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The history of magic

Chapter 4: ILLUSTRATIONS
By Éliphas Lévi
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About This Book

A comprehensive survey traces the development of occult doctrines, rites, and practices from ancient to modern times, combining historical narrative, philosophical analysis, and ritual description. It examines major schools of esoteric thought, notable practitioners and emblematic ceremonies, explores symbolic language and claimed methods, and assesses reported phenomena with a skeptical philosophical frame. Translatorial commentary contextualizes the author's assertions of adept knowledge while distinguishing speculative theory from practical efficacy. The volume alternates exposition, biographical sketches, and critical reflection, aiming to map how magical ideas circulated, transformed, and influenced broader spiritual and intellectual currents.

ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE
I. Portrait of Éliphas Lévi in the Robe of a Magus Frontispiece
FACING
PAGE
II. Portrait of Éliphas Lévi taken after death xxii
III. The Pentagram of the Absolute 2
IV. The Great Symbol of Solomon, reconstructed according to the Zohar 20
V. The Magical Head of the Zohar 40
VI. The Great Kabalistic Symbol of the Zohar 50
VII. The Mystery of Universal Equilibrium, according to Indian and Japanese Mythology, together with the Pantomorphic lynx, or Twenty-First Primitive Egyptian Tarot Key 64
VIII. The Bembine Tablet 78
IX. Pantacle of Kabalistic Letters, being the Key of the Tarot, Sepher Yetzirah and the Zohar 102
X. The Seal of Cagliostro, Seal of the Samian Juno, Apocalyptic Seal, Twelve Seals of the Cubic Stone in Masonry, with the Twenty-First Tarot Key in the centre of all 120
XI. Egyptian Symbols of Typhon, illustrating Göetia and Necromancy. Typhon is depicted performing the renewal of the empire of darkness. From the Temple of Hermoutis. The smaller figures are from the Zodiac of Esne and the top is a bas relief in the same temple 128
XII. The Seven Wonders of the World 166
XIII. A Public Disputation between St. Peter and St. Paul on the one side and Simon the Magician on the other. Ascent and fall of Simon. From an engraving of the fifteenth century 184
XIV. Hermetic Magic. Reproduced from an ancient Manuscript 224 [pg. xxxvi]
XV. The Philosophical Cross, or plan of the Third Temple, as prophesied by Ezekiel and planned in the building scheme of the Knights Templar 264
XVI. Two occult Seals are shewn in the left compartment; the first represents the Great Work; the second is that of Black Magic. Both are from the Grimoire of Honorius. The right hand compartment contains primitive Egyptian Tarots—the 2 of Cups at the top and beneath this, specimens of the Ace of Cups 298
XVII. The Seven Planets and their Genii, according to the Magic of Paracelsus 340
XVIII. The Great Hermetic Arcanum, according to Basil Valentine 394
XIX. A general plan of Kabalistic Doctrine 454
XX. Apocalyptic Key: the Seven Seals of St. John 502