A study of the magical practices - the spells, rituals, and incantations - of ancient Western Asia, the birthplace of Western civilization. Using knowledge preserved in cuneiform tablets from Assyria, and aided by the various stepping-stones offered in Syriac monkish writings, Arabic tales, and other Semitic tradition, Campbell traces the growth and decadence of early magical practices through three thousand years to its lingering influence in contemporary society. Some subjects included are the desecration of graves, the jinn, ghosts, wax figures in Assyria, the demons of Palestine, Lilith, the Evil Eye, and much more.