The magic scroll consists of seven pieces of paper joined together and measures ca. 350 x 14 cm. It is dated to the 18th century but the dating is uncertain.
The scroll is inscribed on both sides. The frontside describes the scroll as belonging to “the people (Latin: gens) of Salomon” and contains numerous sigils accompanied by corresponding remarks indicating their respective purpose, e.g: “fire and water”, “for unfaithfulness and falsehood” or “for unjust death”. In addition, crosses and magic symbols are drawn in red and black, as well as abbreviations and texts in German and Latin. The edges are decorated with brightly painted floral ornaments. The backside features red three-beamed crosses and more magical texts and words.
32 seals on the frontside are related to the assumed age of Christ, as indicated by the opening words “Great worthiness and virtue hath he according to the age of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Below the 32nd seal the words “End of the length of Jesus Christ” are written. This refers to the so-called “lengths of Christ” used as amulets – strips of paper inscribed with prayers and promises, which supposedly correspond to the length of Christ’s body and should therefore possess special powers.
The 32nd seal is followed by a “prisoner release spell” with six further seals below it. The following texts are written in Latin. The scroll also comprises various magical signs such as the six-pointed star or Drude’s foot and an initial blessing against the plague, the so-called Zachariah blessing.
Infographic from my new book “The Archaeology of Ancient Magic”.
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Badisches Landesmuseum, C 9456. CC-BY-0. Fotograf: Thomas Goldschmidt
