 The "Wisdom of Solomon", a book considered apocryphal by many contemporary Jews and Christians (probably composed in the first century BCE) claims that

Thus Solomon was seen as the greatest scientist, but also the greatest occultist of his time, learned in astrology, plant magic, daemonology, divination, and "physika" ( "science").These are the central aims of magic as an independent tradition – knowledge and power and control of the mysteries of the cosmos.Such aims can be viewed negatively or positively by ancient authors.