regarded the pentagram, or five-pointed star, as an extremely
powerful pentacle. According to him, if with one horn in
the ascendant it is the sign of the microcosm--Man. With two
horns in the ascendant, however, it is the sign of the Devil,
"the accursed Goat of Mendes," and an instrument of black magic.
We can, indeed, trace some faint likeness between the pentagram
and the outline form of a man, or of a goat's head, according to
whether it has one or two horns in the ascendant respectively,
which resemblances may account for this idea. Fig. 30 shows
the pentagram embellished with other symbols according to ELIPHAS LEVI,
whilst fig. 31 shows his embellished form of the six-pointed star,
or Seal of SOLOMON. This, he says, is "the sign of the Macrocosmos,
but is less powerful than the Pentagram, the microcosmic sign,"
thus contradicting PYTHAGORAS, who, as we have seen, regarded the pentagram
as the sign of the Macrocosm. ELIPHAS LEVI asserts that he attempted
the evocation of the spirit of APOLLONIUS of Tyana in London on 24th
July 1854, by the aid of a pentagram and other magical apparatus
and ritual, apparently with success, if we may believe his word.
But he sensibly suggests that probably the apparition which appeared
was due to the effect of the ceremonies on his own imagination,
and comes to the conclusion that such magical experiments are
injurious to health.[1]


[1] _Op cit_. pp. 446-450.


Magical rings were prepared on the same principle as were talismans.
Says CORNELIUS AGRIPPA: "The manner of making these kinds of Magical
Rings is this, viz.: When any Star ascends fortunately, with the