PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS:
Six Arabic (A) scrolls: A1—A fine linen scroll in Arabic, about five inches across, tied with a faded red silk ribbon. It can be dated to the 15th century, most likely originating in Egypt or possibly Tunis. The Arabic text is stylized and illuminated, and the scroll is in excellent condition. A2—A cracked, partially fire-damaged, piece of parchment, about 15 inches across, mounted on a wax tablet (a method used to preserve particularly fragile texts). The text is in a very shaky hand and can be dated to the 9th century, most likely from Moorish Andalusia. A3—A vellum scroll in Arabic, about 8 inches across, tied with a faded red silk ribbon. It can be dated to the early 12th century, almost certainly to Egypt. A4—A papyrus scroll in Arabic, about 8 inches across, untied. It dates from the 8th century, though the writing style is somewhat antique (stylistically similar to the style of the previous century), suggesting the possibility that the author or scribe was from a provincial region, probably in the Arabian Peninsula. A5—A vellum scroll in Arabic, about 8 inches across, tied with a faded red silk ribbon.* The script and material suggests the work is of Egyptian origin, probably mid 15th century. A6—A badly decayed papyrus scroll, probably from the middle of the early Fatimid Caliphate (10th century).
Four Latin (L) scrolls: L1—Fragments of a papyrus scroll, written in Latin, pressed between thin glass plates and mounted in a booklet. The language suggests it was written around the time of the early Roman Empire (30-40 A.D.). L2—A worn vellum scroll in Latin, about 12 inches across, tied with a linen cord. The script suggests it was written in the 12th century; a note at the beginning is in period ecclesiastical Latin while the bulk of the text is in late Imperial vernacular (probably 4th century). Fragments of a leaden seal bearing the image of a lion are preserved. L3—A parchment scrap with Latin writing, uneven but between 7 and 8 inches across though it tapers at one end due to tearing or breaking. The language and the script used suggest an early medieval author, possibly in the late 8th century, most likely from the Carolingian court. L4—Linen paper scroll in Latin, about 11 inches across, untied. The language is very late Medieval Latin, and is heavy with Italian vernacular. It probably comes from Northern Italy, possibly Milan, and dates to late 15th or early 16th century.
Two Egyptian Hieroclyphs (H) scrolls: H1—A papyrus scroll in Hieratic Egyptian, about 10 inches across, mounted on a wax board. It probably dates from the 19th Dynasty (about 1200 B.C.). H2—A papyrus scroll in Hieratic Egyptian,* about 10 inches across, tied with a faded red silk ribbon. It dates from the Tanite (21st) Dynasty (about 1000 B.C.).
Two Medieval French (F) scrolls: F1—A brittle vellum scroll in Langues d’Oïl (Old French), about 10 inches across, untied, dating to the later 11th century. F2—A fine parchment scroll in Middle French, about 15 inches across; illuminated, illustrated, and tied with a black silk ribbon laced with threads of silver. It dates to the mid 16th century, probably from the court of Francis I.
One Old English (E) scroll: E1—A brittle vellum scroll, about nine inches across, tied with a strip of hide. An expert could date the scroll to around 1050 AD, making it a remarkable and rare find.
CONTENTS:
Six Arabic scrolls:
A1 — This scroll consists of a series of prayers to a being called the Black Lion, described in the text as a towering sphinx-like monstrosity with the body of a titanic black lion and the head of a man, but with its face a void opening into the depths of space. The prayer enjoins the being to destroy unnamed invaders of the lands once held by the children of the Iteru (the Nile River).
A2 — On this scroll are a series of instructions for calling upon the power of Thoth, called here Izzu-Tahuti, by invoking his secret name. This invocation is said to diminish the power of enemies and spirits, but comes at a risk to the caster. The instructions are confusingly written and obscure.
A3 — The text of this scroll is a lengthy prayer to “The Black Pharaoh” (also called Nephren-Ka), “Master of All Egypt,” “Lord of the Shining Crystal,” and “Voice of Black Fire and Death.”
A4 — This scroll describes the ritual magic used to control or perhaps ward against a particular and strange djinn called the “Dweller in Strange Spaces” and “Spider of the Void,” which the magician may use to reach distant places and to destroy his enemies. Much of the text is devoted to the creation of a ritual knife of either iron or silver (or other pure metal), necessary for the ritual.
A5 — The contents of this scroll are a series of instructions to a pupil on the preparation and casting of a spell that allows the caster to influence the dreams of his subject. The spell requires a bowl made from “sky copper,” specific herbs, and blood from the caster and that the victim must be no more than perhaps two dozen miles distant. One strange reference mentions that the author enjoys tormenting his victims with visions of a demonic cat.
A6 — This scroll records a curse, calling upon the “Formless Howler of the Wastes” and “He Who is Lord Over all Beasts” to bring a pestilence down upon one Hijepha‘oto the Khem, apparently an Egyptian sorcerer of some might.
Four Latin scrolls:
L1 — These fragments contain a prayer to a figure described as “the Black Caesar,” described as the “Lord of All Lands” and “Servant of the Chaos before the Titans.”
L2 — This scroll contains two parts. The first is a short introduction discussing the origins of the longer passage; taken from the library of an unnamed Apulian monastery and copied for a potential heresy trial against the monastery’s Abbot as the original was too fragile. The main text is a prayer to Black Pharaoh similar in content to scroll L1, with a few lacuna.
L3 — On this scroll is a lengthy but incomplete prayer to a being described as the “Dark Master with Smoking Wings,” a monstrous bat-like being with a huge tripartite eye, said to dwell in “the Blackness Beyond Night.” The prayer is cut off during the description of a great gem, sacred to the being.
L4 — The content of this scroll is a series of prayers calling upon the might of “The Messenger of the Old Ones,” a cloud-like amorphous being and a harbinger of great destruction. The prayers call upon the being to lay waste to the armies of “the Bastard Charles and his wicked court.”
Two Egyptian Hieroglyphic scrolls:
H1 — This scroll relates a prayer to call upon “the Bird of Yellow Aztura,” a winged humanoid messenger. Much of the text discusses the astrological necessities of the rite mostly involving the star Aldebaran and the creation of a bone flute, said to attract the creature.
H2 — The text of this scroll is in two parts. The first is a prayer to the Black Pharaoh. The second is a plea to the same for his aid by sending an undescribed servant creature, alternately called the “Uraeus (or cobra) of Tahuti” or “the Death that Dwells by Night” including the offering of a living human sacrifice.
Two Medieval French scrolls:
F1 — The contents of this scroll were clearly written in haste as the handwriting is uneven and several passages were smeared by the author as he wrote. The text is a prayer to “The Black Demon,” alternately described as “Lord Blood Tusk” or “He who is feared in the valley of Minarthè,” offering up the supplicant’s body in sacrifice in exchange for the destruction of his foes.
F2 — This finely made scroll consists of a series of prayers to “L’Homme Nuit,” or “the Black Man,” and includes rites of ritual animal sacrifice, infant sacrifice, and cannibalistic orgies, best performed with the aid of “the Brothers of the Earth.” One passage describes the Black Man and calls him “He who wore the Serpent Crown and Howls as a Blackness Across the Land.”
One Old English scroll:
E1 — This scroll is a prayer to the “Horned One,” “Lord of All Beasts,” or “The Black Huntsman.”
