
fromthecommentarytothepresenttranslation.Thethree
sourcesspecifiedarealapidaryby`Utrid,abookwithouta
titlebyApolloniusandaworkbyacertainKritonon
pneumatictalismanstranslatedbyBu(i)qrts(Picatrix)
(pp.114119).Inthethirdpartareinstructionsforengraving
theseandotherimages,someofthemwithmagicalsigns,on
differentstones,withinformationontheirvariouseffects.The
numberofthesourcesisthenincreasedbythementionofa
bookdedicatedtoAlexanderbyAristotle
(obviouslySecretumsecretorum)andaworkbyHermes(al
Hdts).Thereis,however,noindicationoftherelevant
sourceformostoftheinstructions,sothatitcannotbe
determinedwhetherthesourcesofallarethesameasthose
justmentioned.Thedifferingdegreeofexplicitnessofthe
instructionsmakesitprobablethattheauthorcollectedhis
materialfromwhereverhecouldfindit(pp.119130).The
chapterconcludeswithashortlistoftalismanswhichareto
bemanufacturedwhentheplanetsareincertaindecans.The
effectsaregiven,butnootherdetails(p.141).Thislistis
clearlyconnectedwiththelasttwochaptersofBookII,which
discussthedecansindetail.
Chapter11openswithanadmonitiontokeepthe
doctrineconcealedfromtheunlettered,who,fromtheirlack
ofwisdom,willonlydisparagethedignityoftheastrologer.It

continueswiththedefinitionofunderstandingandsagacity,
usingformulationswhicharetobefoundinacollectionof
aphorismsascribedtoalFrb,thoughalsoattributable,in
part,toMiskawaihandeventoAristotle(pp.131133).Then
followsthedetailedenumerationofthethirtysixdecans(here
calledwujh,facies),theimagesascendinginthem,andthe
namesoftheplanetswithwhichtheyareconnected,
beginningfromAries,withMars,theSunandVenusand
endinginPisceswithSaturn,JupiterandMars.Therearea
fewwordsofintroductiontothelist,statingthattheeffectsof
thedecansarefoundedintheirconcordwiththephyseisof
their"lords".Apostscriptdiscussestherelativepowerofthe
variousplanetsandastrologicalpositionsandof
thephyseis(pp.133140).Anidenticaldescriptionistobe
foundinIbnAbi'lRijl,exceptthatthelatteromitsallthe
imagesand,fromVirgoon,theplanets,whichhehasnocall
togiveatall.Inashortclosingpassagetheauthortellsus
that,tomaketheiroperationeffective,theimagesmustbe
engravedonsubstanceswhichcorrespondtotherespective
planets.
Chapter12givesasecondlistofdecans,basedonthe
systemofthe"Indians",inwhichthedecansare
calleddarjn,theIndiannameforthem.Theyarenow
allottedtotheplanetsinsuchawaythateachfirstdecan
containsthelordofthezodiacalsign(Mars,e.g.,isinthefirst
decanofAries),whiletotheothertwodecansareallottedthe
lordsofthesignssituatedtrigonally(120)distantfromthem,
as,inAries,theSun(Leo)andJupiter(Sagittarius).The
effectsonlyaregiven,nottheimages(pp.14143).We
continuewithinformationonBrahminasceticpractices,
whichareperformedatastrologicallysignificanttimesand,
byenablingthepractitionerstoreachastateof
dematerialization,allowthemtodominatethecelestial
powers.Theyareguidedbya"BookoftheBuddha",from
whichextractsarequoted(pp.14446).Thencomesthe
description,frequentlyfoundinothertexts,oftheseverance
ofaheadfromalivingbodysothatitmaybequestionedfor
propheticpurposes.Ourauthorgivesnoindicationthatheis
heredesertingthe"Indians"fortheSabians(pp.14647).
Therefollowsadetailedlistofthecolorsbelongingtothe
decansoftheplanets(againcalledwujh,facies),withoutany
indicationofwhatthesignificanceofthisis.Ifweareto
believethislist,eachplanethasthreedecans,asthoughit

wereasignofthezodiac,andonecolorandtwotalismansare
attributedtoeverydecan(pp.147151).Theconclusionofthe
chapterandofBookIIconsistsofanextractfromaworkon
talismansbythephysicianalRazi,describingthe
constellationsfavorabletothemanufactureoftalismansfor
specificpurposes(pp.15152).Theauthorgivesthenamesof
severalbooks,amongthemthemuchquotedKitbalBaht,
byJbir,whosepupilheprofessestobe.Finally,hegivesthe
contentsofboththemagicalbooksoftheLaws,ascribedto
Plato,andcomparestheirmethodwiththatofJbir(pp.152
57).

BOOK III
Havingexpounded,inBookII,thedoctrineofthe
planetsandthesignsofthezodiacforthemostpartas
elementsofconstellationsforthepurposeofmaking
talismans,theauthor,inBookIII,treatsthemmore
individually,withtheirspecificqualities.Theplanetsare
personifiedtosuchadegreethattheyarevirtuallyconjured
andworshipped.
Chapter1.Afterashort,noteasilyintelligible
introduction,theobjectofwhichistoestablishthe
astrologicalhourwhichmakesatalismanefficacious,(pp.
15657),thereisadetaileddescriptionofthedominionsof
thesevenplanets,whichembracesalldivisionsofnatureand
certainaspectsofcivilization,suchaslanguages,religions
andthesciences.Inconclusion,thereisabriefnoteonthe
effectsofbothnodesofthelunarorbit(pp.15764).
Chapter2.Thereisasimilar,butmuchshorterdetailed
listofthedominionsofthetwelvesignsofthezodiac
(pp.16466).
Chapter3isanomniumgatherum,beginningwithalist
ofthesubstancesfromwhichtheinksoftheplanetsmaybe
made.Nosourceisyetknownforanythingfromthe
beginningofBookIIItothispoint.Wenowfindaquotation
fromanotherwiseunknownpseudoAristotelianwork
entitledTheBookofLampsandBanners.Theauthorfirst
givesalist,asitappearsinthiswork,oftheimagesofthe
personifiedplanets,whichisineffectasupplementtothatin
BookII,chapter10.Then,againfromtheBookofLampsand
Banners,hegivesthecolorsandstuffsoftherobestobe

wornwhenworshippingtheplanets,aswellasthe
fumigationspropertothem(pp.16768).Headdstothese,
fromanother,unnamed,source,theformulaefortheinksof
thethirtysixdecansandexplains,inapostscript,the
importanceofdealingconsistentlywithonlythosethings
whichbelongtotheplanets.Asatextforthisheusesan
aphorismby'Utrid,whichisrepeated,alongwithother
aphorismsbythesameauthor,inBookIV,chapter4(pp.168
71).Theeffectsoftheplanetsonthegeographicregionsof
theeartharenowillustrated,certainproductsandother
featurespeculiartoforeigncountriesbeingspecified,ina
mixtureofthetrueandthefantastic.Inthemiddleofthis
sectionisalistoftheproductsofSpain,theauthor's
homeland,andthewholeconcludes,inspiteoftheauthor's
leaningtowardsastrology,withaquotationfromthe
HippocraticworkDeAeribusaquislocis.Thechapterends
withalistofthegeneraleffectsofthesunandmoonandof
theotherfiveplanetsonmankind(pp.17176).
Chapter4iscompletelyisolated,sinceitistheonlyone
intheentirebookwhichmentionsIslaminconnectionwith
astrology.ItgoessofarastousetheKoranasabasisfora
methodofreckoningthedurationoftheArabkingdomby
usingthenumericalvaluesofsomesinglelettersandgroups
oflettersatthebeginningofanumberofthesuras.Allthe
versesoftheKoranarefirstallotted,inorder,totheseven
planets.Thenthoseletters,orgroupsofletters,areselected
whichstandatthebeginningofthosesurasofwhichthefirst
orlastversewasallottedtoVenus,theplanetarypatronessof
theArabs.
Theauthorbeginswithashortdescriptionofhissource,
abookbythesofarunknownJa'farofBasra(pp.17677).The
expressionsymbolusedherepromptshimtomakea
digressiononovertandcovertmeaningandtherelationof
thisdistinctiontothepsychologyofcognition.Thevarious
waysofknowingGodaregivenasanexample.Partsofthe
argumentaretobefoundinaminorworkbyalGazzl.The
comparison,frequentinIslamicliterature,betweenthe
incomprehensibilityofGodandtheintolerablebrillianceof
light,isusedbywayofillustration(pp.17779).Thisis
followedbyspeculationastothereasonwhy,ofthetwenty
eightlettersoftheArabicalphabetwhichtogetherforma
whole,compoundedofspiritandmatter,thathalfonlywhich

representsthespiritappearsatthebeginningofthesuras,why
morethanfiveoftheselettersneveroccurtogether,and,
finally,whythefirstletterofthiskindtoappearintheKoran
isalifandthelastnn.
Certainadmonitions,fromtheGospelandfromHadt,
enjoiningthatsecretsshouldbeimpartedonlytothoseworthy
toreceivethem,buttosuchpersonsfreely,arethenquoted
(pp.179181).Thenfollowstheenumerationofallthesuras,
includingthenumberoftheirversesandthestatementofthe
planettowhicheachfirstandlastversebelongs(pp.18184).
TheauthorisseekingtoprovethatthetermoftheArab
kingdomissixhundredandninetythreeyears,thesame
numberatwhichalKindhadarrivedbytwoothermethods
inaworkwhichtheauthorcitesexplicitlyandwhichhas
survived(pp.18485).Theconclusionisconcernedwithan
explanationofthenatureofthespirit,sincethespiritis
represented,asmentionedabove,bythelettersatthe
beginningofsomeofthesuras.Theexplanationbeginswith
theStoicdefinitionofthevitalspirit,adefinitionoftenused
inArabicliterature.Otherdefinitionsfollow,ofwhichonly
somecanbeascribedtodefinitesources(pp.18587).
Itisworthmentioningthatthis"Islamic"chaptercomes
directlybeforethatpartofthebookinwhichtheauthorturns
toblackmagic.Theintroductiontothispartisevenmore
remarkable.
Chapter5openswiththestatementthattheauthoris
"returningtothesubject".Itreferstothedivisionofthe
creaturesofthethreenaturalkingdomsamongtheplanets,
whichwasdealtwithatthebeginningofBookIII.Theauthor
soonbreaksoffandrevertstothesuperiorityofmanover
livingcreatures,whichhehasalreadynotedinBookI,
chapter6.Hedetailsthecharacteristicsofanumberof
differentanimalsandestablishesman'ssuperioritybythefact
thatalltheelementshaveashareinhim.Thereiterationof
thisinthedigressionisintentional,sinceitgivestheauthor
thechancetodiscussjinns,devilsandangels(pp.18789).
Hethenannouncesoncemorethatheisabouttotakeup
hismainsubjectagainandgivesanaccountofthepeoples
whohavebeenfamousfortheartsofmagicandofhowthey
attainedthepositionofbeingabletocontrol
thepneumata(pp.18990).Asanexample,henarratesastory

fromabookknownonlyfromthepresentwork.Ittells,with
detaileddescriptionsofthemagicalprocesses,howarichand
handsomeyoungmanwasspiritedtotheplacewherehis
loverwasandthen,later,freedfromtheenchantment(pp.
19092).Aftercarefullypointingouttheimportanceofthe
subjectandtheextentofthepainshehimselfhastaken,the
authorspeaksforthethirdtimeofreturningtohisthemeand
givesexhaustivedirectionsfortheattractionoftheplanetary
spiritbyusingaknowledgeofthelordshipsoftheplanets.
Thefumesoftheincenseburntintheincantationoftheplanet
aretobepassedthroughthemiddleofahollowcross,explicit
reasonsbeinggivenforthis.Thechapterconcludeswithsome
generalquotationsfromanunidentifiedsourceonthe
relationsbetweenplanetsandterrestrialsouls(pp.19297).
Chapter6isdevotedtothemanifestationofthespiritual
essenceofthewiseman,whichiscalledhis"perfectnature".
Theincantationforthis"perfectnature"isdescribed
accordingtotwopseudoAristotelianhermetictreatises,al
IstamtsandalIstamhs(pp.198210),thelatterofwhich
survivescomplete,theformerinfragmentsonly.Following
thisareprophecies,quotedfromalIstamhs,ofAlexander's
victoryoverthePersians,andAlexanderisadvisedtoinvoke
thepneumataofhis"perfectnature".Theauthor,citingatext
whichheclaimstobePersian,tellshowtheKingofthe
PersianslearnedfromhisdescriptionthatAlexanderwas
invincible(pp.201203).Thencome"historical"notesonthe
mostancientphilosophers,whowereawareof
thispneuma,andinformationconcerningthespiritualforces
atworkintalismanandsoulalike.Boththesesectionsare
takenfromalIstamhs(pp.203205),andthechapterends
withsayingsbySocratesandHermesontheessenceofthe
perfectnature,fromthesamesource(pp.205206).
Chapter7.Thereaderisapparentlynowconsidered
sufficientlypreparedinthetheoryofmagictobeinitiatedinto
itspractice.OurauthorquotesfromabookbyalTabar,an
astronomernotyetidentified,copiousinstructions,forthe
adorationoftheplanetsaccordingtotheusageoftheSabians.
Thesearenotgivenintheformofaconnectednarrative,but
asdirectives,andtheygosofarastoenjoinprostration.
Atthebeginningofthechapterisalistoftheplanets,
withparticularsofwhichplanetistobeinvokedforwhich

groupsofpeopleandwhichdesiredgifts(pp.206209).
Followingthisthereisasecondlist,givingthecharacteristics
ofeachplanetandexplainingtheirsignificance,inaway
frequentlyreminiscentofthelistinchapter1ofthisbook
(pp.209213).Thencometheceremoniesandthetextsofthe
prayersforeachplanet,withdetailsoftheircorrecthoursand
astrologicalconditions.Foreachplanetanumber,varying
fromonetofour,ofprayersandincenses,isgiven.The
prayerstoMarsarefollowed,curiouslyenough,byaprayer
toUrsaMajor.Formanypartsoftheprayersparallelscanbe
foundinthefragmentarymanuscriptsofalIstamts.The
metalsfromwhichtheincensevesselsmustbemadedonotin
allcasescorrespondwiththetraditionalplanetarymetals,as
statedaboveinBookII,chapter10(pp.21337).Nextthereis
anaccountofotherSabianrites,childsacrifice,theworship
ofMarsbyritualslaughter,theinitiationofyoungmen,
offeringstoSaturnandavariantofthestory,giveninBook
II,chapter12,oftheseveranceofalivingheadfromitsbody
(pp.23741).
Chapter8containsprayersoftheNabataeanstoSaturn
andtheSun,takenfromtheNabataeanAgricu1ture.Ina
postscripttheauthorexplainsthatallthisis,accordingto
Islamicnotions,idolatry,andthatheintroducesitsimplyon
groundsofscholarshipandasaproofofthepreeminenence
ofIslam(pp.24145).
Chapter9contains,againaccordingtoalIstamts,the
namesofthepneumataofthesevenplanetsandtheirsix
"directions",i.e.thetwochannelsofmovementofeachofthe
threedimensionsofspace,hencethesixdirectionsinwhich
thepneumacanmove.Therefollowsadetaileddescriptionof
theceremoniesforeachplanet,thistimeconcernedwiththe
properregulationofsacrificialrepasts(pp.245253).
Chapter10continueswithexcerptsfromourtwo
pseudoAristotelianworks.First,fromalIstamhs,thereare
fouramulets,composedbyAristotleforAlexander(pp.253
58).Thencomesatalismanforprotectionagainstthepoisons
inmagicphiltresandamedicinefortheevileffectsofthe
pneumaonthemagician(pp.25859).Afterthis
follownirenjs[nirangs],charmsforvariousobjects,suchas
successinlove,royalfavoretc.,inventedbyKns,the
"pneumatician",ofwhomweknowfromothersources.Each

The Pneuma of Saturn is

called Barms, that of
Jupiter is Damhs, Mars
Dagdijs, the Sun
Bandals, Venus Dds
Mercury Barhjs, the
Moon Garns.

purposeisallottedvariousmedia,suchastalismans,foods,
fumigationsandaromaticsubstancesorperfumes.Manyof
thesemediahavemagicalnamesandmagicwordsarealso
prescribedfortheirincantation(pp.259272).Thesourceof
alltheseprescriptionsissofarunidentified,thoughatsome
pointsalIstamtsandrelatedtextsareexpresslycited.
Chapter11isgivenovertosimilarformulae,which,it
isexplicitlystatedattheoutset,donotcomefromKns.
Modesofprocedureareonlysometimesspecifiedand
frequentlytheingredientsaloneofthecharms,inprescription
forrn,aregiven.Notalltheprescriptionsareofapurely
magicalnature:theysometimesextendtoexactdirectionsfor
preparingpoisons.Someparallelsfromal
Istamtsmanuscriptsmayberecognized.Thesectionof
prescriptionsendswithaprophylacticagainstthepoisons
employed,theinventionofKanka,the"Indian",whois
knownfromothersources(pp.27285).Immediatelyonthis
passagefollowexamplesofthemagicartsoftheancient
Egyptians,whichcomefromthewidelydiffusedlegendary
prehistoryofEgypt,tobefoundinalMaqrzandother
authors.Theseexamplesareinterruptedbyadiscussionofthe
"friendly"numbers220and284.Thewholeisattributedto
"him",sothatitappearsthatKankahasallalongbeenunder
contribution,whereasthefactisthatthesectionisa
miscellanyfromdifferentsources.
NoneofthelegendarykingsofEgyptisnameduntila
furtherinstalmentofEgyptianhistoryispresented.Whatwe
aretoldofEgyptconcernstalismans,devicestogivewarning
oftheapproachofenemiesandforthestorageofdrinking
water,aswellastalismanicsculpturesagainstdiseaseandfor
theunmaskingoflibertines(pp.28588).Thediscussionof
"Indian"practicesnowcontinues,includingexamplesofthe
artificialgenerationoflivingbeings(pp.28890).
Wenowreturntophilosophy,whichoccupiesthelast
chapterofBookIIIandthefirstofBookIV.Thedefinite
divisionofthetwochaptersisnoteasilyaccountedfor.One
hastheimpressionthattheauthormayhavewished,at
obviouspointsliketheendofonebookandthebeginningof
another,todisplaysomethinglessoffensivethanthewild
heterodoxyof,inparticular,thesecondpartofBookIII.
Chapter12beginswithanemphaticstatementofthe

importanceofpracticalapplicationinattainingmasteryofthe
arts.Itisilluminatingthatitadducesanexampleinwhicha
magicalperformanceisdiscoveredtobeafraud,viz.,the
story,wellknownfromelsewhere,ofAnoshawanand
Mazdak.TherefollowexhortationstotheloveofGod,which
issomarkedlydifferentfromallotherkindsoflove.Then
comesapassagefromtheMetaphysicsofAristotle,which
makesaratherforcedtransitiontoadiscussionofthevarious
meaningsoftheword"nature".Forthistherearemany
parallels,oneofthedefinitionsbeingderivedfromIsaac
Israeli.BookIIIendsratherabruptlywithanaccount,
attributedtoEmpedocles,ofthefirstcausesofthesubstances
(pp.290296).

BOOK IV
Chapter1.Itisalittledifficult,sincetheopeningofthe
chapterisacontinuationofthestatementofEmpedoclean
doctrinebeguninBookIII,Chapter12,torealizethatanew
bookhascommenced.Webeginwiththetheoryofthefive
substances,treatedasahistoryofcreationandofnature
(pp.297299).Thisisfollowedbyadetailedanalysisofthe
conceptsofSubstance(pp.299300),Intellect(pp.300304),
andSoul(pp.304308).Nosourceisgivenforthesectionon
Intellect,thoughmanyparallelscouldbepointedout.Inthe
passageonSoul,ontheotherhand,therearequotations,some
ofthemgenuine,fromanumberofancientphilosophers.
ReasonsforhavingexpoundedthedoctrineofSouland
Intellectconcludethechapterandthestatementthatashadow
formsamaterialpartitionbetweentheintellectofthereader
andthatoftheuniverseisthestartingpointforaninteresting
excursusonthenatureofshadows.
Chapter2.Theauthor,havingonceagaingiven
philosophyitsdue,"returnstothesubjectofthebook",and
chapter2dealswithprayerstothemoonineachofthetwelve
signsofthezodiac.Thesearetheworkof"aschooloflearned
menoftheKurdsandAbyssinians"andoftentellwhatmay
beaccomplishedundereachsign.Narrativesillustratingthe
possibleeffectsaresometimesgiven(pp.309319).Themost
remarkableoftheseisthestoryoftwomenwhomeetwhile
walkingonthewatersoftheRedSea.Followingtheprayers
tothemoonare"Indian"ceremoniesforthesevenplanets.
Eachceremonyistobeprecededbyasevendays'fastand
magicsigns,calledcharacters,areusedintheceremonies(pp

319322).CertainpartsofthismaybefoundinHermetic
manuscripts.
Chapter3takesupagain,onamuchlargerscale,the
legendaryprehistoryofEgypt,whichhadalreadybeenbegun
inBookIII,chapter11.ThestoryoftheEagleTown,builtby
therebelliousgovernor'Auninanattempttoescapethe
vengeanceofKingalWaldonthelatter'sreturnfroman
expeditiontothesocalledMountainoftheMoonandthe
sourceoftheNile,isthentoldindetail(pp.322329).
(Parallelstothewhole,frompseudoMas'd'sAhbral
zamn,alMaqrzandalNuwairarecitedinthefootnotesto
thetranslation.)Thereisnowanabrupttransitionto
directionsformakingoneselfinvisible,andthestoryofa
sorcerer'sKurdishapprentice,whoselackofunderstanding
ledtohisdismissal(pp.32931).Thechapterconcludeswith
someaphorisms,oneofthemfrompseudo
Ptolemy'sCentiloquium,whicharenotentirely
comprehensible(pp.33132).
Chapter4isagainamiscellany.Itopenswithfortyfive
aphorismsofanastrologicalandmagicalnaturefromabook
extantinmanuscript,bytheBabylonian'Utrid(Hermes).
'UtaridmayperhapsbethepersonmentionedinBookII,
chapter10asoneofthesourcesfortheengravingof
planetaryfiguresonstones(pp.33236).Therefollowten
aphorismsfromtheCentiloquium(pp.33638)andsayings
attributedtoPlato,HippocratesandAristotle,alsoofan
astrologicalnature(pp.33839),aswellasthecompletetext
ofthe"Aristotelian"treatiseontalismans,extractsfrom
whichwerequotedinBookI,chapter5.Addedtothisthereis
adiscussionofthenotionofdegree,whichistobefoundin
thepseudoAristoteliantreatise(pp.33943).Thenthereare
furtherobservationsofageneralkindontalismans,whichthe
authorsayshehasfromJbir.Ithasnotbeenpossibleto
identifypreciselywhatworkismeant(pp.34346).The
conclusionofthechapteristakenupwithtwoquotations
from"Plato",ofwhichoneisanexhortationtopreferbodily
deathtospiritualextinctionandtheotherconcernsthebasis
fortheeffectsofmusiconthesoul.Thelatterquotation,
whichislargelyincomprehensibleandclearlyverycorrupt,
includesexcerptsfromthefragmentsofEmpedocles,which
areextantinGreek.Thechapterendswiththeadmonitionto

disciplinethesoul,sleepingandwaking(pp.34648).
Chapter.5beginsbyenumeratingthetensciences
preliminarytothemasteryofalchemyandmagic.Thelistis,
inmanyrespects,influencedbythefamiliarencyclopedic
pattern,buttakes,inothers,quiteasingularturn.The
pertinentAristoteliantextsarespecifiedforsomeofthe
sciences(pp.34951).Wearenowtoldthatthrough
philosophymanstrivesafterthedivinelikeness.Thenthe
authorrevertstothetheoryoflove,withwhichhehadbegun
todealinBookIII,chapter12(pp.35153).Heconsidersthat
thepoweroftheevileyeoughtbyrightstobediscussedhere.
Thefactthattheevileyemaybehereditarygiveshimthe
occasionforadetailedaccountofthedoctrinesofheredity
andprocreation,takenverbatimfromalFrb,whois,
however,notnamed(pp.35357).Thechapterconcludeswith
speculations,fromanunknownsource,onthemeaningofbi
sexuality(pp.35758).
Chapter6openswithformulaeandceremoniesfor
incense,allegedlybyBuddha,inhonorofthesevenplanets
asubjectthathad,toallappearances,beenexhausted.It
closeswiththeversesfromExodus,tellingoftheperfumes
prescribedbyGodtoMoses,(pp.358362),andanexhaustive
descriptionof"Indian"enchantments(pp.36266).
Chapter7isverylongandconsistsforthemostpartof
avowedandverbatimextractsfromtheNabataean
Agriculture,e.g.,howthebaytreespoketothegardenerina
dream,thedebateoverprecedencebetweenthemarshmallow
andthemandrake,theselfcommendationoftheolivetree
andhowasleepingkingwasapprisedbyatreethathis
servant,disregardingtheroyalcommandinanticipationofthe
royalremorse,hadsparedthelifeofthequeen.Theother
extractsare,inthemain,explanationsofthemagicproperties
ofcertainplantsandofthecustomsofthepeoplesmentioned
intheNabataeanAgriculture(pp.362401).Notallcanbe
tracedtothemanuscriptsoftheAgricultureandsomeofthe
matterseemstobetakenfromotherworksbyIbnWahshja.
Adifferentversionofthediscussionofpoisonforarrows
usedbytheArmenians(pp.383f.)istobefoundintheBook
ofPoisons.Othersubjectsseemtohavebeenaddedbyour
author,forexample,aquotationfromaworkattributedtoal
Hallj(pp.389f.).Thesectiononthespecificproductsof

certaincountries(pp.39196),asubjectresumedfromBook
III,chapter3,goesfarbeyondwhatIbnWahshjacanhave
hadtosay.Summingup,theauthorspeaksofthethree
naturalkingdomsanimal,vegetableandmineralandof
mankindaswellasthelinksbywhichtheymaybeledback
totheCreator(pp.401402).
Thetwolastchapters,thecompilersays,aretakenfrom
atemplebook,whichwasfoundinthetimeofCleopatra.
Chapter8gives,inaconfusedorder,alargenumberof
thevirtutesofnaturalobjects(pp.403412).Parallelstomost
ofthese,veryoftenintheworksofJbir,areidentifiable,and
manyareattributabletoclassicalauthors,suchasPliny.
Chapter9deals,initsentirety,withdescriptionsof
talismans,whichexpresslydependonthevirtutes.
Astrologicalmaterialisnotmentioned.Theobjectsofthe
talismansareofdifferentkinds:fordrugs,forattractingor
repellinganimals,producingcoloreffectsetc.(pp.41220).
Asaconclusion,theauthorgivesatestamentof
SocratesandsevenadmonitionsbyPythagoras,both
identifiableinothersources,someofthemclassical(pp.421
423).
M.Plessner