Key of Solomon

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For other uses, see Key of Solomon (disambiguation).

The Key of Solomon is a grimoire or book on magic attributed to King Solomon (as several others were). The known copies originated in the Middle Ages and later. The book contains several paragraphs and terms inspired by Talmudic texts and the Jewish Kabbalah teaching.

It is possible that the Key of Solomon inspired later works such as the Lemegeton, also called The Lesser Key of Solomon, although there are many differences between both books. What may have inspired the Lemegeton are the conjurations and rituals of purification, and in a less important way, the clothing and magic symbols.

One of the many "magic circles" from the Key of Solomon.

Several versions of the Key of Solomon exist, in various translations, and with minor or significant differences. Most manuscripts date to the 16th or 17th century, but a prototype in Greek still survives from the 15th century.

1 History
2 Contents
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

Judging by its style of writing, the book's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Many books attributed to King Solomon were written in this 453-year period (years 1000 to 1453), which was underscored by the Crusades and the influence that the contact with Jewish kabbalists and Arab alchemists had on European magicians and demonologists.

Unlike other similar books, the Key of Solomon does not mention any of the seventy-two spirits constrained by King Solomon in a bronze vessel as the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (16th century) and the 17th century Lemegeton seal of the demons do. What the Key of Solomon describes is not the appearance or work of any demon but only the necessary drawings to prepare each experiment.

[edit] Contents

The Key of Solomon, divided in two books, contains the conjurations and invocations to summon spirits of the dead (preferably in battle) and spirits from Hell (not specified whether demons or punished souls, but it is understandable from the purpose of the texts that those spirits are demons), and to protect the conjurer (called exorcist in the book) from them and against an attempt of possession. There are curses to oblige reluctant spirits to obey.

The book gives details on how to prepare the ink to draw the magic symbols necessary for the experiments the magician is going to perform, using animal blood mixed with other substances. All substances needed for the magic drawings and amulets are detailed, as well as the means to purify and prepare them.

The conjurer must also purify himself before performing an intended experiment, and these rituals are also detailed, as well as the clothing he must use, the colours, etc.

According to the Key of Solomon animals must be sacrificed as offerings to the summoned spirits as a sine qua non (essential) condition, which is common in medieval books on "black magic".

The book contains instructions to practice necromancy, experiments of invisibility, to cause harm to others, etc., and the zodiacal time appropriate for each experiment. All the necessary magical instruments needed to perform the experiments are described in great detail, including how and also the form to make it.

As a curious need, the conjurer must manifest that he is free of any evil action before attempting any of these experiments (many of them to cause evil), and invoke the protection of God.