Cursed Illustrations from an Ancient Manuscript on Demonology and Necromancy
Discovered by chance in an obscure corner of the internet.
This post is not for the faint-hearted. As a researcher of medieval philosophy, I spend my days reading ancient manuscripts, most of which are treasures that enchant me with their elegant Gothic lettering or the extraordinary beauty of their illustrations.
But a few months ago, I encountered a strangeness that reminded me of a story by Lovecraft or Poe.
While searching online for references on the elixir vitae (“elixir of life”)—I’ll omit the specific site to avoid tempting the curious—I stumbled upon an exceptionally peculiar manuscript, starting with its title: Most Secret Compendium of Magic.
It appears to be a grimoire of demonology and necromancy written in the 18th century, though the author claims to have copied its contents from a lost twelfth-century manuscript, nearly six centuries older. The true origins of this book seem, I believe, lost forever in some obscure corner of history.
Nor am I optimistic about its contents: while much of it is written in German and Latin—languages I know—some sections are penned in a secret magical language resembling hieroglyphics. This peculiar encoding renders the content fragmentary and difficult to fully comprehend.
There is one thing that requires no interpretation: its terrifying illustrations. More than thirty eerie images depict necromantic rituals, demonic invocations, and other evil spirits tormenting those foolish enough to believe they can control such dark forces.
Dear reader, I cannot and will not delve into the sinister meanings of these images. Some things are best left alone, whether they are manuscripts guarded in forgotten dungeons or hidden corners of the internet. Nevertheless, my scientific spirit compels me to document these strange discoveries.
Here I have published, therefore, only some of the most intriguing and disturbing images, available for purchase as fine art poster prints—strictly for decorative purposes.
I trust that good judgment will keep you from seeking further information about this cursed manuscript, and should any of you be overcome by curiosity, please do not contact me. I will discuss this matter no further.
Why selling those pictures and profiting from demonic images?
Fascinating. Query: why would people do this, I mean, create grimoires and such things? Do they believe these spells and invocations and such become operational? Or were they just writing fiction for effect?