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The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation: Including the Demotic Spells: Texts (Volume 1) Paperback – January 1, 1996

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 478 ratings

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"The Greek magical papyri" is a collection of magical spells and formulas, hymns, and rituals from Greco-Roman Egypt, dating from the second century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. Containing a fresh translation of the Greek papyri, as well as Coptic and Demotic texts, this new translation has been brought up to date and is now the most comprehensive collection of this literature, and the first ever in English.

The Greek Magical Papyri in Transition is an invaluable resource for scholars in a wide variety of fields, from the history of religions to the classical languages and literatures, and it will fascinate those with a general interest in the occult and the history of magic.

"One of the major achievements of classical and related scholarship over the last decade."—Ioan P. Culianu,
Journal for the Study of Judaism

"The enormous value of this new volume lies in the fact that these texts will now be available to a much wider audience of readers, including historians or religion, anthropologists, and psychologists."—John G. Gager,
Journal of Religion

"[This book] shows care, skill and zest. . . . Any worker in the field will welcome this sterling performance."—Peter Parsons,
Times Literary Supplement
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 2nd edition (January 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 406 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226044475
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226044477
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.9 x 7 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 478 ratings

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Hans Dieter Betz
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
478 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a valuable resource for studying ancient magic. They describe it as an excellent source for researching, accessible, and concise. The book covers historical topics from esoteric traditions of magic to the shaping of Christianity. It is considered a must-have for any magician's library.

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20 customers mention "Value for money"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a valuable resource for researching religious and magical thought. They describe it as accessible, concise, and worth reading. Readers mention it's an interesting reference and essential for every practicing magician's library.

"the book is very good, it is a combination of natural plant and natural aminal parts which is the best practices of black magic, I hope to get..." Read more

"This book is truly one of the most important books in all of Greco-Egyptian magic, relgion, alchemy, and theurgy books out there and not out there, I..." Read more

"...Once again, a very powerful book, an excellent source for those researching the pagan occult arts, and not to be approached by the frivolous." Read more

"...Magical Papyri arrived a little later than I expected, but it was worth the wait...." Read more

15 customers mention "Knowledge"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and helpful for research. They appreciate its coverage of ancient magic and historical topics, from esoteric traditions to the shaping of Christianity. The book includes many rituals and spells for various workings.

"...of natural plant and natural aminal parts which is the best practices of black magic, I hope to get another ancient book like this one, however, I..." Read more

"...Treat this book more like an encyclopedia. It has a great number of rituals and spells for all kinds of workings, dedicated to many of the ancient..." Read more

"...of magical procedures from Graeco-Roman Egypt is powerful and fascinating...." Read more

"...profound impact on a wide range of historical topics, from esoteric traditions of magic to the shaping of Christianity..." Read more

Greek Magical Papyri Has Similarities to 'The Mithras Liturgy'
5 out of 5 stars
Greek Magical Papyri Has Similarities to 'The Mithras Liturgy'
I originally purchased a different book for Planetary Invocations back in 2013, but I lost it traveling out of state. Since it's loss, I began printing the Greek Magical Planetary Rites from the internet websites that posted them free to the public, but I finally decided this year to purchase this book on Amazon instead of replacing my original Planetary Invocation book.The Greek Magical Papyri arrived a little later than I expected, but it was worth the wait. I haven't looked at every spell, but I recognized some of the material from 'The Mithras Liturgy' in respect with Mithras, whose various complex and unique names of divine light and divine fire were replaced in this Papyri to a lesser differentiated and aggregate collective name of 'Apollo' or 'Sol', and possibly to the angelic name of 'Michael'.I am, however, elated at owning it at last... I recommend its study along with 'The Papyrus of Ani' and the ' The Mithras Liturgy'. The three should be purchased together. I recommend purchasing The Mithras Liturgy edition that is paraphrased in Greek so that these divine names can be studied in its respective language.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
    the book is very good, it is a combination of natural plant and natural aminal parts which is the best practices of black magic, I hope to get another ancient book like this one, however, I will relocate to Africa, Nigeria to specific where I would find those plants and animal to put it practices step by step to achieve my set objectives
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
    This book is truly one of the most important books in all of Greco-Egyptian magic, relgion, alchemy, and theurgy books out there and not out there, I'm sure. Though some translations are debated, the book is immensely powerful insomuch that it illusrates, from an etic point of view, how some rituals and common rites (like the basic gathering of magical herbs and plants) were performed during the time of writing.
    You absolutely want this book.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
    This is a great interpretation of this ancient grimoire. This book is NOT something you simply sit down and read cover-to-cover, though. Treat this book more like an encyclopedia. It has a great number of rituals and spells for all kinds of workings, dedicated to many of the ancient gods of antiquity.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2003
    This collection of magical procedures from Graeco-Roman Egypt is powerful and fascinating. This is serious magic, and potentially dangerous; caution is advised to those who would work many of these operations.
    Shortly after my wife acquired the magical papyri, I studied the spells and formulae for a research project I was involved in. Strange things began to happen. A wine bottle containing sacred water to be used in an upcoming ceremony suddenly and spontaneously shattered. Now, my theory was that the setting sun had been shining on the enclosed bottle and caused it to explode, but I still felt an occult force at work, and immediately a name jumped into my mind: Typhon/Set. Then I noticed an invocation adressed to Set as the Typhonic being who "shatters all things", to be recited at sunrise and sunset. I found a hymn to Selene - beautiful, evocative, terrifying - that expressed perfectly the essence of the Gorgon which, that very night, was guarding my doorway under the majestic and severe light of the full moon. Magical symbols began appearing to my mind's eye, and I drew one to show my wife, who was reading the papyri at the time; when I gave her drawing, she showed me the page she was reading, and there was the very same symbol.
    Once again, a very powerful book, an excellent source for those researching the pagan occult arts, and not to be approached by the frivolous.
    18 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2017
    I originally purchased a different book for Planetary Invocations back in 2013, but I lost it traveling out of state. Since it's loss, I began printing the Greek Magical Planetary Rites from the internet websites that posted them free to the public, but I finally decided this year to purchase this book on Amazon instead of replacing my original Planetary Invocation book.

    The Greek Magical Papyri arrived a little later than I expected, but it was worth the wait. I haven't looked at every spell, but I recognized some of the material from 'The Mithras Liturgy' in respect with Mithras, whose various complex and unique names of divine light and divine fire were replaced in this Papyri to a lesser differentiated and aggregate collective name of 'Apollo' or 'Sol', and possibly to the angelic name of 'Michael'.

    I am, however, elated at owning it at last... I recommend its study along with 'The Papyrus of Ani' and the ' The Mithras Liturgy'. The three should be purchased together. I recommend purchasing The Mithras Liturgy edition that is paraphrased in Greek so that these divine names can be studied in its respective language.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Greek Magical Papyri Has Similarities to 'The Mithras Liturgy'
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2017
    I originally purchased a different book for Planetary Invocations back in 2013, but I lost it traveling out of state. Since it's loss, I began printing the Greek Magical Planetary Rites from the internet websites that posted them free to the public, but I finally decided this year to purchase this book on Amazon instead of replacing my original Planetary Invocation book.

    The Greek Magical Papyri arrived a little later than I expected, but it was worth the wait. I haven't looked at every spell, but I recognized some of the material from 'The Mithras Liturgy' in respect with Mithras, whose various complex and unique names of divine light and divine fire were replaced in this Papyri to a lesser differentiated and aggregate collective name of 'Apollo' or 'Sol', and possibly to the angelic name of 'Michael'.

    I am, however, elated at owning it at last... I recommend its study along with 'The Papyrus of Ani' and the ' The Mithras Liturgy'. The three should be purchased together. I recommend purchasing The Mithras Liturgy edition that is paraphrased in Greek so that these divine names can be studied in its respective language.
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    66 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2012
    I am a Black Man. I can read pretty well. However the magic words threw me for a loop. I recited them as best as I could. The magic of the spells I selected came in my sleep, clear as day. I got one better for you! I am so good, that all I have to do is selected a spell situation in the index, without reciting a word, and it works!! I am, and have always been a good person. The magic I summon will destroy all my enemies, because they will destroy them selves. As they so, so they will reap. I picked a second spell in the index and the following happened. I was taken to one of the 2012 Mayan Pyramids in a vision, fought with 13 flying green flying serpents in a caged pyramid encloser, it was supposed to be to the death, me or them! I managed to corner them one by one. As I placed them on the top of a large mantle on top of the caged structure, They asked me not to hurt them. They were trembling like frighten children. I rubbed each one and let them go. The Dome cage opened I was taken in a clestial vehicle and brougt back to my home a placed in my bed. My third eye has opened. The pineal gland has activated.
    44 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2009
    The Greek Magical Papyri have had a profound impact on a wide range of historical topics, from esoteric traditions of magic to the shaping of Christianity (see Morton Smith's book "Jesus the Magician"). Hence this work is invaluable for anyone studying the history of religious and magical thought.

    I found the translations here to be accessible and to the point, Some of the charms were rather amusing (to have an erection anoint your "thing"---translator's words!---with a mixture of honey and pepper), to fairly well outside what I would consider ethical (large numbers of charms requiring the drowning of animals).

    All in all though this is an unappreciated and important work. I would highly recommend it.
    29 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
    There is simply no substitute for this modern translation of the extensive hoard of papyrus magical texts (spells, charms, handbooks, etc.) found in the desert of Roman Egypt. Minutely studied and presented in a scholarly text, this is an essential text for the study of "magic" as it was commonly practiced in Greco-Roman antiquity.
    14 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Lynn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait
    Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2024
    I really just got this. So excited to read it.
  • Maldoror
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2023
    Though long overdue a new translation, one which will be hopefully coming soon, Betz's work on the PGM is still a masterpiece both in the breadth and scope of the work included, even given the many errors that are extant in the meaning and translation of the text itself. Personally I believe that anyone who is at all interested in Western esotericism needs this in their library, not only as a reference book but also as an aid in their understanding of the history of magic both in its theurgical form but also in its ceremonial one as well. As regards printing, then my only one fault that I find with such works and this is not just pointed towards the PGM alone, is the cost of such works like this in the hardback form (I do so prefer hardbacks) and one that I think that publishers should address in considering their customers. There are books, of which in some cases the hardback is over £100 whilst the paperback is under £30.00. I believe this discrepancy does not warrant an explanation of the hardback having a higher cost due to it being printed in a limited run.
  • Souvik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good one
    Reviewed in India on April 15, 2022
    Good one
  • Andrea Vitussi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Per gli appassionati della transizione fra antico egitto ed ellenizzazione [argomento Magia]
    Reviewed in Italy on March 29, 2019
    Il ibro è adeguato al suo costo dal punto di vista editoriale, quindi struttura e rilegature ottime e rispondenti alle sollecitazioni meccaniche. Dal punto di vista dei contenuti è ricchissimo di testi tradotti dal greco con un certo numero di immagini inserite nel contesto proprio perché necessarie alla comprensione. Dotato di un glossarietto minimale, ha in fondo una ricca bibliografia. Dal mio punto di vista di appassionato di Egitto Antico ma anche di epoca tolemaica, posso dire di essere soddisfatto. Non è un libro da leggere in continuo, ma piuttosto un libro da consultare e tratti con ricerca di argomenti specifici [dall'indice dei titoli delle formule]. Molto interessante.
    Customer image
    Andrea Vitussi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Per gli appassionati della transizione fra antico egitto ed ellenizzazione [argomento Magia]
    Reviewed in Italy on March 29, 2019
    Il ibro è adeguato al suo costo dal punto di vista editoriale, quindi struttura e rilegature ottime e rispondenti alle sollecitazioni meccaniche. Dal punto di vista dei contenuti è ricchissimo di testi tradotti dal greco con un certo numero di immagini inserite nel contesto proprio perché necessarie alla comprensione. Dotato di un glossarietto minimale, ha in fondo una ricca bibliografia. Dal mio punto di vista di appassionato di Egitto Antico ma anche di epoca tolemaica, posso dire di essere soddisfatto. Non è un libro da leggere in continuo, ma piuttosto un libro da consultare e tratti con ricerca di argomenti specifici [dall'indice dei titoli delle formule]. Molto interessante.
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  • HRMS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ouvrage d'étude
    Reviewed in France on December 21, 2018
    Il est regrettable que cet ouvrage ne soit traduit en français. Il reste cependant n ouvrage de travail et d'étude fondamental.