Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power

Marvin Meyer and Richard Smith (editors)

ISBN 10: 0060655844 / ISBN 13: 9780060655846

Published by Harper San Francisco, San Fancisco, 1994

About this Item

octavo paperback 407 pp. The book has never been read. There are no flaws to the cover or text block. This is the first book which translates many ancient Christian magical texts from the earliest days of Christianity when the Copts and Greeks first adopted the religion. An essential part of the history of the religion.

Seller Inventory # 000373

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power
• Publisher: Harper San Francisco, San Fancisco
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060655844
• ISBN 13: 9780060655846
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: As New

About this title

Synopsis

Gathers the texts of ancient Coptic rituals, including spells, curses, invocations, baptisms, magical amulets, and prayers

From the Back Cover

"This book is a treasure-trove of material illustrating folk beliefs and practices of a people in Egypt spanning more than a thousand years."--Birger A. Pearson, University of California, Berkeley

"An excellent collection of magical texts.... I teach my students that there is no strict dividing line between magic and religion, even in Christianity, and this is a vital sourcebook to make this truth a reality for them."--Kurt Rudolph, Philipps Universität, Marburg, and author of Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosticism

"This book is well organized and exceedingly well edited. There are helpful introductions to each chapter and, even more, to each selection.... [It] could scarcely be more user friendly for lay readers.... There exists nothing like it, at least nothing so accessible to nonexperts."--Robert Segal, Lancaster University, editor of The Gnostic Jung