The Theban (or Witches) script/alphabet is widely used by traditional Wiccans and witches both ritually and in their books of shadows. Basically the Theban alphabet is used as a substitution cipher thus hiding the original text in symbols. The script is a straightforward substitution of the standard alphabet with the exceptions that "i" and "j" are identical, as are "u" and "v". The purpose or reasons for using the script is usually to encrypt a message, spell, or text so that its meaning is not obvious to a casual onlooker, or to give a mystical quality to the text to enable more effective magickal workings or spells.

The script is reputed to have been invented by Honorius of Thebes. Thebes was a city in ancient Greece hence the often used "Runes of Honorius." However, there is no credible supporting evidence to this fact. The use of the Theban script by traditional Wiccans is based on its usage by the founder of modern Wicca, Gerald Gardner.