About this book:

Trithemius was the Master and Teacher of Henry Cornelius Agrippa, and so in many ways the godfather of post 1500 Solomonic magic.

The Steganographia by the Abbot Trithemius was written in 1500, and has never had a full English translation of all its 4 component Books, until now. This book is about the evocation of spirits and the cryptography associated with them. Trithemius was the magical instructor of Henry Cornelius Agrippa and probably Paracelsus, and was hence one of the main well-springs of grimoire magic in Europe. This fascinating book also explains how to use spirits to convey messages to others, over any distance, at any hour of the day or night, with that message being clearly whispered in the ear of the recipient.

Previously only Books I & III have been published in English in 1982, but without any explanation of the magic or spirit hierarchy. This edition has rectified that deficiency, and has added a full translation of Book II (containing a further 25 spirits in addition to the 31 spirits of Book I). Also included in the large Book IV are details of the creation of the Magical Bell and how the Steganographia relates to Paracelsus. This book has never before been published in any language. Book IV also examines the angelic evocation of the Almadel and the three Shemhammaphorash of Solomon, Adam and Moses respectively. At last, after more than 500 years the whole Steganographia is available in English, with clear and detailed explanations. Trithemius also wrote the most complete list of pre-1500 magical manuscript grimoires in his Antipalus Maleficiorum, which is due to be published by Golden Hoard later this year. Also included is a list of manuscripts on Talismanic magic, but in private Trithemius was very clear that magic only happens with the assistance of spirits or daemons, and this is his main book about the evocation of such spirits and the cryptography associated with them. This book lays out an extensive spirit hierarchy in 76 tables. It also contains a biography of Trithemius with details of his early promotion to Abbot at the tender age of 22. So at last the whole Steganographia is available in English.

Volume 13 in the SWCM series.