A Chymical Dictionary

Necromancy

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A condemned art defined by the appearance and interrogation of the dead.

In the book. Magia places necromancy within its condemned branch, opposed to lawful natural wisdom.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 34; facsimile PDF page 362.

Historical Definition

Necromancy is an unlawful art which in former times worked with the dead, as when the stars were manifested with the dead. A person is properly called a necromancer who can make the dead appear and draw words and answers from them.

Meaning

The source identifies both an apparition and a response. The dead are made to appear, and words or answers are obtained from them. The definition therefore concerns a claimed mode of access to knowledge as well as the production of an appearance. It expressly classifies the art as unlawful.

The clause about stars manifested with the dead is difficult and receives no explanation here. Its obscurity should be retained as a limit of the entry, rather than concealed by substituting a confident account of astrological procedure.

Use in the Book

Magia places necromancy within its condemned branch, opposed to lawful natural wisdom. Nigromancy gives a related but distinct account centred on the apparent obedience of evil spirits, while Neboch names an instrument used in necromancy.

Places to Read

Magia. Magic divided into lawful natural wisdom and forbidden knowledge through evil spirits.

Nigromancy. Apparent command of spirits, condemned as harmful to those who exercise it.

Neboch. An instrument identified by its use in a named art.

In This Edition

The complete stellar clause is kept in the modernised definition. The commentary does not invent a technique to resolve its compressed wording.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 34; facsimile PDF page 362 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 362, Necromancy

See also. Magia; Nigromancy; Neboch