The Myth of the Magus (Canto original series) (Paperback)

by E. M. Butler (Author) "According to some authorities the Media mages were known long before the days of Zoroaster as a magico-priestly caste, one of the six tribes of..." (more)
Key Phrases: magical contest, medieval magicians, rival magician, Simon Magus, Madame Blavatsky, Apollonius of Tyana (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'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

Product Description
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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• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 26, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521437776
• ISBN-13: 978-0521437776
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #595,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  
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• Also Available in: Hardcover  |  Paperback  |  All Editions