Cabbalistic Signs and Sigils, 18th Century

Cabbalistic Signs and Sigils, 18th Century

Cabala may refer to one of several systems of mysticism. A sigil is a symbol used in magic. The term has usually referred to a type of pictorial signature of a demon or other entity; in modern usage, especially in the context of chaos magic, it refers to a symbolic representation of the magician's desired outcome. Image appeared in an 18th century demonology book showing various demon figures, as well as magic and cabbalistic signs. The full Latin title of Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae sistematisatae per celeberrimos Artis hujus Magistros, roughly translates to "A rare summary of the entire Magical Art by the most famous Masters of this Art". The bulk of the illustrations depict a varied bestiary of grotesque demonic creatures up to all sorts of appropriately demonic activities, such as chewing down on severed legs, spitting fire and snakes from genitalia, and parading around decapitated heads on sticks. Written in German and Latin, on white, brown and grey-green paper, the book has been dated to around 1775, although the unknown author tried to pass it off as an older relic, mentioning the year 1057 in the title page.

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