The Big Idea
This instructional volume outlines a system of ceremonial magic purportedly used by King Solomon to command seventy-two chief spirits. It defines magic not as a miracle, but as a deep understanding of natural philosophy and the 'occult virtue' of physical objects. The text classifies entities by rank — Marquises, Dukes, and Kings — and details their specific powers, such as conciliating friends or revealing future events. To interact with these beings, the operator must follow strict logistical protocols involving virgin parchment, the blood of a black cock, and precisely timed invocations keyed to planetary hours and zodiacal signs.
Who's named
- Solomon
Reputed author and original binder of the evil spirits.
- Paimon
A Great King obedient to Lucifer who appears on a dromedary.
- Lucifer
The superior spirit to whom high-ranking demons like Paimon answer.
- God
The ultimate authority whose names the exorcist uses as leverage.
What it's really about
- Containment
- The use of geometry and brass to control volatile entities.
- Hierarchy
- The rigid aristocratic ranking of the demonic host.
Why it's memorable
- A demon king riding a dromedary accompanied by spirits playing trumpets and cymbals.
- The requirement to use the blood of a black cock that never trod a hen.
What it concludes
Once the ritual is complete, the exorcist must formally command the spirit to depart peacefully and remain as a friendly steward of time.
For your book club
- The tension between divine religious invocations and the goal of commanding evil spirits.
- The reliance on highly specific physical materials to bridge the natural and supernatural worlds.