User:GooferMan/Picatrix

Picatrix refers to both the author and the Latin version of the Arabic grimoire, entitled غاية الحكيم Ġāyat al-Ḥakīm or, "The Goal of the Wise." It is a composite work that synthsizes a survey of older works on magic and astrology. According to its prologue, Picatrix was translated into Spanish from the Arabic by order of Alphonso X of Castile in 1256. Later, Andalusian translators created a Latin version based on both the Arabic and Spanish manuscripts. It has been attributed to Maslama ibn Ahmad al-Majriti (an Andalusian mathematician), but many have called this attribution into question. Consequently, the author is sometimes listed as "Pseudo-Majriti."

The text is divided into four books that describe a complete magical system, called nigromancy, and offers detailed instructions for astrological guidance and the construction of talismans. Picatrix offers a window into a total system of thought, knowledge, and ways of being, complete with theoretical and moral legitimations, that had a significant influence on the development of European magical traditions. Noted European occultists who used or referenced this work include Marsilio Ficino, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Thomas Campanella. The edition in the British Library passed through several hands: Simon Forman, Richard Napier, Elias Ashmole and William Lilly.

Authorship
The Arab historian, Ibn Khaldun, ascribed authorship of Picatrix to the mathematician, al-Majriti, who died in between 1005CE and 1008CE. However, the author of the text places its origin about 50 years later. Others have argued that Picatrix is an attribution to Hippocrates, via a transcription of the name Burqratis or Biqratis in the Arabic text. The Latin text does translate the name Burqratis as Picatrix, however, this still does not establish the identity of Burqratis. Some have argued that this was a corruption of the name Hippocrates, but this explanation has fallen into disfavor because the text cites Hippocrates under the name Ypocras. Another theory purports that Picatrix is a Latinized form of Maslama. According to this theory, the Latin root picare is a translation of the Arabic root of Maslama, m-s-l, meaning "to sting or bite like a serpent." This makes a strong connection between Picatrix and the attributed author, Maslama al-Majriti, but the time between authorship of the text and al-Majriti's death still leaves this issue in question.

Latin Text

 * Pingree, David, editor. The Latin Version of the Ghayat al-hakim, Studies of the Warburg Institute, University of London. 1986. ISBN 0854810692  LATIN
 * This edition is considered by many to be an authoritative version of the Latin text, see Bakouche below.


 * Perrone, Compagni. Picatrix Latinus. In Medioevo: Rivista di storia della filisofia medievale. vol. 1. 1975, p. 237-337.  ITALIAN
 * Villegas, M., translator. Picatrix: El Fin del Sabio y el Mejor de los Dos Medios para Avanzar. Madrid. 1982. SPANISH.
 * Béatrice Bakhouche, Frédéric Fauquier, Brigitte Pérez-Jean, translators. Picatrix: Un Traite De Magie Medieval, Brepols Pub. 2003. ISBN 978-2-503-51068-2. FRENCH
 * Translation based on the Latin text edited by David Pingree.

Arabic Text

 * Pseudo-Magriti.  Das Ziel des Weisen. Arabic Text. edited by Helmut Ritter.  Leipzig. 1933. ARABIC
 * Arabic text with an introduction in German.


 * Ritter, Hellmut and Martin Plessner, translators. "Picatrix:" Das Ziel des Weisen von Pseudo-Magriti. London: Warburg Institute, 1962. GERMAN
 * Atallah, Hashem, translator. Picatrix: Ghayat Al-Hakim- The Goal of the Wise. Edited by William Kiesel. Vol. 1. Ouroboros Press. 2002. ASIN: B0006S6LAO  ENGLISH
 * Ouroboros Press published the first two books of this text in one volume. Volume two is forthcoming.