Arbatel: On the Magic of the Ancients

Arbatel: On the Magic of the Ancients is a Renaissance grimoire translated by Robert Turner and first published in 1575. It presents a system of ceremonial magic framed through moral and spiritual aphorisms, with an emphasis on positive, community-oriented practice and the influence of celestial hierarchies, especially the “Olympian spirits.”

Rooted in Christian virtue and Paracelsian and biblical thought, the work avoids demonology and instead promotes charity, honesty, and divine wisdom. Originating in Basel, Switzerland, the Arbatel is notable for its clear prose and its early use of the term “theosophy” to distinguish divine knowledge from human learning.

Turner’s English translation of 1655 became the standard version, influencing later figures such as John Dee, Jakob Böhme, Thomas Vaughan, and later occult and anthroposophical writers. Though admired for its ethical tone, it was controversial in its own day and was even condemned by church authorities as impious.