Necromancy for the masses? A printed version of the compendium magiae innaturalis nigrae

Gordon, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7778-2555 2018. Necromancy for the masses? A printed version of the compendium magiae innaturalis nigrae. Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft 13 (3) , pp. 340-380. 10.1353/mrw.2018.0045 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The practice of ceremonial magic was a popular pursuit in the early modern period. Necromantic manuals gave instructions on how to compel and control evil spirits for personal gain. One such manual, the Compendium Magiae Innaturalis Nigrae (“Compendium of Unnatural Black Magic”), originated in Central Europe and enjoyed a long if not particularly widespread circulation history (c.1500–1900), appearing in both manuscript and printed form. The aim of this article will be to evaluate a hitherto unstudied pamphlet copy of Compendium, ostensibly dating to 1540. Using a selection of manuscript sources as points of comparison, I assess the ways in which the pamphlet Compendium differs from these longer, more elaborate handbooks, and provide an indication of how this booklet relates to the wider Compendium corpus.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Publisher:	University of Pennsylvania Press (Penn Press)
ISSN:	1940-5111
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	27 March 2023
Last Modified:	30 Apr 2024 15:34
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/157589

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