Dr.

Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Solomon in Magical Texts and Contexts

1) PGM IV,850–855
... I swear to you by the holy gods and the heavenly gods not to share the procedure of Solomon with anyone and
certainly not to use it for something questionable ...

2) PGM IV, 3018–3041

... I conjure you, every daimonic spirit, to tell whatever sort you may be, because I conjure you by the seal,
which Solomon placed on the tongue of Jeremiah (Jer 1:6–9?), and he told. You also tell, whatever sort you may
be, heavenly or aerial, whether terrestrial or subterranean, or netherworldly ...

3) Ianda 14 (= P 17 according to Preisendanz II)

... be done as in heaven so also on (Mt 6) – Exorcism of Solomon against every unclean spirit. It is God who
gave it, at whose disposal are myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands of angels (Dan 7) – the demon of
midday, the shivers by night ... by day (Ps 91) – and by the fearful and holy name, shivers (Ps 91)– us to pray
just as [John] taught – earth. Give us our daily bread ... (Mt 6) ...

4) "Amulet of Syntyche" (according to Merkelbach)

IAO, Solomon, Sabaoth. Sesengenbarpharanges. ... Do no harm to Syntyche, who carries this exorcism! Every
evil spirit, remember the treaty, which you agreed to out of fear from Solomon and the angel Michael, when they
swore and spoke the great and holy oath by the holy name ; "We will flee and this shall be no lie!"

5) Vienna G 337, Amulet to protect against the mischief of evil spirits

I adjure all of you who have sworn before Solomon: Do not injure a person, do not cause harm with fire or with
water, but through the oath be fearful of the Amen and the Alleluia and the gospel of the Lord, who suffered for
the sake of us people.

6) Lead Phylactery from Colle san Basilio (= SEG 44.772) (according to Jordan)
O E CH O A. In the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit. For incontinence and demonic visitation(?) and
witchcraft. I adjure you by the seal of Solomon. I adjure you by
him who lifts up the throne of God, [Michael]; I adjure you by
the Cherubim {Michael}; I adjure you by the twelve patriarchs
and the [eighteen?] prophets who serve in the heavens; I adjure
you by the River Jordan and by his baptism: [deliver God’s
slave] from witchcraft or from contumely or from evil visitation.
From the crown (of the head) to the (toe)nails, flee, be banished,
All-Evil One, from God’s slave Julian. Amen.

7) Amulet (from Irbid) for the Protection of an Unborn (according to Montgomery)

And now with the wand of Moses and the shining-plate of Aaron the high priest, and with the seal of Solomon,
and with [the shield] of David, and with the mitre of the chief priest, have I pronounced (?) [the wo]rd: I am
YHWH, and repeatedly [have I exorcis]ed them ...

8) Pseudo-Augustin Homilia de sacrilegiis 6

Whoever produces writings of Solomon, whoever ties around the neck of humans or dumb animals any
characters, whether on papyrus, on parchment, or on metal tablets made from bronze, iron, lead, or any other
material, such a person is not a Christian but a pagan.

9) Incantation Bowl 18 (according to Isbell)

... and of the mighty Tiqas and of the signet-ring of Solomon upon which is the Great Ineffable Name.

10) Incantation Bowl 48 (according to Isbell)

... their possessions are sealed with the signet-ring of El Saddai, blessed be He, and with the signet-ring of King
Solomon the son of David, who worked spells on male demons and female Liliths ...

11) Magic Bowl JBA 46,8–9 (according to Shaked; Ford; Bhayro)

... you are sealed by the signet-ring of El Shaddai, you are sealed by the signet-ring of King Solomon son of
David, on which the ineffable name is drawn (and) carved, from the six days of creation.
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

12) Magic Bowl JBA 47,11 (according to Shaked; Ford; Bhayro)

Change [yo]ur path, just as the primeval d[e]mon changed (his path), the one who was in the days of King
Solomon son of David. By the name of nomina barbara Accept [this charm].

13) Syria Incantation Bowl (Naveh; Shaked)

My it be bound and sealed by the seal by which the heaven and the earth are sealed, and by the seal by which
Noah sealed his ark and by the seal of Solomon, by which the demons and the dews are sealed and by the great
seal. ...

14) "Exorcism of a Dead Cat"(= Audollent, DT 242; Wünsch, AF 4)

... I exorcise you by the god, who gave humans the power of every magic, Sabaoth, I exorcise you by the God of
Solomon, Su-Harmiouth ...

15) Sepher ha-Razim (Introduction according to Morgan)

And when he (=Noah) came forth from the ark, he used (the book) all the days of his life, and at the time of his
death he handed it down to Abraham, and Abraham to Isaac, and Isaac to Jacob, and Jacob to Levi, and Levi to
Kohath, and Kohath to Amram, and Amram to Moses, and Moses to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the
elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the sages, and thus generation by generation until Solomon the King
arose. And the Books of the Mysteries were disclosed to him and he became very learned in books of
understanding, and (so) ruled over everything he desired, over all the spirits and the demons that wander in the
world, and from the wisdom of this book he imprisoned and released, and sent out and brought in, and built and
prospered.

16) Concerning ... (Gollancz Codex A § 19)

... through the merit of Esau, of Moses, of David, of Solomon, of Gabriel, the great Angel, peace be upon him! ...
drawing out the trumpet-sound (?) of effective extermination from off him who bears this charm, Amen!

17) Binding the Mouth of Wolves (Gollancz Codex A § 35)

... May there be bound, sealed and bridled the mouths of wolves ... by the staff of Moses the Prophet, and by the
ring of Solomon Bar Jaki ...

18) Binding the Scorpions (Gollancz Codex A § 38)

... Thou art sealed, bridled, and stopped by the two angels Gabriel and Michael. I bind the mouth of the scorpions
by the staff of Moses the Prophet, by the mantle of Elisha, by the ascent of Elijah, and by the ring of Solomon
bar Jaki. Amen!

19) For Favour in the Sight of all Men (Gollancz Codex A § 40)
... As God loved Solomon, and he subjected the rebellious devils by his ring, and as God loved Moses, and
divided the Red Sea before him, and as God loved Joseph, and made him, in his place of a servant, lord over all
Egypt, so, O Lord, God of Hosts, cast the flame [fire] of benevolence towards the bearer of these writs ...

20) Codex Upsaliensis C 222 Carmen Buranum 54

... Coniuro uos elphos gord'i et ingordin, ... Gordan, Ingordin et Ingordan,
per nomen dominiterribile. per tremendam diem
iudicij eterni supplicij. per eum qui ducturus est uos in
infernum saluaturus in eternum. per nomen
admirabile et ineffabile. per tres magos per sigillum Salomonis
pharaonis et per reges salomonis, caspar. et per magos Pharaonis,
melchior. balthasar. per regem dauid qui omnes uos coniuro,
saul sedauit, cum iubilauit uosque fugauit. omnes exercizo
uos attestor uos contestor per mandatum per tres magos Caspar,
domini. ne celetis quem soletis uos uexare Melchior et Balthasar,
hominem ut appareatis et post discedatis ne per regem Dauid,
uas corrumpatis christianitis atestor qui Saul sedauit,
contestor per nomen mirabile et ineffabile. cum iubilauit
Nila. Sada. manucadi. lernustrabel. uosque fugauit
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Solomon in Magical Literature and Grimoires (select examples)

Name Date Writer Content

Artefacts (select examples):

Lead Phylactery 7th century anonymous "I adjure you by the

from Colle san Basilio seal of Solomon."
(Sicily)

Metal Disc 4th century anonymous calling the Seal

(Archäologisches Museum or later of Solomon for
der WWU Münster, Inv. 211) help

"Magical Gem" uncertain anonymous portrait of Solomon

KM 26092, fighting a demon,
Kelsey Museum of Archaelogy, inscription "Seal of
University of Michigan God"

Amulet uncertain anonymous "Seal of Solomon,

"Seal of Solomon" keep away any evil from the one who wears you"
and (reverse) "Flee, o hated one. Solomon pursues
you ..." cf. Medicina Plinii 3,15,7; Oxyrhynchus
1151 (Amulet to protect Joannia from fever);
Ps-Theodorus, Additamenta and some other
amulets, e.g. Phylactère alexandrin

Phylactère alexandrin uncertain anonymous Solomon as horseman;

"Flee, o hated one, Solomon pursues you" and
"Michael, Gabriel, Ouriel, Raphael, protect the
one who carries it, holy, holy PIPI" (=pipi = ‫)יהוה‬

Grimoires and Magical Writings:

Picatrix ca. 1055 (Arabic) Pseudo-Maǧrīṭī Solomon attracts

1256 Spanish, (Alphons X.) humans, spirits, winds
then Latin and birds, when he
wears his signet ring

Carmen Buranum 54 ca. 1230 unknown "... per sigillum

Salomonis et per magos Pharaonis..."

Codex Upsaliensis C 222 12th–13th century unknown "per tres magos

pharaonis et per reges salomonis, caspar.
melchior. balthasar. per regem dauid qui saul
sedauit ..."

Clm 849 15th century unknown conjuring spirits,

(Munich) "... per sapienciam Salomonis", using the "Sigillum
Salomonis", "Ioth et Nabnoth, per que Salomon
constringebat in vase vitreo demones. Coniuro vos per vij
signa Salomonis et per sigillum et sapientiam eius ...", "...
per anulos Salomonis et per signa et sancta nomina in ipsis
descripta", "et per nomen per quod Solomon astringebat
dyabolos et conclusit eos", "per sigillum Salomonis, et per
anulum eius, ix candarias celestes"; Solomon uses love
magic
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Codex Parisinus 2316 15th century anonymous Solomon seals demons

in vessels of bronze

Almandal 13th century anonymous ritual for human

(?) perfection (cp. Ars notoria); includes angelological and
astrological elements; slightly cabbalistic

Ars Notoria 1225 "Pseudo- magical prayers

Sive Flores Aurei Apollonius" and conjurations
(Mellon MS 1, Yale)

Liber iuratus 13th century "Pseudo- allegedly a

(Sworn Book of Honorius Honorius" composition of
or Liber sacer) various grimoires, Solomonic symbols as
in Clavicula Salomonis

Sepher Raziel printed 1701 unknown, spells and angelic magic

possibly 13th allegedly linked to Solomon in a
century Eleazar of Worms chain of tradition

Liber Raselis 13th century unknown version of Sepher Raziel

(translated under Alphons X.) (Latin and Castilian)

Liber Salomonis: 1564 "Solomon" similar to Sepher

Cephar Raziel (MS Sloane 3826) Raziel/Liber Raselis

De occulta philosophia 1534 Agrippa references to magic

libri tres written 1505– von Nettesheim qualities of Solomon
1510 (in analogy to
Josephus) in I,47 and 72; cabbalistic
interpretation of a connection between
Solomon and Michael in III,10 and 47

Mysteriorum Libri 1581–1583 John Dee signet-ring of Solomon

Quinque inspired by Reuchlin
and Agrippa ("PELE")

Clavicula Salomonis 14th–17th "Solomon" different versions;

(Keys of Solomon or century incantations and
Mafteah Shelomoh) Solomonic symbols

Icelandic 1550–1680 unknown compilation of

Galdrabók Icelandic clergyman spells with a Seal
of Solomon

Lemegeton 17th century anonymous conjuration of 72 spirits

(Lesser Keys of inspired by Weyer circles and other
Solomon) Solomonic symbols and items (e.g. bronze vessel)

Sacred Magic of 17th century "Abraham of invocations and

Abramelin the Mage allegedly 1458 Worms" rituals; chain of
tradition of true
wisdom to Solomon reminding of Solomon's
errors; magic dangerous, but used by forefathers
Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon (who
misused it and was punished)

Liber Armadel 17th century anonymous invocations and

(Grimoire of Armadel) allegedly 1202 symbols; refers to the symbol of Raphael
as "Wisdom of Solomon": Solomon learns
from Michael and Hamaliel
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Grimorium Verum 18th century "Alibeck Traditions of Solomon

allegedly 1517 the Egyptian" (Clavicula)

Formeln der magischen 18th–19th century Hanns Weymar Mosaic magic and a
Kabala oder der magischen allegedly 1505 (?) a short Clavicula
Kunst des 6. und 7. Buch
Mosis: sammt einem Auszug aus dem echten und wahren
Clavicula Salomonis Regis Israel

Semiphoras und 1686 "Solomon" Solomon's explanation

Shemhamphoras on God's name; (cabbalistic elements from Agrippa and
Salomonis and Pseudo-Agrippa, Sepher Raziel, Pseudo-Dionysius,
(ed. Andreas Luppius) elements comparable to Sixth and Seventh Book of Moses,
ed. Scheible, and Paracelsus)

Clavicula Salomonis et 1686 "Solomon" description of spirits

Theosophia pneumatica (Elements from Paracelsus and the Grimoire Arbatel)
(ed. Andreas Luppius)

Zecorbeni seu 17th century "Solomon" variation of the Clavicula

clavicula Salomonis

The Sixth and the 1849 "Moses" Solomon's wisdom

Seventh Book of and Solomon in a
Moses (ed. J. Scheible) chain of tradition

Grand Grimoire 18th–19th century "Antonio Venitiana Clavicula-traditions,

("The Red Dragon") allegedly 1522 del Rabina" for summoning the
devil and fallen angels
similar to Lemegeton

Dogme et Rituel de 1854–1855 Éliphas Lévi combines Seal of

la Haute Magie (Alphonse Louis Constant) Solomon and Cabbala

La Clef des Grands 1861 Éliphas Lévi occult magic combining

Mystères (Alphonse Louis Enoch, Abraham,
Constant) Hermes Trismegistos
and Solomon

Clefs majeures et 1895 Éliphas Lévi Seals and talismans of Solomon

clavicules de Salomon (A.L. Constant)

Theological and Philosophical Literature:

Homilia de sacrilegiis 6 8th century "Pseudo- whoever sells

Augustin" Solomonic amulets
cannot be Christian

Liber visionum 14th century Jean de Morigny refers to Ars notoria

De verbo mirificio 1494 Johannes rejects magical

Reuchlin literature allegedly
written by Solomon

De incertitudine et vanitate 1526 Agrippa von rejects magical

scientiarium declamatio Nettesheim literature allegedly
invectiva written by Solomon
and others
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Pseudomonarchia 1577 Johann Weyer refers to "Circulo

Daemonum Empto. Salomonis",
rejection of magic

Discoverie of Witchcraft 1583 Reginald Scot quotes Weyer, rejects

the idea of the existence of magic; addition:
Solomon is only powerful due to divine power; he
imprisoned evil spirits in a vessel of bronze, which
was later destroyed by Babylonians, cp. Testimony
of Truth 69

Salomon prævius, 1613 Juan de Pineda Solomon has a superb

sive de rebus Salomonis knowledge and is
regis libri octo superior to Apollonius

Solomon in Ethiopic (Magical) Texts:

Mirror of Solomon 20th century, amulet text, protection from

(Maṣḥêta Sâlomon) but older tradition demons such as Bârjâ (Ps 91:6) or Lêgêwon (Mk
5:9; Lk 8:30); cf. Testament of Solomon

Net of Solomon uncertain exorcism text;

(Marbata Sâlomon) (unstandardised text) Solomon catches demons in a fishing net, cf. for
the demons Mirror of Solomon

Kebra Nagast 13th century Solomon can talk to animals and

(?) controls devils with his wisdom (ch. 25)

various vary Name, Seal and Ring of Solomon

"Secret Names" andPrayers (asmat)

Solomon's "Magic" in Other Religious Groups:

Qur'an 7th century

2:102 magic taught by angels Harut and Marut,
not by Sulayman;
27:15–44 Sulayman speaks with animals, has power
over Jinn; turns Queen of Sheba (who is
stunned by reflections within the palace,
cf. Targum Sheni) into a believer of
Allah;
34:1–15 power over Jinns

Samaritan 12th century Hear, O Lord the voice of Judah.

Asatir He will build the tower of shame with
11:26–32 might. The people will be praying for
Truth. Will be oppressed through the son
who is born of a harlot. He will be ... like
the enchanter Bileam. In his days the
worship of strange gods will be
established. And within a short time the
unholy sanctuary will be destroyed by the
hand of a nation of a hard face.
In Pitron 11:27–28 the figure is Jesus.
Dr. Matthias Hoffmann
From Exorcist to Esoteric Expert – Solomon in Magical Literature from Early Judaism to Magic Grimoires

Other Writings referring to Solomon in Magical Texts:

"Philosophia 11th century Michael Psellus Hebrew treatise of Solomon on

Minora " stones and certain demons
= maybe Testament of Solomon,
rather Hygromanteia as Psellus
refers to demon Gello (not
Obyzouth)

Otia imperialia 1209–1214 Gervase of Tilbury Solomon's ring and Solomon as

expert in the knowledge of stones

De fide et between William of references to rings of Solomon

legibus 1220–1240 Auvergne and seals of Solomon and the
nine candles (candariae)";
mentions the Idea Salomonis et entocta and the
figure Mandel or Almandel

Epistola des secretis 13th century Roger Bacon Ars notoria

operibus artis et naturae et
de nullitate magiae

Speculum astronomiae 4 after 1260 Albertus Magnus De figura Almandel, De novem

(?) candariis, and a writing on the
four rings (De quatuor annulis)
starting with the words "De arte
eutonica et ideica"

De occultis et 14th century Antonio da refers to Almandal,

manifestis Montolmo Clavicula Salomonis and De
angelica fictionis

Directorium 14th century Nicolaus dismisses Tabula

inquisitorum Eymericus Salomonis (=Ars
notoria?) and Thesaurus nigromanciae (=
Liber iuratus)

Das Buch aller 1456 Johannes Hartlieb "Sigillum Salomonis"

verbotenen Künste and Liber Raselis

Pseudomonarchia 1577 Johann Weyer Circulo Empto.

Daemonum Salomonis (or Annulus Salomonis)

Alchemical Tracts of 15th – 17th unknown identifying itself as

Gratheus filius century (?) Sapientia Salomonis;
philosophi Solomon more powerful
than Apollonius (cf. Ars notoria)