TwilitGrottoEsotericArchives Contents Prev Part4 Next timeline

LesserKeyofSolomon:Book4:ArsAlmadel
ThisdigitaleditionbyJosephH.Peterson,Copyright1999.Allrightsreserved.

ForacriticaleditionoftheLatinversions,seetheexcellentnewedition:Vronse,Julien.L'Almandalet
l'AlmadellatinsauMoyenge:introductionetditionscritiques.Firenze:SISMELedizionidelGalluzzo,
2012.

TothisshouldbeaddedtheimportantnewstudybyDamarisGehr:Gaudentbrevitatemmoderni:
Rielaborazionidellateoriamagicaneltardomedioevosull'esempiodell'AlmandaldiSalomoneinSociete
storian.139,2013.

TheAlmadelisakindofportablealtar.Foranintroduction,see'theHolyAlmandal'byJanR.Veenstra
inBremmer,JanN.,andJanR.Veenstra.TheMetamorphosisofMagicfromLateAntiquitytotheEarly
ModernPeriod.Groningenstudiesinculturalchange,v.1.Leuven:Peeters,2002,pp.189ff.Accordingto
Boudet,therearetwodifferentversionsofAlmadel(orAlmandal),knownfromatleastsixLatinmanuscripts
andtwoGermantranslationsdatingfromthefifteenthcentury.[JeanPatriceBoudet,Entrescienceet
nigromancie,PublicationsdelaSorbonne,2006,p.149.]Inthefirstversion,theAlmadelfigureisconstructed
onametalplate,andthelitterewrittenonthecandleswhichareplacedatthecorners.Itisfumigatedand
exorcisedforaweek,whereuponthespiritswillobeyyouineverything.Thesecondversionissimilarbut
structureddifferently,andthealmadelismadeofwax.

ItwasmentionedbyWilliamofAuvergne(12281249),andbytheauthorofSpeculumAstronomiae
(1277)[Boudet,p.145],alsoTrithemius,Agrippa,JohannWeyer,andJacquesGohory.SeealsoSolomon
entryintheJewishEncyclopediaformoreinformation.

InthecriticaleditionofVronse,pp.135136,thewordsareasfollows:

(Inthefirstquadrant):Adonay,Alyas,Thelyon,Eloy,Pius.
(Second):Helyon,Heloim,Helym.
(Third):Yoth,Beth,agla
(Fourth):Thetagramathon,Saday,Ya

InthecornersshouldbethesealofSolomon[accordingtoeditoritisasixangledstar.]andbetween
thosesignsshouldbewritten:Honoyteon,Pneumathon,Yatha,andAnabona.

Theearly16thcenturyexampleinBoudethassixpointedstarsineachofthe4corners,andthe
followingwords:(outermostborder)adonayselempius/elyoneloyely/Iothhethagla/tetragramathon
sadayya(insideborder)henoytheon/primeuiuaton[=*primuematon?]/jatha/anabona(aroundinner
hexagram)hel/hel/hel/hel/hel/hel.

ComparethiswiththeversionfoundinSepherMafteahShelomoh:ADNIALHMRChMN(thelast
wordmeans"merciful"equivalentofLatin"pius"/compassionate)/TetragrammatonShDIIH/IVDBITh
AGLA/OLIVNALHIALI(inner)HVMAITAN/ANBN/IIR/PRIAAMRAVN.

ManyofthesenamesoccurinaconjurationfoundintheKeyofSolomon.

TheAlmadel,fromGollancz,SepherMaphteahShelomoh,1914,fol20b.

Notethedrawingatthebottomshowinghowthecandlesaretobeconstructedwithfeettosupportthe
Almadel.
"PictureoftheAlmadel",fromOr.MS.6360:
 [TranscriptionfromLondon,BritishLibrarymanuscriptSloane3825.]
[145v]

HerebeginneththefourthpartofthisBookewhichiscalled

SalomonsAlmadelArt
 [ARSALMADELSALOMONIS]

BythisRule[art]SalomonobtainedgreatwisdomfromthecheefeAngellsthatgovernethe4Altitudes
oftheworldforyoumustobserve[that]therebe4Altitudes,representingthe4cornersoftheworld,East,
West,NorthandSouth.Thewhicharedividedinto12parts,thatis,everypartorAltitudeinto3,andthe
Angellsofeveryofthesealtitudeshavetheirparticularsvertuesandpowers,asshallbeshewedinthis
followingmatter&ccc.

[TheMakingoftheAlmadel]

MaketheAlmadelofpurewhitewax,butcollouredsutabletothealtitude[aswillbeshown]itistobe
foursquares[square],andsixInches[over]everywayandineverycorneraholeandwritebetwixteveryhole
withanewpen,Thesewordsornamesofgod,following,butthisistobedoneinthedayandhourofSol.
WriteuponthefirstparttowardstheEast,Adonai,Helomi,Pine,anduponthesecondtowardsthesouth,
Helion,Heloi,Heli,anduponthewestpart:Jod,Hod,Agla:anduponthefourthpartwhichisthenorthwrite
thesenames:Tetragrammaton,Shadai,Jah,andbetwixtthefirstandtheotherquartersmakeThePentacle

ofSalomonthus ,andbetwixtthefirstand[the]otherquarterswritethisword,Anabonaandinthe
midleoftheAlmadelmakeasixangledfigureandinthemiddestoffitaTrianglewherinmustbewrittenthese
namesofgod,Hel,Helion,Adoni[Adonai],Andthislastnameroundinthe6Angledfigure,[aswell,]asyou
mayseeinthisfigure,heremadeitbeingfforanexample&c.

[146r]
 AndofthesamewaxtheremustbemadefourCandles,andtheymustbeofthesamecollourasthe
Almadelisof.youmustdividethewaxintothreeparts,onepartfortomaketheAlmadelof,andtheother2
partsfortomakethecandlesof,andlettherecomeforthfromeveryoneofthemafootmadeofyesamewax,
fortosuporteyeAlmadelwithThisbeingdone:inthenextplaceyouaretomakeasealofpuregoldorsilver,
butGoldisbestwhereinmustbeengraventhesethreenames:Helion,Hellujon,Adonai&cc.

[OftheFirstchoraorAltitude(East)]
NotaThefirstAltitudeiscalledChoraOrientisortheEastAltitudeandtomakeanyexperimentinthis
Chora,itistobedoneinthedayandhoureoftheSun:andthepowerandofficeofthoseAngellsistomakeall
thingsfruitfull&encrease,bothAnimals&vegetables,increation&generationadvancingtheBirthof[the]
children&makeingbarrenwomenfruitfull,&c.Theirnamesarethose.vizt,Alimiel,Gabriel,Borachiel,
Lebes&Hellison

Note:youmustnotprayforanyAngellsbutthosethatbelongtothesameAltitude,youhaveadesierto
callforth.andwhenyouoperate,setthefourcandlesupon4candlesticks,butbecarefullyoudoenotlight
thembeforeyoubegintooperate,thenlaytheAlmadelbetweenthefourcandlesuponthewaxenfeetthat
comethfromthecandlesandlaythegoldensealupontheAlmadel,andand[sic][Then]haveingthe
InvocationredywrittenonvirginsParchment:LighttheCandlesandreadtheInvocationasissetdownatthe
latterendofthispart&cc.

Andwhenheappeareth,heappearethintheformofanAngellcarryinginhishandafanorflagg,having
thepictureofawhitecrossuponit,hisbodyiswrappedroundaboutwithafaircloud,andhisfaceveryfair
andbright,andaCrownofRoseflowers[is]uponhishead:hedescendsfirstuponthesuperscriptionofye
AlmadelasifitwereaMistorFogg.ThenmusttheexorcisthaveinreadynessavessellofEarthofyesame
collourof[that]theAlmadelisof,andtheotherofhisfurniture,itbeingintheformofaBasin,andputtherein
afewhotashesorcoalesbutnottoomuchlestitshouldmeltthewaxofyeAlmadel,&puttherein3little
grainsofMastickeinpowder,sothatitfumethandthesmellmaygoeupwardsthrewtheholesoftheAlmadel
whenitisunderit,andassoonastheangellsmellsithebeginnethtospeakewithalowvoiceaskingwhat
yourdesierisandwhyyouhavecalledtheprincesandgovernersofhisAltitude.thenyoumustAnswerhim,
saying,

Idesirethatallmyrequestsmaybegranted,andwhatIprayformaybeaccomplished,foryour
officemakethappeareanddeclareththatsuchistobefullfildbyyouifitpleasesgod,&c,

addingfurthertheparticularsofyourRequestsprayingwithsincerity[and]^humilityforwhatislawfullandJust
andthatyoushallindeedobtainfromhim:

Butifhedothnotappearpresently,youmustthentakethegoldenseal,Andmakewithitthreeorfour
marksuponthecandles,bywhichmeanstheangellwillpresentlyappeareasaforesaide:andwhentheAngell
departethhewillfillthewholeplacewithasweetandpleasantsmellwhichwillbesmeltalongtime.

Nota.ThegoldensealwillserveandistobeusedintheoperationofalltheAltitudes.TheCollourofthe
AlmadelbelongingtothefirstChoraislilly[lily]white.TothesecondChoraaPerfectredRoseCollourThe
3dChoraistobeagreenmixtwith[a]whitesilvercollour.TheFourthChoraistobeablackmixtwithalittle
greenofasaddcollour&ccccc.

OfthesecondChoraorAltitude:

Note:alltheotherthreeAltitudeswiththeirsignesandprinceshavepowerovergoods[146v]andriches,
andcanmakeanymanRichorpoor,andasthefirstChoragivethEncreaseandmakethfruitfull,sothese
givethdecreaseandBarrenness,&ccccc.

Andifanyhaveadesiretooperateinanyoftheother3ChorasorAltitudes,theymustdoeitonSundays
inthemannerasaboveisshewedButdoenotprayforanythingthatiscontrarytothenatureoftheiroffice,or
againstgodandhislaws,butwhatGodgivethaccordingtothecourseofnature,thatyoumaydesierand
obtaine,andallthefurniturethatistobeusedistobeofthesamecollourastheAlmadelisof,andtheprinces
ofthissecondChoraarenamedasFollowethVizt:Alphariza,Genon,Geror,Armon,Gereinon[Gereinin]
&c.

andwhenyouoperatekneelbeforetheAlmadelwithcloathesofyesamecollourinaclosethungwith
thesamecolloursallso,fortheholyapparationwillbeofthesamecollour:andwhenheisappeared,putthe
earthenBasonundertheAlmadelwithfireandhottashesand3grainesofMasticinpowedertofumeasabove
written,andwhentheAngellsmelleththeperfume,heturnethhisfacetowardsyou,askingtheExorcistwitha
lowvoyacewhyhecalledtheprincesofthisChoraorAltitude,thenyoumustanswerasbeforesaying:I
desirethatmyRequestmaybegranted,andthecontentsthereofmaybeaccomplished,foryourofficesmaketh
appearanddeclareththatsuchistobedonebyyouifitpleasesgod,&c:youmustnotbefearfullbutspeak
humblysaying&c:Irecomendmymy[sic]selfewholyintoyouroffice,andIprayuntoyourprincesofthis
AltitudethatImayenjoy[andobtainallthingsaccordingto]mywishesanddesiers,&c:youmayfurther
expressyourmindinallparticularsinyourprayer&c.doethelikeinthe2otherChorasthatfollow&.c~~~
~~~~~~.

TheAngellofthissecondAltitudeappearsintheformofayoungchildewithclothesofsattinandofa
RedRosecollour,haveingacrownofRedgillyflowersuponhishead,hisfacelookingupwardstoheaven,
andisofaRedCollourandiscompassedroundaboutwithaBrightsplendour,astheBeamsoftheSunnand
beforehedepartethhespeakstotheExorcist,sayingIamyourfriendandbrother,and[he]Illuminateththe
ayreroundabovewithsplendour,and[heleavetha]pleasantsmell,whichlastethalongtime,&ccccc.

oftheThirdChoraorAltitude
InthisChorayouaretodoeinallthingsasyouarebeforedirectedintheotherTwo.TheAngellsofthis
Altitudearenamedasfoll:viztEliphamasai,Gelomiros,Gedobonai,Saranana,&ElomniaTheyappeare
intheformofchildrenorlittlewomendrestingreenandsilvercollours,verydelightfulltobehold,anda
crownofBayleaves,besetwithFlowersofwhiteandgreencolloursupontheirheadsandtheyseemetolooka
littledownwardswiththeirfaces,&c.TheyspeakastheothersdoetotheExorcistandleaveamighty,sweet
perfumebehindthem,&cccccc.

OfthefourthChoraorAltitude

InthisChorayoumustdoeasintheother[others],andtheAngellsofthisChoraarecalledBarchiel,
Gediel,Gabiel,Deliel,&Captiel.&c.TheseappeareintheformeoflittlemenorBoyswithcloathesofa
Blackcollour,mixtwithadarkegreenandintheirhandstheyholdaBirdwhichisnaked&theirheadsare
Beare,onlyitiscompassedround&[147r]BesettwithIvy[and]Berries.The[They]areallverybeautifull
andcomelyandarecompassedroundwithaBrightshineingofdiveres[divers]colours.Theyleaveasweet
smellbehindethemallsobut[it]differethfromtheotherssomething[somewhat]&ccccc.

[Ofthepropertimesforinvokingtheseangells]
Nota:Thereare12princesrullingbesidesthoseinthe4Altitudes,andtheydistributetheiroffices
amongstthemselves,everyonerulling30dayes[orthereabouts,]everyyeare,nowitwillbeinvaintocallany
ofthoseAngellsunlessitbethosethatthengoverneth,ForeveryChoraorAltitude,hathitslimitedtime
 accordingtothe12signsoftheZodiackandinthat[what]signetheSunnisin.ThatAngellorthoseangells
thatbelongtothatsignehavethegovernment:asforExamplesupposeIwouldcallthe2firstofthose5that
belongtothefirstChora,ThenchusethefirstSundayonMarch:thatisaftertheSunisentred ,andthenI
makemyExperimentandsodoethelikeifyouwillthenextSundayafteragaineButifyouwillcallthe2
secondthatbelongtoyefirstChora,ThenyoumusttaketheSundaysthatareinAprill,afterthe isentered
.Butifyoucallthelastofthe5th[five]ThenyoumusttakethoseSundaysthatareinMayafterthe is
entered tomakeyourExperimentindoethelikeintheotherAltitudes,fortheyhaveallonewayof
working:ButtheAltitudeshaveaNameformedseverallyinthesubstanceofheavenevenasaCharacter,for
whentheAngellshearthenamesofgodthatareattributedtothemtheyhearitbythevertueofthatcarecter
[character].Thereforeitisinvaintocallanyangellorspiritunlessyouknew[know]whatnamesofgodto
callthembyThereforeobservetheformeofthisFollowingconjuration,orInvocation&ccccc.

TheInvocation[fortocallforthanyoftheaforesaidangells]
Othougreatmightyandblessedangellofgod,N,whorulethasthecheefe&firstgoverningangellin
thefirstChoraorAltitudeintheEast,underthegreatprinceoftheEastwhomyouobey,and[who]issettover
youaskingbythedivinepowerofgod,Adonai,Helomi,Pinewhoisthedistributter&disposerofallthings,
hollyinheavenandEarthandhellItheservantofthatgodAdonai,Helomi,Pinewhichyouobey,doe
Invocate,Conjure&entreattheeN.thatthouforthwithappeareth,&bythevertue&powerofthesamegod,
[Adonai,Helomi,Pine],Idoecommandtheeforth[byhimwhomyoudoobeyandwhoissetoveryouas
kingbythedivinepowerofGod,thatyouforthwithdescend]ffromthyorderorplease[place]ofabodeto
comeintome,andshewthyselfeplainlyandvisiblyherebeforemeinthisCristallstone,inthyowne[and]
propershapeandgloryspeakingwithavoiceintelligibleandto[unto]myunderstanding:Othoumightyand
blessedangellN,whoartbythepowerofgodordainedtogoverneallvegetablesandAnimalls,andcauseth
them,andallothercreaturesofgodtospring,encrease,andbringforthaccordingtotheirkindsandnaturesI
theservantofthesameyourgodIdoeentreatandhumblybeseechtheetocomeandshewuntomeallthings
thatIshalldesiereofyou,sofarrasinofficeyoucan,orbecapabletoperform,ifgodpermitttothesameO
thouservantofmercyN,Ientreatthee,andhumblybeseechthee,inandbythese3namesofyourtruegod,
Adonai,Helomi,Pine,Anddoeconstraineyouinandbythis[powerful]nameAnabona,Thatthouforthwith
appearethvissiblyandplainelyinthyownpropershapeandgloryinandthrowghthisCristallstoneThatI
mayvisiblyseeThee,andaudiblyhearyouspeakeuntome,ThatImayhavethyblessedand[147v]Glorious
angellicallassistancefamiliar,friendship,andconstantsociety,communicationandInstruction,bothnowand
atallothertimes,toInformeandrightlyInstructmeinmyIgnorantanddepravedIntellectJudgementand
understandingandtoassistmebothherein,andinallothertruths,elsewhattheAlmightyAdonai,theKing
ofKings,Thegiverofallgoodgifts,shallinhisBountifull,andFatherlyMercybegraceouslypleasedto
bestowuponmeThereforeOthoublessedangellN.befriendlyuntome,anddoeforme,sofarrasgodhath
givenyoupowerinofficetoperforme,whereuntoImoveyouinpowerandpresencetoappeareThatImay
singwithhisholyAngells,OMappalaman!Hallelujahamen.

[NotethisinvocationistobealteredaccordingtotheAltitudeandangellyouwishtocallforth.]

Whenheisappeared,givehimorthemakindentertainement,andthenAskewhatisJustandlawfull
andthatwhichisproperandsuetabletohisoffice,andyoushallObtaineit.

SoendeththeBookeAlmadelofSolomon.&c.

[ArsAlmadelSalomonis]

TwilitGrottoEsotericArchives Contents Prev Part4 Next timeline