The Arbatel of Magic

Arbatel de Magia Veterum

The Arbatel of Magic is unique among grimoires: it is a Christian magical text. Published openly in Basel in 1575, it describes not demonic conjuration but communication with seven Olympian spirits — planetary governors of the cosmic order who are willing to work with sincere practitioners. The book opens not with threats and bindings but with exhortations to virtue, prayer, and trust in God.

Codex Digital EditionComing soonEdition currently in preparation

Edition041

FormatDigital PDF

Editorial statusIn review

TraditionHermetic Arts

Before you read

Context without the mythology.

Codex ISO separates the surviving evidence from later interpretation, so you can encounter the text without being told what to believe about it first.

01 / Historical context

Published Basel, 1575. Openly magical yet uniquely Christian in spirit. The grimoire that influenced Paracelsus, John Dee, and the Rosicrucian tradition. Banned, then forgotten.

02 / Why it matters

The most virtuous grimoire. Banned anyway.

From / associated with the text

““Be subject to no creature, but to God alone who made thee. For if thou wilt serve men and evil spirits in stead of God, thou art not only a fool but impious.””

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Source before story.

We identify the edition, translation and surviving evidence; distinguish documentation from tradition; and state uncertainty rather than turning it into a sales claim.

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Continue the archive

The Arbatel of Magic

Context without the mythology.

Source before story.

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