Prime

Famous Western Mages

By Tyagi Nagasiva & Colin Low
Dec. 1994

Editor's Note: An online conversation reveals lists of names, both historical and legendary, that Storytellers can use in their own chronicles.

1. Mythical and Historical Western Occultists

A. Mages, Theurgists, Philosophers and Witches

Mage: one who performs or enacts 'magic' or 'spells'
Magus: Revealer of the Logos/Word of Hir Aeon
Theurgist: one who does the work of the divine
Philosopher: one who is known for questioning and thought

  • Isis (Deity, Mage)
  • Thoth (Deity of Magick)
  • Baphomet (Deity of Magick)
  • Zoraster/Zarathustra (Legendary Mage, Philosopher, Magus?)
  • King Solomon (Biblical Magus, Kabbalist)
  • Orpheus (Legendary Founder of the Mysteries, Mage)
  • Sphinx (Legendary Guardian of the Mysteries)
  • Socrates (Mage, Philosopher)
  • Plato (Mage, Philosopher)
  • Aristotle (Mage, Alchemist, Astrologer, Philosopher)
  • Pythagorus (Mage, Numerologer)
  • Apollonius of Tyana (Mage)
  • Apuleius (2nd Cent. AD, Mage)
  • Valentinus (d 161 AD, Theurist)
  • Porphyry (233-303 AD, Theurgist)
  • Empedocles (5th Cent. BC, Mage)
  • Simon Magus (Mage)
  • Iamblicus (Theurgist)
  • Plotinus (Theurgist)
  • Julian (Theurgist)
  • Democritus (Mage)
  • Plutarch (Mage)
  • Elijah of Chehen (Mage, Golems)
  • Rabbi Judah Low ben Bezalel (Mage, Golems)
  • Peter of Abano (Mage, Geomancer 1st?)
  • Arnold of Villanova (Mage, Alchemist)
  • Magus Maximus (Mage?)
  • Cyrian (Fictional/Legendary Mage)
  • Theophilus (Legendary Mage)
  • Cataphilus (Legendary Mage)
  • Guido Bonatti (d ca 1300 AD, Mage)
  • Pico Della Mirandola (1463-94 AD, Mage, Qabalist)
  • Henry Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535 AD, Mage, Alchemist, Qabalist)

—Occult Philosophy—

  • Theophrastus/Paracelsus (1493-1541 AD, Mage, Alchemist,'Rosicrucian')
  • Giambattista della Porta (1538-1615 AD, Mage, Alchemist)
  • Dr. John Dee (Mage)
  • Casanova (Mage)
  • Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772 AD, Mage, Mystic, Psychic, Swedenborgian 1st)
  • Louis Claude de Saint-Martin (1743-1803, Mage, Rosicrucian, Martinist 1st)
  • Giuseppe Balsamo?/Count Cagliostro/Grand Kophta (Mage, Alchemist, Psychic)
  • Eliphas Levi/Alphonse Louis Constant (1816-75 AD, Mage, Qabalist, Cartomancer)
  • Gerard Encausse/Papus (1865-1917 AD, Mage, Qabalist, Cartomancer)
  • Karl Kellner (Mage)
  • Aleister Crowley/Edward Alexander Crowley (1875-1947, Mage, Thelemite, Qabalist, Cartomancer)
  • Gerald Gardner (Witch, Gardnerian 1st)
  • Doreen Valiente (Witch, Gardnerian)
  • "Z" Budapest (Witch)
  • Starhawk/Marion Simos (Witch)

B. Alchemists

Alchemists: studied and experimented in Western alchemy

  • Petesis (Legendary Alchemist)
  • Hermes Trismegistus (Legendary Master of Alchemy)
  • Mary the Jewess (Alchemist, 1st?)
  • Isis (Alchemist)
  • Cleopatra (Alchemist)
  • Theosobia (Alchemist)
  • Heinrich Khunrath (Alchemist, Qabalist, Rosicrucian)
  • Helvetius/John Schweitzer (Alchemist)
  • Wei Po-Yang (100-150 AD, Alchemist)
  • Zosimus (4th Cent. AD, Alchemist)
  • Stephanus (7th Cent. AD, Alchemist)
  • Avicenna (980-1037 AD, Alchemist)
  • Roger Bacon (1214-94 AD, Alchemist, Astrologer, Theurgist)
  • Raymond Lully/Doctor Illuminatus (1235-1315 AD, Alchemist, Numerologer)
  • Nicolas Flamel (1330-1418 AD, Alchemist)
  • Trithemius (1462-1516 AD, Alchemist, Qabalist, Monk/Abbot)
  • Algazel (Alchemist)
  • Cecco d'Ascoli (Alchemist, Astrologer)
  • Basil Valentine (15th Cent., Alchemist, Monk)
  • Michael Myer (1568-1622 AD, Alchemist, Rosicrucian)
  • Johann Randolph Glauber (1604-68 AD, Alchemist)
  • Johann Kunkel (1630-1703 AD, Alchemist)

C. Kabbalists and Qabalists

Kabbalists: Jewish mystics
Qabalists: Hermetic mystics with a variant on Kabbalah

  • Raziel (Angel, Teacher of Kabbalah)
  • Rabbi Akiba (Legendary Kabbalist)
  • Rabbi Simon bar Yohai (Legendary Kabbalist)
  • Eleazar of Worms (13th Cent. AD, Kabbalist, Golems)
  • Guillame Postel (1510-81 AD, Qabalist, Prophet, Mystic)
  • Athanasius Kircher (Qabalist)
  • Paulus Ricius (Qabalist)
  • Johann Reuchlin (1455-1522 AD, Qabalist)
  • John Pistorius (1544-1607 AD, Qabalist)
  • Robert Fludd (1574-1637 AD, Qabalist, Rosicrucian)
  • Knorr von Rosenroth (1636-89 AD, Qabalist)
  • Isaac Luria (Kabbalist, Qabalist?)
  • Moses Cordovero (Qabalist?)
  • Moses de Leon (Kabbalist)

D. Mancers and Astrologers

Mancer: studied and practiced divination
Astrologer: studied and applied Astrology

  • Jerome Cardan (Physiomancer)
  • Jean Belot (Chiromancer, Physiomancer)
  • Richard Saunders (Physiomancer)
  • Philip Phinella (Physiomancer)
  • Cavaliere Spontini (Physiomancer)
  • Tricasso de Cerasari (d. 1550 AD, Chiromancer)
  • John of Indagim (Chiromancer)
  • Rorphyl (Chiromancer)
  • Bartolommeo Cocle (Chiromancer)
  • Antioco Tiberto of Cesena (Chiromancer)
  • Court de Gebelin (1728-84 AD, Cartomancer)
  • Alliette/Etteilla (ca 1750-1810 AD, Cartomancer, Astrologer, Qabalist)
  • Stanislaus de Guaita (1860-97 AD, Cartomancer, Qabalist)
  • Oswald Wirth (Cartomancer)
  • Mrs. van Reniselaer (Cartomancer)
  • Tassin (Cartomancer)
  • Paul Foster Case (Cartomancer, Qabalist)
  • MalMonnies Hazard (Cartomancer)
  • Elizabeth Whitney (Cartomancer)
  • Edward Kelley (Necromancer, Scryer)
  • Michael Scot (ca 1170-1232 AD, Astrologer)
  • Thrasyllus (Astrologer)
  • Heliodorus (Astrologer)

E. Rosicrucians and Theosophists

Rosicrucian: self-identified (when historical)
Theosophists: self-identified

  • Christian Rosencreutz (d 1484 AD, Legendary Rosicrucian 1st, Mage, Qabalist)
  • Valentine Andreae (1586-1654 AD, Rosicrucian)
  • William Lilly (Astrologer, Rosicrucian)
  • Elias Ashmole (Alchemist, Rosicrucian)
  • John Parson (Rosicrucian)
  • Rober Moray (Rosicrucian)
  • Count of Gabalais (Rosicrucian)
  • Montaucon de Villars (Rosicrucian)
  • Antoine Joseph Pernety (1716-1801 AD, Rosicrucian)
  • Trajano Boccalini (Rosicrucian)
  • Martine Pasqually (Rosicrucian)
  • Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801 AD, Rosicrucian)
  • Helen P. Blavatsky (Theosophist 1st)
  • Annie Besant (Theosophist)

Misc or Unknown Specialty

  • Wandering Jew (Biblical? Immortal)
  • Dr. Johann Faust/Faustus (16th Cent. AD, Legendary Diabolist)
  • Francis Barrett
  • Friedrich Anton Mesmer (1734-1815 AD, Hypnotist 1st)

2. Gods & Daemons Associated with Magick

  • Ashma Daeva/Asmadai/Asmodeus (Daemon)
  • Beelzebub (Daemon Prince of Darkness)
  • Bael (Deity, Daemon)
  • Forras/Forcas (Daemon)
  • Marcholias (Daemon)
  • Astaroth (Daemon, Deity?)
  • Behemoth (Daemon, Deity?)
  • Lucifuge (Daemon)
  • Satanachia (Daemon)
  • Agaliarept (Daemon)
  • Fleurety (Daemon)
  • Sargatanas (Daemon)
  • Nebiros (Daemon)
  • Dionysus (Deity)

From Colin Low

Nice list. Two things. This first is that I found your classification confusing. People like Trithemius and Ramon Llul (for example) appeared in the oddest places. The second is that some time ago I began compiling a list of my own. The list enclosed is a very rudimentary list of Kabbalists. Compiling the list was a non-terminating activity — each Rabbi lead to five more. I gave up when I realised the task was akin to placing grains of rice on a chessboard. And the manuscripts...

Oh, your list of daemons. The Dictionary of Angels (including fallen angels) is ~400 pages long. You could be writing for some time.

  • Rabbi Hillel
  • R. Jonathan ben Uziel. Disciple of R. Hillel.
  • R. Yochanan ben Zachai (47 BC - 73 AD). Disciple of R. Hillel. Appears in the Talmud.
  • R. Nehuniah ben Hakaneh (1st.C). Credited with the authorship of the "Bahir".
  • R. Ishmael ben Elisha. Pupil of R. Nehuniah.
  • R. Joshua. Disciple of R. Yochanan ben Zachai.
  • R. Akiba (12-132)
  • R. Azzai
  • R. Ben Zoma. Elisha ben Abuya "The Other"
  • R. Shimon bar Yochai (2nd.C). Legendary protagonist and author of the Zohar.
  • R. Eliezer. Son of R. Shimon bar Yochai
  • Hai Gaon (939-1038). Head of the Babalonian academy at Pumedita.
  • R. Chananel ben Chushiel (990-1055)
  • R. Shlomo Yitzchaki-Yarchi (1040-1105)
  • R. Bachya ibn Pekudah (1050-1120)
  • R. Abraham ben David of Posqueres (1120-1198) "The Ravaad"
  • R. Moses ben Maimon (1135-1204) "Maimonides" "The Rambam"
  • Isaac the Blind (1160-1236). (Grandson of you know who)
  • R. Abraham Maimonides (1186-1237). Son of Moses Maimonides.
  • R. Jonah Gerondi (1194-1263). Teacher of R. Hillel of Verona.
  • R. Moshe ben Nachman (1194-1270) "Nachmanides"
  • R. Hillel of Verona (1220-1295)
  • R. Abraham Abulafia (1240-~1292)
  • R. Baruch Targomi. Teacher of Abulafia and probably also the teacher of Isaac of Acco.
  • R. Shlomo ben Adret (1235-1310) "The Rashba"
  • R. Moshe de Leon (1238-1305). Purported author of "Sepher ha Zohar"
  • R. Joseph Gikatalia (1248-1323). "The Gates of Light"
  • R. Isaac of Acco (1250-1340). Contemporary of Moshe de Leon. Investigated the authenticity of the Zohar. Author of "Otzar Chaim" & "Divrey HaYamin"
  • R. Levi ben Gershon (1288-1344) "Gersonides" "The Ralbag"
  • R. Abraham Zacuto (1448-1515). Author of "Sepher HaYuchasin" (Book of Geneologies)
  • R. Judah Chayit (1462-1529)
  • R. David abu Zimra (1470-1572) "The Radbaz"
  • R. Joseph Caro (1488-1575)
  • R. Joseph Tzayach (1505-1573)
  • R. Jehudah Loew ben Bezalel of Prague (1520-1609) "The Maharel of Prague" Author: "Gevuroth Adonai" (The Mighty Deeds of God)
  • R. Moshe Cordovero (1522-1570) "The Ramak"
  • R. Chaim Vital (1543-1620)
  • R. Isaiah Horowitz (1560-1630)
  • R. Eliahu di Vidas (16th. C)
  • Nathan of Gaza. "Treatise on the Dragons"
  • R. Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)
  • R. Shalom Sharabi (1702-1777)
  • R. Dov Baer (1704-1772) "The Maggid of Mezrich"
  • R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1747)
  • R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806) "The Chida"
  • R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichov (1740-1809)
  • R. Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810)
  • R. Aryeh Kaplan (-1983)