Books About Magic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Book of Coming Forth by Day

The Egyptians believed that the journey through the afterlife was difficult and dangerous. The deceased had to make their way past a series of monstrous creatures that would try to devour their soul, before entering the Hall of Judgment, where their fate would be determined. "The Book of the Dead" provided spells that could be recited at each of these steps to ensure a successful outcome.

The Egyptians had rather complex and perhaps contradictory ideas about what happened once these obstacles were cleared, but one of their ideas was that one's soul could "come forth by day" to enjoy the pleasures of the living.

They also believed that if the proper rites were performed, one's soul or "ba" could become an "akh," a magical entity that could journey with the gods. Whether the journey through the afterlife has become any less arduous in modern times is unknown, as those who have made the journey aren't telling!

Answer: Three Books of Occult Philosophy

Agrippa's work, which covered natural and demonic magic within a Christian framework, had a major influence on Renaissance occultists. "A system of magick" was by Daniel Defoe, and, despite the name, was not an instruction manual, but a history concerning what he claimed was "mankind's dealings with the Devil." "Magick in Theory and Practice" is a well-known 20th century work by Aleister Crowley. "Uncle Setnakt's Essential Guide to the Left Hand Path", despite the funny sounding name, is a real book published in 1999 by a prominent member of the Temple of Set.

Answer: Abra-Melin

Abra-Melin was said to be an Egyptian magician. This book describes a months' long operation by which the practitioner can contact their "Holy Guardian Angel". This angel will not only endow the successful practitioner with wealth, but teach him or her how to evoke the Crown Princes of Hell and command them to do the practitioner's bidding.

The book also contains a collection of talismans in the form of magic squares that can supposedly be used to perform miraculous feats, including flying instantly to any destination one desires!

Answer: Lemegeton, or The Lesser Key of Solomon

King Solomon was reputed to have been a magician who sealed 72 demons into a brass vessel. This legend inspired the creation of many grimoires attributed to Solomon that described how to evoke demons and other spirits. While the "Goetia" describes demonic evocation, the other books of the "Lemegeton" focus on evoking angels. "The Grand Grimoire", also known as "Le Dragon Rouge", is another medieval grimoire of a much darker nature concerning making a pact with Lucifer.

Answer: Picatrix

This book describes the practice of planetary (astrological) magic and had an important influence on Western esoteric thinkers. The origin of the name Picatrix is unclear, although one theory suggests that it is a loose translation of the name of the alleged original Arabic author Maslama al-Majriti. Maslama derives from an Arabic word that means "to sting" and Picatrix is a variant of the Latin picator, "one who stings or pricks."

"De Heptarchia Mystica" was a work by John Dee, an Elizabethan occultist, concerning the art of summoning angels. "Steganographia", written in 1499, was a book that appeared to be about magic, but was actually about codes and secret forms of communication. The Voynich manuscript is a mysterious text written in a code that no-one has ever succeeded in deciphering.

Answer: He had Pico's book banned as heretical and nearly all copies burned

Pico was the founder of "Christian Kabbalah," a synthesis of Jewish mysticism, Egyptian hermeticism, and other esoteric strains of thought. Pico's "Oration on the Dignity of Man", in which he defends the 900 theses, was the first printed book to be banned by the Church. Luckily for him, Pico was able to escape from the Inquisition with his life as he had a patron who sheltered him from the Pope's wrath.

Answer: A hen that lays golden eggs

Producing the black pullet is supposed to make one fabulously wealthy. I've never heard of anyone who has pulled off this incredible feat; maybe they are keeping a low profile while enjoying the high life? Medieval legends refer to a toadstone, a mythical gem thought to be found in the head of a toad, that was an antidote to poison. Legends about invisibility-granting rings go back to ancient Greek times.

A basilisk is another legendary creature, but I'm not sure why you would want to produce one!

Answer: Necronomicon

Necronomicon supposedly means "Book of dead names". Although Lovecraft insisted that the "Necronomicon" was nothing more than a fictional plot device, this has not stopped a number of people from publishing works claiming to be the real thing. For example, a 1978 version was supposedly discovered when someone claimed to have deciphered a 16th century manuscript written in code by John Dee.

Another popular version by someone known only as "Simon" has also been issued as a paperback and led to a series of spin-offs including "The Necronomicon Spellbook." One of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels parodies the concept with a reference to the "Necrotelicomnicon" or "Book of Dead Telephone Numbers"!

Answer: Eliphas Levi

Because of the name, many people seem to assume that Eliphas Levi was Jewish, even though he wasn't. His works had a big impact on later occultists, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Aleister Crowley even claimed to be his reincarnation. (He claimed to be the reincarnation of loads of people though.)

Papus was the pen name of Gérard Encausse, a contemporary of Constant. J-K Huysmans was the author of "La-Bas" ("Down There"), a 1891 novel about Satanism. Dennis Wheatley was a famous 20th century novelist who wrote many lurid stories about black magic.

Answer: Satanic

Although bold in conception, the philosophy presented in the book is hardly original, as it cribs material heavily from other authors such as Ayn Rand. In fact the first section, called "The Book of Satan: The Infernal Diatribe" ,is nearly entirely plagiarized from a work called "Might is Right" by Ragnar Redbeard. Whatever its shortcomings, it has proven popular, and since publication has sold over a million copies!