13 Magicians

Whether you believe in real magic – spelt magick usually to differentiate from sleight of hand and trickery – or not, history is full of people who did and who were believed to be great magicians. Apollonius of Tyana, for example, who was born just a little before Jesus and spurned a life of luxury and wealth to follow in the footsteps of Pythagoras. Amongst other tales, Apollonius is said to have found the philosopher’s stone and gained eternal life. Then there is that character from the bible that we were all told was evil growing up – Simon Magus. Poor Simon! Simon does appear to have been capable of working miracles – actually not unlike those that Jesus did. But, he was seen as a threat to the early christian church and demonized as is their way. He apparently could levitate and tell the future and he had a hand in gnosticism. The tale of Nicholas of Flamel is equally intriguing as an angel gave him a book in a prophetic dream and the very next day the book was offered to him for sale. He bought it and spent a lifetime trying to decipher it. According to legend, he did and also has eternal life.

By the middle ages, we meet men who seemed to tread a very fine line in society. Often they were extremely bright and gifted speaking many languages and having expertise in medicine, alchemy and magic. 

Read the rest of this article…