Donkey King - Asinine Symbology in Ancient and Medieval Magic

The 13th-century Arabic grimoire, al-Sakk¿k¿'s Kit¿b al-Sh¿mil (Book of the Complete), provides numerous methods of contacting jinn. The first such jinn described, Ab¿ Isr¿'¿l B¿zayn ibn Sulaym¿n, arrives with a donkey. In the course of offering an explanation for his ritual, this Element reveals the double-sided nature of asinine symbology, and explains why this animal has served as the companion of both demons and prophets. Focusing on two nodes of donkey symbology¿the phallus and the bray-it reveals a coincidentia oppositorum in a deceptively humble and comic animal form. Thus, the donkey, bearer of a demonic voice, and of a phallus symbolic of base materiality, also represents transcendence of the material and protection from the demonic. In addition to Arabic literature and occult rituals, the Element refers to evidence from the ancient Near East, Egypt, and Greece, as well as to medieval Jewish and Christian texts.

List of contents

Preface; 1. Introduction: the complete donkey; 2. The ancient donkey and his afterliv; 3. The phallus of the donkey; 4. The voice of the donkey; 5. Conclusion; Bibliography.

Product details

• Authors: Emily Selove, Emily (University of Exeter) Selove, Selove Emily
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 21.12.2023
• EAN: 9781009074933
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0907493-3
• No. of pages: 74
• Series: Elements in Magic
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Theatre, ballet; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / Wicca, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, PERFORMING ARTS / General, BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Magick Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / Middle Eastern, BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Mysticism, Arabic, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Mysticism, magic & ritual, Mysticism, magic and occult interests, GAMES & ACTIVITIES / Magic, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Conjuring & Magic, Conjuring and magic, Occult Studies