Sepher Ha-razim: the Book of Mysteries (Sssa Special Publication)

This work is an annotated translation of the Margalioth Hebrew text of Sepher Ha-Razim, which makes available for the first time in English this important collection of late antique Jewish magic. Dating to the fourth century C. E., this magical handbook contains instructions and invocations to be used in various magical praxes. A fine example of the syncretistic nature of the Hellenistic world, Sepher Ha-Razim gives some indication of the tensions between a developing/ orthodoxy and a popular religion. The text shows parallels to the Greek magical papyri and an interesting use of Merkabah symbolism.