Showcase 1
THE MAGIC. The volumes collected in this first showcase open the exhibition by presenting its content, the sphere of magic and occult through different places and ages, extraordinary characters, formidable tools and symbols to be deciphered. The Malleus maleficarum maleficarum is open to the frontispiece where the title of the work stands out, written in clearly visible typefaces and red-coloured. The next volume, Histoire de la magie, also lures for the prominence of the title, came up beside the ‘Pentagram of the absolute’ showing the virtues attributed to human beings; this work tells the history of esoteric rituals practiced since the origins of magic, dealing with related issues such as the role of women in occult arts, devils and superstitions. The Clavicola Salomonis (Ms 824) highlights the importance of symbolism for evocating and controlling spirits, shown here by a series of talismans linked to specific geometric figures (circles and triangles). From the symbols we move, within the Histoire critique des pratiques superstitieuses […], to the magical tool par excellence: the wand in its “bifurcated” shape which was used in order to find what human eyes could not see, such as metals and underground waterways.
JACOB SPRENGER
Malleus maleficarum in tres divisus partes … His nunc primum adiecimus M. Bernhardi Basin opusculum de artibus magicis, ac magorum, maleficijs. …
Frankfurt, 1580
Ius 2.38
TheMalleus Maleficarum
em> (literally “The hammer of the evil ones”, i.e. “of the witches”) is a treatise in Latin published in 1487 by the Dominican friars Jacob Sprenger and Heinrich Institor Kramer, with the aim of repressing heresy, paganism and witchcraft in Germany .
It was never officially adopted by the Catholic Church, but it was never included in the Index of Forbidden Books either. It remained, until the mid-17th century, the most consulted manual on witch-hunting, both by Catholic inquisitors and by Protestant judges, since it explains proposition by proposition how to behave in each individual occasion.
Despite the enormous popularity of the work, its credibility and diffusion suffered an abrupt halt, when Europe experienced a period of stagnation in the witch hunt between 1520 and 1560, so much so that in some areas, among which we can mention the Germanic territories, the trials decreased, for reasons that have never been fully clarified.
The work returned to have a great impact after 1580 when it was reprinted together with other similar texts, owing its renewed fortune also to the foundations theories put forward by Jean Bodin who gave new incentives to
Clavicola Salomonis
18th century
Ms 824
The Lesser Key of Solomon is an anonymous grimoire from the 17th century, whose authorship is mistakenly attributed to King Solomon. It is one of the most famous books of demonology that contains detailed descriptions of the spirits and the rituals necessary to summon them and force them to carry out the orders of the magician (called in the text “exorcist”). Detailed instructions are given regarding the symbols, the ritual procedures to be performed, the actions necessary to prevent the spirits from taking over, the preparations that must precede the summoning and how to construct the tools necessary for the performance of such rituals.
The circle and the triangle are essential for the summoning of spirits and the magician must stand inside the large circle when the spirit appears in the circle inside the triangle.
ELIPHAS LEVI
Historie de la magie
Paris, 1860
Ius.2.11*
The book by Eliphas Lévi, a famous French esotericist and magician of the nineteenth century, contains a precise exposition of rites and mysteries concerning magic, through 90 figures. Near the frontispiece is the “Pentagram of the absolute” which represents the characteristics of the human being. Lévi accurately describes the method of construction of the Pentagram as a way of accessing the doors of perfect knowledge.
PIERRE LE BRUN
Critical history of superstitious practices, which seduced the people, & embarrassed the disciples …
Paris, 1732
Ius.1.13
The text explains among other things the method and principles for discerning natural effects from those that are not, such as the use of the wand in history. In particular, the wooden ‘bifurcated wand’ (baguette fourchuë) was considered extremely comfortable and effective: it was believed, in fact, that the hands could transmit certain virtues to the two branches of the same, thus directing a particular force into the tip. The latter could be turned upwards, downwards or towards the horizon depending on the chosen grip, favoring the discovery of new underground water courses, bones and parts of animals, silver, iron and numerous metals.
