ETRUSCAN
MAGIC
& Occult Remedies
Charles Godfrey Leland
VAMzzz
PUBLISHING
Etruscan Magic & Occult Remedies
Author: Charles Godfrey Leland
Original title: Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Tradition (1892)
Cover image: S pring (1883) by Carolus-Duran (Charles Emile Auguste Durand, 1837-1917)
Lay-out: www.burokd.nl
ISBN 978-94-92355-00-3
© 2015 Revised publication by:
VAMzzz Publishing
P.O. Box 3340
1001 AC Amsterdam
The Netherlands
www.vamzzz.com
[email protected]
Turan, or Venus
ETRUSCAN
MAGIC
& Occult Remedies
Charles Godfrey Leland
VAMzzz
PUBLISHING
Charles Godfrey Leland
August 15, 1824 – March 20, 1903
4
CONTENTS
PART ONE
Gods and Goblins
CHAPTER I
Tinia—39 Buschet—53 Impusa della Morte—58 Siero—62 Norcia, The Goddess of Truffles—64 Aplu—68
Turanna—72 Pano—81
CHAPTER II
Maso—87 Mania Della Notte —90
CHAPTER III
Feronia—93 Silviano—100 Paló—104 Esta—106
Carmenta—107 Il Sentiero —109
CHAPTER IV
Faflon—111 Lo Spirito Della Contentezza—118 Corredoio—120
Orco—125 Tesana—126 Spulviero—130 Urfia—132
CHAPTER V
Lares, Lasa and Lassi —133 Losna—146 Laronda—151
Lemuri—155 Tago—156 Fanio—158 Querciola—166
Sethano—169
CHAPTER VI
Carradora—171 Vira—175 Bergoia—179 Bughin—184
Ganzio—186 Alpena—189
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CHAPTER VII
Tituno—193 Albina—195 Verbio—198 Dusio—201 Remle—206 Jano, Meana, Montulga and Talena—207 Pico—215
CHAPTER VIII
Floria—217 Ra—220 Bovo—222 Attilio—225
La Bella Marta—229 Diana and Herodias—239
Offerings to Spirits—250
CHAPTER IX
Il Spirito del Scaldino—255 Artemisia—260 Red Cap—261
Of Sorcery in Ancient Art—266
The Goddess of the four winds - L’erba Rosolaccio —278
Madonna del Fuoco—284 La Cavalletta—287
CHAPTER X
Cupra—293 Walnut witches—298 Witches and witchcraft—316
Zanchi—328 Hail and Cloud men—339
Stories of Witches and Goblins —353 Wizard Saints—383
PART TWO
Incantation, Divination, Charms and Cures,
Medicine and Amulets
CHAPTER I
La Stalla di Maiale—403
The spell of the ivy and the statue—411 The spell of the hare—415
The spell of the spider—419 The spell of the green lizard —426
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CHAPTER II
Birds and treasures—433 The spell of the falling star—437
The spell of the acorns —440 The spell of the swallow—446
Minor cures from Marcellus—452
The three wise men of the east and the witch medals—480
CHAPTER III
The exorcism of death—487 The spell of the cradle—492
Divination with lead—494 Divination by oil—500
Pyromancy and incense—511 The spell of the lamp—521
CHAPTER IV
Evil incantations—525
The spell of the Holy Stone and the Salagrana—536
The spell of the shell and the tone of the stone—543
The spell of the snail—548 Il canto del gallo—550
Divination with ashes—557
CHAPTER V
The amethyst—563 The spell of the black hen—570
The spell of the bell—575 The spell of the boiling clothes—580
Ring sorcery—585 Amulets, omens and small sorceries—588
Lead and antimony—603
Post Scriptum
7
8
PART ONE
Gods and Goblins
9
10
INTRODUCTION
Turms, or Mercury
THERE IS IN Northern Italy a mountain district known as La Romagna Toscana, the inhabitants of which speak a rude form of the
Bolognese dialect. These Romagnoli are manifestly a very ancient
race, and appear to have preserved traditions and observances little
changed from an incredibly early time. It has been a question of late
years whether the Bolognese are of Etrurian origin, and it seems to
have been generally decided that they are not. With this I have nothing whatever to do. They were probably there before the Etruscans.
But the latter at one time held all Italy, and it is very likely that they
left in remote districts those traces of their culture to which this
book refers. The name Romagna is applied to their district because
it once formed part of the Papal or Roman dominion, and it is not
to be confounded with La Romagna proper. Roughly speaking, the
region to which I refer may be described as lying between Forli and
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Ravenna. Among these people, stregeria, or witchcraft–or, as I have
heard it called, “la vecchia religione” (or “the old religion”)–exists to
a degree which would even astonish many Italians. This stregeria, or
old religion, is something more than a sorcery, and something less
than a faith. It consists in remains of a mythology of spirits, the principal of whom preserve the names and attributes of the old Etruscan
gods, such as Tinia, or Jupiter, Faflon, or Bacchus, and Teramo (in
Etruscan Turms), or Mercury. With these there still exist, in a few
memories, the most ancient Roman rural deities, such as Silvanus,
Palus, Pan, and the Fauns. To all of these invocations or prayers in
rude metrical form are still addressed, or are at least preserved, and
there are many stories current regarding them. All of these names,
with their attributes, descriptions of spirits or gods, invocations and
legends, will be found in this work.
Closely allied to the belief in these old deities, is a vast mass of curious tradition, such as that there is a spirit of every element or thing
created, as for instance of every plant and mineral, and a guardian or
leading spirit of all animals; or, as in the case of silkworms, two–one
good and one evil. Also that sorcerers and witches are sometimes
born again in their descendants; that all kinds of goblins, brownies,
red-caps and three-inch mannikins, haunt forests, rocks, ruined
towers, firesides and kitchens, or cellars, where they alternately
madden or delight the maids–in short, all of that quaint company of
familiar spirits which are boldly claimed as being of Northern birth
by German archæologists, but which investigation indicates to have
been thoroughly at home in Italy while Rome was as yet young, or,
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it may be, unbuilt. Whether this “lore” be Teutonic or Italian, or due
to a common Aryan or Asian origin, or whether, as the new school
teaches, it “growed” of itself, like Topsy, spontaneously and sporadically everywhere, I will not pretend to determine; suffice to say that
I shall be satisfied should my collection prove to be of any value to
those who take it on themselves to settle the higher question.
Connected in turn with these beliefs in folletti, or minor spirits,
and their attendant observances and traditions, are vast numbers of
magical cures with appropriate incantations, spells, and ceremonies,
to attract love, to remove all evil influences or bring certain things
to pass; to win in gaming, to evoke spirits, to insure good crops or a
traveller’s happy return, and to effect divination or deviltry in many
curious ways–all being ancient, as shown by allusions in classical
writers to whom these spells were known. And I believe that in some
cases what I have gathered and given will possibly be found to supply
much that is missing in earlier authors–sit verbo venia.
Many peasants in the Romagna Toscana are familiar with scores of
these spells, but the skilled repetition and execution of them is in the
hands of certain cryptic witches, and a few obscure wizards who
belong to mystic families, in which the occult art is preserved from
generation to generation, under jealous fear of priests, cultured people, and all powers that be, just as gypsies and tramps deeply distrust
everything that is not “on the road,” or all “honest folk,” so that it is no
exaggeration to declare that “travellers” have no confidence or faith
in the truth of any man, until they have caught him telling a few lies.
As it indeed befell me myself once in Bath, where it was declared in a
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Previews of all books including a complete
table of contents can be viewed on
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Aradia
Gospel of the Witches
Charles Godfrey Leland
174 pages, paperback
ISBN 9789492355010
www.vamzzz.com
Where Leland’s Etruscan Magic and Occult Remedies deals with the
entire pantheon of old Italian gods and nature spirits, worshiped by
the streghe, Aradia is focused on Diana or Tana, her daughter Aradia
and Lucifer. Aradia, the queen of the Italian witches, or streghe, is as
Leland concludes: ‘evidently enough Herodias, who was regarded in the
beginning as associated with Diana as chief of the witches. This was not,
as I opine, derived from the Herodias of the New Testament, but from an
earlier replica of Lilith, bearing the same name.’ This wonderful book
describes the creation according to Italian witch-lore. We also read
about the witch-meeting or sabbath (treguenda) and it contains many
original magical recipes, like spells for love and good fortune. Diana is
further connected to the Moon and the fairy world.
VAMzzz Publishing revised this book with a Post Scriptum, containing
biographical info on Charles Godfrey Leland, his witch-informant
Maddalena and historical proof the witch-tradition is indeed linked to
2000 years of Diana worship.
15
Taboo, Magic, Spirits
A study of primitive elements in Roman religion
by Eli Edward Burriss
200 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355034
In Ancient Rome Mana was the term used for a
mysterious, magical medium, which could be helpful
or harmful (Taboo). Just like the Chinese qi, it could
empower the positive and the negative. Contents: Mana,
Magic and Animism – Positive and Negative Mana
(Taboo) – Miscellaneous Taboos – Magic Acts: The
General Principles – Removing Evils by - Magic Acts –
Incantation and Prayer– Naturalism and Animism.
Chaldean Magic
It’s Origin and Development
by François Lenormant
454 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355027
The essentials of magic in Chaldea are presented
inside a context of comparison or contrast to Egyptian,
Median, Turanian, Finno-Tartarian and Akkadian
magic, mythologies, religion and speech. Interesting is
the Chaldean demonology, with its incubus, succubus,
vampire, nightmare and many Elemental spirits, most of
them coalesced with the primal powers of nature.
Unicorn
A mythological investigation
by Robert Brown Jr.
124 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355072
Brown Jr. believes the unicorn to be a lunar symbol, and
draws on mythology from a wide range of sources all
over the world to build his case. The author discusses the
heraldic use of the unicorn, relates the creature to ancient
goddesses like Astarte, Hecate en the Gorgon Medusa,
and provides the reader with lost esoteric Moon-lore.
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Là-Bas
A Journey into the Self
by Joris-Karl Huysmans
378 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355058
The plot of Là-Bas concerns the novelist Durtal, who is
disgusted by the emptiness and vulgarity of the modern
world. He seeks relief by turning to the study of the
Middle Ages. Through his contacts in Paris, Durtal
discovers that Satanism is not a thing of the past but
alive and kicking in turn of the century France. The
novel culminates with a description of a black mass.
Devil-worship in France
Or The Question of Lucifer
by Arthur Edward Waite
240 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355065
In Devil-Worship in France, Waite attempts to discern
what is genuine from what is fake in the evidence of
19th century Satanism. To get the answers he spends
a great deal of time investigating the French Masonic
echelon, debunking a “conspiracy of falsehood” and
determining what should be understood by Satanism
and what not. Huysmans’ diabolical novel Là-Bas
(1891) inspired Waite to write this sceptical analysis.
Testament of Solomon
A First Century AD Grimoire
76 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355041
A first century AD grimoire, and therefore the oldest,
and least known, of all grimoires (magical instruction
books) in the occult tradition. The book describes
health inflicting demons of zodiacal decans, summoned
by King Solomon, and how he controlled them to use
their forces to build his temple and more. Translated by
F. C. Conybeare, appeared first in the Jewish Quarterly
Review of October, 1898.
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Fairy Mythology (Volume 1)
Romance and Superstition of Various Countries 1
by Thomas Keightley
404 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355096
Fairy Mythology (Volume 2)
Romance and Superstition of Various Countries 2
by Thomas Keightley
404 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355102
The term Fairy covers all kinds of nature spirits, not
just the tiny sugar sweet creatures hovering around
flowers. A unique and impressive book on this subject,
published in a revised 2 volume-edition. No wiccan
or pagan can afford to leave these books unopened.
About Elves, Dwarfs, Kobolds, Trolls, Changelings,
Meremaids, Nisses, Fairies, Brownies, Puck and other
Elemental spirits all over the world.
Ophiolatreia
Rites and Mysteries of Serpent Worship
Author: Hargrave Jennings
186 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355126
An account of the rites and mysteries connected with
the origin, rise and development of serpent worship in
various parts of the world, enriched with interesting
traditions, and a full description of the celebrated
serpent mounds & temples, the whole forming an
exposition of one of the phases of phallic, or sex
worship.
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Amazons - Two publications in one book I. The Amazons by Guy Cadogan Rothery
II. R
eligious Cults Associated With the Amazons
by Florence Mary Bennett
328 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355089
Contents I: The Amazons of Antiquity – Amazons
in Far Asia – Modern Amazons of the Caucasus –
Amazons of Europe – Amazons of Africa – Amazons of
America – The Amazon Stones.
Contents II: The Amazons in Greek legend – The Great
Mother – Ephesian Artemis – Artemis Astrateia and
Apollo Amazonius – Ares.
Voodoos and Obeahs
Phases of West India Witchcraft
by Joseph J. Williams
374 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9789492355119
This work goes into great depth concerning the New
World-African connection and is highly recommended if
you want a deep understanding of the dramatic historical
background of Haitian and Jamaican magic and witchcraft,
and the profound influence of imperialism, slavery and
racism on its development. Williams includes numerous
quotations from rare documents and books on the topic.
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VAMzzz
PUBLISHING
The gods, spirits and sorcery of Italian witches
Etruscan Magic & Occult Remedies by Charles Godfrey
Leland was first published as Etruscan Roman Remains
in Popular Tradition, in 1892. Part One of the book offers
a complete and detailed insight in the Etruscan and
Roman rooted pantheon of the Tuscan Streghe (witches).
Part Two describes many of their spells, incantations,
sorcery and several lost divination methods.
Leland found himself at the crossroads of the academic
and the romantic and it is precisely this, which makes
the reading of his work so enjoyable. His primary aim
was to preserve this ancient traditional knowledge, as
he feared, it would soon be wiped out by modernism.
Much information in this book, Leland received first
hand from the Tuscan witches Maddalena and Marietta.
His second work on Stregheria: Aradia, or the Gospel of
the Witches was published seven years later in 1899.
One could state he reached his goal, as his books
are still of invaluable importance to both the Italian
folklore and the modern practitioner of witchcraft.
One of Leland’s readers was the late Gerald Gardner,
which makes one wonder who was the true
godfather of modern witchcraft…
Special revised edition with an index of
ancient Etruscan gods and spirits.
9 789492 355003