The enigma of the sphinx and its solution—Paradoxical questions and their answers—Knowledge and faith—The communion of faith—The temporal power of the pope—The science of moral equilibrium—Consequences of its recognition—A citation from the Blessed Vincent de Lerins—Another from Comte Joseph de Maistre—An axiom of St. Thomas Aquinas—The liberation of Magic—Purpose of this work 503 APPENDIX 526 INDEX 529 ILLUSTRATIONS PLATE I. Portrait of Éliphas Lévi in the Robe of a Magus _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE II. Portrait of Éliphas Lévi taken after death xxii III. The Pentagram of the Absolute 2 IV. The Great Symbol of Solomon, reconstructed according to the Zohar 20 V. The Magical Head of the Zohar 40 VI. The Great Kabalistic Symbol of the Zohar 50 VII. The Mystery of Universal Equilibrium, according to Indian and Japanese Mythology, together with the Pantomorphic lynx, or Twenty-First Primitive Egyptian Tarot Key 64 VIII. The Bembine Tablet 78 IX. Pantacle of Kabalistic Letters, being the Key of the Tarot, Sepher Yetzirah and the Zohar 102 X. The Seal of Cagliostro, Seal of the Samian Juno, Apocalyptic Seal, Twelve Seals of the Cubic Stone in Masonry, with the Twenty-First Tarot Key in the centre of all 120 XI. Egyptian Symbols of Typhon, illustrating Göetia and Necromancy. Typhon is depicted performing the renewal of the empire of darkness. From the Temple of Hermoutis. The smaller figures are from the Zodiac of Esne and the top is a _bas relief_ in the same temple 128 XII. The Seven Wonders of the World 166 XIII. A Public Disputation between St. Peter and St. Paul on the one side and Simon the Magician on the other. Ascent and fall of Simon. From an engraving of the fifteenth century 184 XIV. Hermetic Magic. Reproduced from an ancient Manuscript 224 XV. The Philosophical Cross, or plan of the Third Temple, as prophesied by Ezekiel and planned in the building scheme of the Knights Templar 264