The Magus, a legendary magician of superhuman powers, is an archetype central to myth and religion across many cultures. Identifying its anthropological origins in ancient rituals performed by a shaman or wizard to ensure the prosperity of his tribe, E. M. Butler goes on to trace its subsequent development in pre-Christian religious and mystic philosophers, in medieval sorcerers and alchemists, and finally in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century occult revival. From Zoroaster to Solomon, Merlin to Faust, Cagliostro to Rasputin, legends of the Magus are explored and where possible compared with the historical record in this fascinating account, first published in 1948, of one of the major figures in religious and occult mythology.
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'Scholarly, original and entertaining.' The Times Literary Supplement
'Delightful reading and highly informative.' Bertrand Russell
'This book is filled with rich stories and a wealth of interesting material. It makes excellent reading.' Washington Post
'Delightful reading and highly informative.' Bertrand Russell
'This book is filled with rich stories and a wealth of interesting material. It makes excellent reading.' Washington Post
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After identifying its anthropological origins in ancient rituals performed by a shaman or wizard, this text traces the development of the Magus through pre-Christian religious and mystic philosophers, medieval sorcerers and alchemists and the 18th and 19th century occult revival.
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An excellent historical guide for students of History or Religion. The Myth of the Magus is a very good and readable introduction to the history of magic in the West from the Magi refered to in the New Testament to Madame Blavatsky. Gives some insight into the historical survival of magical ideas and beliefs to the present, but the treatment ends in the early 20th century. Belongs with books by Norman Cohn, Frances Yates, Carlo Ginzburg, and Peter Levenda. One final note: The book does not ignore alchemical ideas but does not go into detail on them either.
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- Sources of the Faust Tradition by Philip M. Palmer on 5 pages
- Fragments of a Faith Forgotten by G. R. S. Mead on page 75, page 78, and Back Matter
- The God of the Witches (Galaxy Books) by Margaret Murray on page 107, page 111, and Back Matter
- The Martyrdom of Man by William Winwood Reade on page 32, page 68, and Back Matter
- Romance of Sorcery by Sax Rohmer on page 126, page 233, and Back Matter
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- Alexander the Great: A Reader by Ian Worthington on 9 pages
- Myths of Modern Individualism: Faust, Don Quixote, Don Juan, Robinson Crusoe (Canto original series) by Ian Watt on 4 pages
- The Sin of Knowledge by Theodore Ziolkowski on 4 pages
- Demosthenes: Statesman and Orator by Ian Worthington on page 109, page 157, and Back Matter
- The Occult by Colin Wilson on page 229, page 448, and Back Matter
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