MAGUS

Magus is a term with roots in the ancient world and with varied modern uses. In classical usage, the word derives from Latin magus, from Greek magos, which in turn traces to Old Persian maguš. Historically, magus referred to a member of the priestly caste of the ancient Persians, the Magi, who acted as priests, scholars, and interpreters of religious law. The word entered Latin and later European languages to mean a wizard or sorcerer in broader usage. In the biblical account of the Nativity, the Magi are the wise men from the East who bring gifts to the infant Jesus, commonly associated with astrology and omens, though their precise identity is debated.

In modern fantasy and popular culture, magus is frequently used as a title or class for a powerful magician or arcane practitioner. It appears in novels, role‑playing games, and video games as a formal designation for credentials or mastery of magic, sometimes contrasting with terms like mage, wizard, or sorcerer. The exact powers and traditions of a magus vary by setting.

In occult and esoteric contexts, magus can denote a practitioner of magic or occult knowledge, sometimes linked with Hermeticism and medieval or Renaissance magic. The term also appears in literary works and in the title of works such as The Magus, an early 19th‑century occult treatise, reflecting the enduring association between the word and magical knowledge.