Chaldean Magic: Its Origin and Development

by François Lenormant

La Magie chez Les Chaldeens, of which this present volume is an enlarged English edition, was issued in the autumn of 1874. It was preceded by Les Premieres Civilisations and closely followed in 1875 by La Divination et la Science des Présages. All these works possess the same characteristic the exposition of Assyrian thought, as evidenced by the language of the cuneiform inscriptions themselves. Lenormant had revised his book to such an extend, he regarded Chaldean Magic not as a translation, but as a publication on its own. The essentials of magic in Chaldea are presented within the context of comparison or contrast to Egyptian, Median, Turanian, Finno-Tartarian and Akkadian magic, mythologies, religion and speech. Interesting is the Chaldean demonology, with its incubus, succubus, vampire, nightmare and many Elemental spirits, most of them coalesced with the primal powers of nature. Chaldean Magic dwells on the threshold of predating sjamanistic lore and the later systemization of the occult. This makes the work of Lenormant an invaluable and fascinating source for both the academic and the modern occultist. Read more about Lenormant in the Post Scriptum of Chaldean Magic. Preview on www.vamzzz.com

Genres: History, Magick, Mythology, Occult

454 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1877

About the author

François Lenormant (Paris, January 17, 1837–Paris, December 9, 1883) was a French assyriologist and archaeologist.

He was the son of Charles Lenormant, who was distinguished as an archaeologist.

Reviews

[Danial · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenormant sees the origin of Chaldean magic in ancient AKKAD, and to be more precise with the Turanian tribes of Akkad and Media. He also as a linguist of ancient Akkad finds the origin of this language a Turanian (Close to Ugro-Finnic) languages. He explains that their magic religion was totally different than present time spiritualism and gives some clues of ancient magic.
Lenormant has written this book 160 years ago and when I checked the new linguistic theories they have considered Akkadian language an Easter Semite, while lenormant had strongly refuted Akkadian being of Semite family. Aslo Lenormant doesn't seem to prove such an ancient linguistic origin for Turanian nations but I hope in Religion wise his ideas about Chaldean Magic religion are still valid.
In general the book was very helpful for one who is looking for the religious roots of the ancient world.

[Rachel Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has made me hungry for more! Definitely some advanced stuff. Love it!!

[Ady ZYN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended