Picatrix

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

The text and its story

A large handbook of astrological magic: talismans, planetary prayers and images to capture celestial influence. It was secretly copied across Renaissance Europe.

Traditional attribution

Attributed to the scholar Maslama al-Majriti.

Historical scholarship

Anonymous compiler; translated for King Alfonso X of Castile.

Context and curiosity

Its title in Arabic means 'The Goal of the Sage'.

Chronology and transmission

This text belongs to Hermetic, Magical & Mysterious (Al-Andalus). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as Arabic c. 10th–11th century; Latin 1256 CE and original language or script as Arabic; Latin. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatrix

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.