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[[File: | [[File:Samuel Mathers.png|350px|thumb|Samuel Mathers depicted as the Page of Pentacles in the [[Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen Tarot]]]] | ||
'''Samuel Liddell (or Liddel) MacGregor Mathers''' (8 or 11 January 1854 – 5 or 20 November 1918), born '''Samuel Liddell Mathers''', was a British [[occultist]]. He is primarily known as one of the founders of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], a [[ritual magic|ceremonial magic]] order of which offshoots still exist. He became so synonymous with the order that Golden Dawn scholar [[Israel Regardie]] observed in retrospect that "the Golden Dawn ''was'' MacGregor Mathers." | '''Samuel Liddell (or Liddel) MacGregor Mathers''' (8 or 11 January 1854 – 5 or 20 November 1918), born '''Samuel Liddell Mathers''', was a British [[occultist]]. He is primarily known as one of the founders of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], a [[ritual magic|ceremonial magic]] order of which offshoots still exist. He became so synonymous with the order that Golden Dawn scholar [[Israel Regardie]] observed in retrospect that "the Golden Dawn ''was'' MacGregor Mathers." | ||
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==The Golden Dawn== | ==The Golden Dawn== | ||
Mathers was introduced to Freemasonry by a neighbour, alchemist Frederick Holland, and was initiated into Hengist Lodge No.195 on 4 October 1877. He was raised as a Master Mason on 30 January 1878. In 1882 he was admitted to the Metropolitan College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia as well as a number of fringe Masonic degrees. | Mathers was introduced to Freemasonry by a neighbour, alchemist Frederick Holland, and was initiated into Hengist Lodge No.195 on 4 October 1877. He was raised as a Master Mason on 30 January 1878. In 1882 he was admitted to the Metropolitan College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SIRA) as well as a number of fringe Masonic degrees. | ||
Working hard both for and in the SRIA he was awarded an honorary 8th Degree in 1886, and in the same year he lectured on the [[Kabbalah]] to the Theosophical Society. During this time, he became acquainted with Irish poet [[W.B. Yeats]]. He became Celebrant of Metropolitan College in 1891 and was appointed as Junior Substitute Magus of the SRIA in 1892, in which capacity he served until 1900. He left the order in 1903, having failed to repay money which he had borrowed. | Working hard both for and in the SRIA he was awarded an honorary 8th Degree in 1886, and in the same year he lectured on the [[Kabbalah]] to the Theosophical Society. During this time, he became acquainted with Irish poet [[W.B. Yeats]]. He became Celebrant of Metropolitan College in 1891 and was appointed as Junior Substitute Magus of the SRIA in 1892, in which capacity he served until 1900. He left the order in 1903, having failed to repay money which he had borrowed. | ||
In 1891, Mathers assumed leadership of the | Mathers is credited with developing the ritual outlines in the mysterious [[Cipher Manuscripts]] into a workable format. This process led to the creation of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. | ||
In 1891, Mathers assumed leadership of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn upon the death of William Robert Woodman. He moved with his wife to Paris on 21 May 1892. After his expulsion from the Golden Dawn in April 1900, Mathers formed a group in Paris in 1903 called Alpha et Omega (its headquarters, the Ahathoor Temple). Mathers choosing the title "Archon Basileus." | |||
==Published works== | ==Published works== | ||
[[File: | [[File:SL-Mathers.jpg|350px|thumb|Mathers in Egyptian garb during a magic ritual]] | ||
Mathers was a polyglot; among the languages he had studied were English, French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Gaelic and Coptic, though he had a greater command of some languages than of others. | Mathers was a polyglot; among the languages he had studied were English, French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Gaelic and Coptic, though he had a greater command of some languages than of others. | ||
His translations of | His translations of old [[grimoire]]s, while probably justly criticised with respect to quality, were responsible for making what had been obscure and inaccessible material widely available to the non-academic English speaking world. They have had considerable influence on the development of [[occult]] and esoteric thought since their publication, as has his consolidation of the [[Enochian]] magical system of [[John Dee]] and [[Edward Kelley]]. | ||
Some of his most popular translations include the works: | |||
* ''[[Book of Abramelin]]'' (14th century) | |||
* Christian Knorr von Rosenroth's ''The Kabbalah Unveiled'' (1684) | |||
* ''[[Key of Solomon]]'' (anonymous, 14th century) | |||
* The ''[[Lesser Key of Solomon]]'' (anonymous, 17th century) | |||
* ''[[Grimoire of Armadel]]'' (17th century) | |||
==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||