The Encyclopedia Of Witchcraft And Demonology By Rossell Hope Robbins Pdf 〈PROVEN · Tips〉
The encyclopedia features comprehensive entries on major historical trials, including:
First published in 1954, "The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology" is a comprehensive guide to the history, practices, and lore of witchcraft and demonology. The book is a monumental achievement, comprising over 500 pages of detailed entries, illustrations, and references. Robbins' work is a treasure trove of information on the subject, covering topics such as:
Robbins meticulously documents how legal systems were systematically altered to ensure convictions. He explains how traditional legal protections were stripped away in cases of crimen exceptum (excepted crimes), allowing for indefinite torture, the admission of hearsay, and the targeting of the accused's family members. 2. Profiles of Infamous Demonologists He explains how traditional legal protections were stripped
Robbins focuses heavily on the period between 1450 and 1750, detailing the trials, the methods of torture, and the rise of the Inquisition.
The Encyclopedia is encyclopedic in the truest sense, comprising over 500 entries arranged alphabetically. The scope of the work is vast, ranging from "Abbot, George" to "Zwolle, Johann." Robbins’ methodology was distinct in its interdisciplinary approach. He drew upon law, theology, folklore, literature, and history to construct his entries. The Encyclopedia is encyclopedic in the truest sense,
For readers, the book's impact is just as profound. Reviews from readers on sites like Goodreads and Amazon consistently praise its engaging, narrative style, noting that it "doesn't read like an encyclopaedia" but more like "a book of short stories". Many cite it as the spark that ignited a lifelong passion for history, describing it as "serious scholarship, not new-age fluff".
The book, first published in 1959, is widely available in digital formats and physical reprints: first published in 1959
One of Robbins's most critical contributions is his strict terminological distinction between witchcraft and sorcery.
Some digital versions are processed via Optical Character Recognition (OCR). While these are highly searchable, they occasionally contain typos in the old English or Latin phrases used by Robbins, making verified page-scans the preferred choice for citation.
The text provides extensive entries on the hierarchy of hell, specific demons, and the theological belief systems that underpinned the fear of the supernatural. 4. Witchcraft Folklore and Tools Entries cover topics such as: The Sabbath Pacts with the Devil Incubus and Succubus Maleficium