Babylonian Magic and Sorcery: Being the Prayers of the Lifting of the Hand by King, Leonard W

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Ceremonial Magic

Babylonian Magic and Sorcery: Being the Prayers of the Lifting of the Hand

Name: Babylonian Magic and Sorcery: Being the Prayers of the Lifting of the Hand
Price: 52.00 USD
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Rating: 4.4 (5 reviews)
Author: King, Leonard W
ISBN: 9780877289340

King, Leonard W

Reader rating

4.4

(4 reviews) 75 sold

$52.00

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Sixty ancient clay tablets reveal the raw, devotional power of Babylonian ritual magic.

Leonard W. King’s seminal 1896 volume offers a direct window into the esoteric practices of ancient Mesopotamia. By translating cuneiform inscriptions from Ashurbanipal’s royal library, this text preserves sixty distinct prayers and magical compositions. It features precise transliterations alongside English renderings, supported by specialized glossaries and name lists. This is not a casual introduction but a rigorous scholarly archive of the dawn of Western occultism, capturing the intense spiritual devotion and technical precision of early scribes.

Key themes

Assyrian Rituals Cuneiform Translation Devotional Magic

Historical context

This volume serves as a foundational scholarly bridge between ancient Mesopotamian religious practices and modern Western occultism, preserving the devotional intensity of early scribes. It stands as a rigorous archive of the dawn of ceremonial magic, rooted in the transliteration of cuneiform inscriptions from Ashurbanipal’s royal library.

Difficulty

●●● Demanding

Fans will love it

E.A. Wallis Budge · Arthur Edward Waite · Friedrich Max Müller · The Epic of Gilgamesh

⚜️ Ceremonial Magic

🏛 Weiser Books 📖 336 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9780877289340

Fun fact

King’s volume is an indispensable archive for the serious student of magick. It excels in providing accurate, unadulterated access to primary Babylonian sources, making it vital for those studying the roots of ritual practice. However, it will disappoint readers seeking accessible commentary or practical guides. It sits firmly in the realm of academic reference, offering raw material for the dedicated esoteric scholar rather than entertainment for the novice.

📚 This book appears in Esoterica Books

⚗️ Magick Studies

📝 Description: Babylonian Magic and Sorcery: Being the Prayers of the Lifting of the Hand

This classic work is a treasury of esoteric writing concerning the prayers and rituals to ancient deities from the dawn of Western civilization. In this work first published in 1896, King presents the cuneiform text of a group of sixty clay tablets inscribed with prayers and religious compositions of a devotional and magical character. These tablets were created by the scribes of Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria, between 669-625 B. C., and are currently part of the Kuyunjik collection in the British Museum. King's illustrations feature a transliteration of each tablet with an English translation of well-preserved passages. King includes a Babylonian-English glossary, a list of proper names and numerals with their corresponding cuneiform inscriptions, and a list of words and word portions of uncertain translation. "The texts and translations are accurately presented and definitive. King's notes are concise, to the point, and easy to follow. But this is a highly technical book, designed for the professional, whether that professional be Assyriologist, paleographer, or magician. What, then, is its value to the non-professional reader? The answer is clear. Babylonian Magic and Sorcery offers us the means to gain an insight into the magico-religious concepts of the Semitic nations. And it is these concepts, and the magic based upon them, that underlie the worldview of the Western esoteric tradition, for that tradition is essentially Judaeo-Christian--it does not, save indirectly, derive from ancient Egypt." --from the Foreword by R. A. Gilbert

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

King’s 1896 work is a monumental but dense scholarly archive, not a convenient guide for the uninitiated. It demands patience and a willingness to engage with specialized glossaries and name lists alongside English renderings. This text does NOT suit readers seeking accessible, modernized spellbooks or those looking for a casual introduction to magic without historical rigor. It is strictly for academics and dedicated occultists willing to navigate the complexities of cuneiform translation. The value lies in its preservation of Ashurbanipal’s library inscriptions, offering a direct, albeit difficult, line to ancient Mesopotamian esotericism that remains unmatched in its raw authenticity.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking an unvarnished, primary-source connection to the origins of Western esotericism will find profound value here. This book is ideal for serious students of comparative religion and ceremonial magic who desire to move beyond modern interpretations and engage directly with the raw, technical precision of ancient Babylonian ritual. It offers a unique window into the intense spiritual devotion that characterized early scribes, allowing practitioners to understand the structural and devotional underpinnings of magical rites. By presenting sixty distinct prayers alongside precise transliterations, it provides an indispensable resource for those committed to historical accuracy and the study of the dawn of occult practice, rather than casual curiosity.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.4/5

★★★★★

Dedicated occultists and historians seeking primary source material rather than modern interpretations. This volume suits those who appreciate academic rigor and wish to engage directly with the foundational texts of ancient magical traditions.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 4 reviews

Hazel P. ✓ Verified purchase

June 15, 2026

Good addition to the shelf

A friend in my study group recommended this one. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted.

Matthew G.

October 25, 2025

Bought this as a gift for my sister and ended up ordering a second copy for myself. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers. A text you study rather than simply read. Will be gifting a copy to a friend.

Claire R. ✓ Verified purchase

September 2, 2025

Very good

A friend in my study group recommended this one. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers. It assumes more background than a beginner might have. Happy enough with the purchase.

Esoterica Books editorial team

King’s 1896 work is a monumental but dense scholarly archive, not a convenient guide for the uninitiated. It demands patience and a willingness to engage with specialized glossaries and name lists alongside English renderings. This text does NOT suit readers seeking accessible, modernized spellbooks or those looking for a casual introduction to magic without historical rigor. It is strictly for academics and dedicated occultists willing to navigate the complexities of cuneiform translation. The value lies in its preservation of Ashurbanipal’s library inscriptions, offering a direct, albeit difficult, line to ancient Mesopotamian esotericism that remains unmatched in its raw authenticity.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it is highly technical and best suited for scholars or experienced practitioners familiar with Assyriology.

Yes, it features transliterations of the cuneiform tablets alongside English translations and specialized glossaries.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Assyrian Rituals

Cuneiform Translation

Devotional Magic

💬 Quotes from the book

“The texts and translations are accurately presented and definitive.”

“Designed for the professional, whether that professional be Assyriologist, paleographer, or magician.”

📜 Historical context

Published in the late Victorian era, this work emerged during a surge of interest in Mesopotamian archaeology. It bridges the gap between classical philology and emerging occult studies, serving as a critical resource for understanding how ancient Near Eastern spiritual practices influenced later Western esoteric traditions and the development of comparative religion.

📚 Glossary

Cuneiform
Transliteration
Ashurbanipal

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does the formal structure of these ancient prayers differ from modern spontaneous invocation?
What emotions arise when reading the direct words of a scribe from 600 B.C.?
In what ways do the rituals here reflect a desire for control over the divine?