History Help.

[Calon-Qwa Fallwind]

I was wondering if anybody had the history of a Necromancer and Mage.

Blessed Be,
Joshua

[Ben Gruagach]

Is that the name of a book?

If it's not the name of a book you might have to clarify for us what exactly you're hoping to find. A necromancer is a person who works magick specifically with the dead (spirits of the dead or with body parts) and a mage is really just a generic term for a person who uses magick, like magickian or witch. The word mage though tends to imply a highly skilled magickian.

Asking for the history of necromancers or the history of mages is like asking for the history of priests. They are such generic labels that there's not really a standard history that can be given.

[David19]

I don't know much about the history of mages and necromancy but i think these sites should help you out http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/tomekeeper/ (http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/tomekeeper/) , this one is a listing of most types of magic users and what they do and includes necromancy and i think magecraft and this http://www23.brinkster.com/falcis/ (http://www23.brinkster.com/falcis/) is for necromancy, from what i've seen it's very detailed and has a history of necromancy and i think exercises on developing necromancy skills, i think so anyway.

I might be wrong but i think mages were middle eastern priests of Zoroaster(sp) and knew things about magic, astrology, etc. Also i think necromancy was practiced in Ancient Greece as well as by the ancient Hebrews/Jews. Hope this and the sites help and hope you find what you're looking for :).

[Ben Gruagach]

I don't know much about the history of mages and necromancy but i think these sites should help you out http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/tomekeeper/ (http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/tomekeeper/) , this one is a listing of most types of magic users and what they do and includes necromancy and i think magecraft and this http://www23.brinkster.com/falcis/ (http://www23.brinkster.com/falcis/) is for necromancy, from what i've seen it's very detailed and has a history of necromancy and i think exercises on developing necromancy skills, i think so anyway.

I just want to point out that the first link there does have some interesting material, but a lot of the stuff there is actually based on fantasy role playing games rather than historical magick. Take what they say there (such as the "classifications" of magick -- especially the whole white magick/ black magick thing) with a grain or two of salt.

The second site looks to be more balanced although of course it is exclusively about necromancy.


I might be wrong but i think mages were middle eastern priests of Zoroaster(sp) and knew things about magic, astrology, etc. Also i think necromancy was practiced in Ancient Greece as well as by the ancient Hebrews/Jews. Hope this and the sites help and hope you find what you're looking for :).

You're right that the word mage is descended from the middle eastern term magi. It's also where we get the word magic (or magick) from. So a mage is really pretty generic in that it means a person who practices magick.

If there are specific groups who are calling their practice magecraft that is a pretty recent thing. It's another one of those distinctions that sound to me like they originated in fantasy role playing rather than in actual magickal history.

[Edited to add: check out this online etymology dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=m&p=1) for some clear explanations of the origins of the terms magi and magic.]

[Calon-Qwa Fallwind]

Thank you all for your help. I was looking for information on both names.