Witchology, the history of Wicca & Witchcraft
by Dr Leo Ruickbie

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Did Doctor Faustus Sell his Soul?

Everyone believes Faustus invoked the Devil and sold his soul, but did he? Find out why the legend was the witchcraft trial of a dead man in this rich and vivid story of magic and magicians in the Renaissance. Highly recommended.

Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician

Reviews

Pagan Dawn - "... a fascinating read."

Leo Ruickbie's solid tome does something unexpected. It rehabilitates someone with one of the worst reputations in history; Georgius Sabellicus Faustus Jnr, better known as Faust. We all know the legend of Dr Faustus, the alchemist who sold his soul to the Devil for earthly wealth and power, only to be dragged down to Hell by Mephistopheles himself. Well, says Ruickbe, that's the legend: the reality is just as extraordinary. The author traces Faustus from the earliest mention of the magician through his long and fantastical life. At the height of his infamy, Faustus was considered the equal of figures such as Merlin, Simon Magus and even Jesus, he travelled the world and mixed with royalty. He was also constantly accused of the most heinous crimes the Renaissance world could come with: sodomy and murder.

This is a fascinating read that re-evaluates Renaissance society and puts the occult slap bang in the middle of it. Yes, says Ruickbie, Faustus did practice alchemy and, yes, he did make outrageous claims (including the inevitable turning of base metal into gold) but he was not alone in doing so. With meticulous attention to detail, Ruickbie retraces the paper trail back through time and uncovers the truth about one of history's most maligned figures.

Perhaps Ruickbie puts it best when he described Faustus as "a Renaissance magician, both representative and victim of his age."

Pagan Dawn: The Journal of the Pagan Federation, Beltane 2009, p. 48.

Explore Faustus

Discover the secrets of Faustus

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Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician

Keywords

Faustus, Faust, magic, black magic, alchemy, astrology, necromancy, witchcraft, grimoires, Germany, Renaissance, sixteenth century, Goethe, Marlowe, biography, history, folklore, legend, Devil, Mephistopheles, pact, damnation, soul

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Witchology, the history of Wicca & Witchcraftby Dr Leo Ruickbie