Curious arts

"(Acts 19:19), magical arts; jugglery practised by the Ephesian" "conjurers. Ephesus was noted for its wizard and the "Ephesian" "spells;" i.e., charms or scraps of parchment written over with" "certain formula, which were worn as a safeguard against all" manner of evils. The more important and powerful of these charms "were written out in books which circulated among the exorcists," and were sold at a great price.