Thrasyllus (Trasulle) was an astrologer who advised the Roman emperor Tiberius while on Rhodes. According to Suetonius and other Roman sources, Thrasyllus’ reputation for divination enabled him to avoid death at the emperor’s hands by skillfully interpreting omens and reading the stars. His story exemplifies the dangerous yet influential position of astrologers in the ancient … Read more
Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus), Roman emperor, features in a legend in which a demon saves him from an earthquake in Antioch. Another story asserts that he refrained from rebuilding Italica, his ancestral city, due to a prophecy that linked its expansion to the decline of his empire. Trajan’s legendary encounters reflect both classical and medieval … Read more
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (37-68 AD) was a Roman emperor known for his tyranny and cruelty. He persecuted Christians and is associated with the Great Fire of Rome. In folklore, Nero is often depicted as having a connection to magic. He is said to have carried a small statue or mandrake that predicted the … Read more
Masquerades, festive celebrations involving costumes and disguises, have ancient roots. The Gauls believed that Mithras, the Persian god of light and truth, presided over the constellations. Initiates into Mithraic mysteries were divided into groups, each symbolized by a constellation. They celebrated their festivals disguised as lions, rams, bears, and dogs, representing these constellations. This practice, … Read more
“Heliogabalus (Varius Avitus Bassianus), Roman Emperor from 218 to 222 AD, was known for his unconventional religious practices and disregard for Roman traditions. Despite his apparent disdain for established religion, he was said to have engaged in necromancy. The 16th-century French jurist and demonologist Jean Bodin claimed that Heliogabalus participated in Witches’ Sabbaths and worshipped … Read more
Hehugaste is a sylph, an air spirit, said to have been a companion to the Roman Emperor Augustus. According to cabalistic texts, the poet Ovid was exiled for witnessing Augustus with Hehugaste. The sylph, angered by the lack of discretion, supposedly abandoned Augustus. This story blends classical mythology with later esoteric traditions, reflecting the enduring … Read more
Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, was deeply intertwined with Roman superstition and augury. Born as Gaius Octavius, his rise to power was marked by numerous omens and prophecies. His mother, Atia, is said to have dreamt of her womb being carried into the heavens, symbolizing Augustus’ future greatness. During the battle of Actium, Augustus … Read more
Anaxilas, a Pythagorean philosopher who lived under Augustus. He was accused of magic because he was doing bad experiments of physics, and Augustus banished him. He was the inventor of the infernal torch, which consists of burning sulfur in a place deprived of light, which makes the assistants very ugly. Related Posts:Potable SilverAstrologyMythological Anatomy: The … Read more
Adrien, later known as Emperor Hadrian, consulted a seer in Moesia during the reign of Domitian. The seer predicted his future ascension to the throne, a prophecy reportedly confirmed by multiple sources. Hadrian was adopted by Trajan, fulfilling the prophecy. A skilled astrologer himself, he allegedly predicted the exact year of his death, ceasing to … Read more