The Veritable Key of Solomon. Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Ceremonial Magick. Dr. Stephen Skinner. David Rankine

The Veritable Key of Solomon. Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Ceremonial Magick. Dr. Stephen Skinner. David Rankine

I recently read through the Greek Magical Papyri and the Hygromanteia. In keeping with the chronological order of Grimoires, I'm now taking a renewed look at the 15th Century Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon). I also have the classic version edited by S.L. MacGregor Mathers, but this book by Dr. Stephen Skinner (and all the others in his Source Works of Ceremonial Magic series) adds so much depth and context.


"The Key of Solomon" is the most famous and infamous of the Grimoires ever produced. Yet amazingly only one version of it has ever been published, by S L MacGregor Mathers, over 100 years ago. What Mathers may not have known is that there were much more detailed and complete versions of this grimoire available in many other languages. This is not just a variant of Mathers' text, but a translation of three completely different and beautifully illustrated 1796 French manuscripts of the Key of Solomon. These are the most beautiful and complete manu-scripts of "The Key of Solomon" ever published. Much of the detail omitted from Mathers' edition is given here, providing a complete and workable system of high magic with full details of implements, procedures, and a wide range of talismans. Much material not available to Mathers is also found in this extraordinary book, including planetary prayers, names of angels and demons, and a vast array of pentacles, as well as material on the Olympic Spirits, Planetary Spirits and Intelligences. The commentary by two of the best known scholar-magicians provides much additional material, a full survey of all the extant manuscripts of this famous grimoire and how they relate to each other, as well as the historical influence of the Key of Solomon on the development of magic from the Renaissance until now. The pentacles as drawn by Fyot, the original scribe, are reproduced here, with more than twice as many pentacles as were produced in Mathers' text. "The Key of Solomon" is the most significant magical grimoire ever penned, certainly for the period from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth century. This present work finally restores "The Key of Solomon" back to its place at the heart of practical Western magic.

The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia. Grimoire. Ioannis Marathakis. Dr. Stephen Skinner

The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia. Grimoire. Ioannis Marathakis. Dr. Stephen Skinner

I'm spending some time reading through the Hygromanteia. This grimoire is part of the bridge between the Graeco-Egyptian Magical Papyri (PGM) and the Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon). This translation is by Ioannis Marathakis, but is part of Dr. Stephen Skinner's series of Source Works of Ceremonial Magic.


The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia is the ultimate grimoire―the absolute foundation of ceremonial magic. The true source of the Key of Solomon, it is arguably the most significant magical text in the world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary work has been translated from the original Greek into English, allowing magic scholars worldwide to finally access its treasures. The translator, Ioannis Marathakis, is a native born Greek academic with an extensive knowledge of ceremonial magic. Unlike the abridged Latin translation, this groundbreaking work is the complete text, now arranged in its proper order.

The Greek Magical Papyri. by Hans Dieter Betz. Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic. by Stephen Skinner

The Greek Magical Papyri. by Hans Dieter Betz. Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic. by Stephen Skinner

I have enjoyed traveling back in time 2,000 years through the Temples of Alexandria, Egypt. The Papyri Graecae Magicae (PGM) is a fascinating collection of texts, ranging from the 2nd Century BC to the 5th Century AD, and is representative of the magical practices in Egypt at that time. It is particularly interesting to look at it in terms of lineage and see the various practices that have continued on, albeit in modified forms. Some workings in the ancient PGM papyri later reappeared in Byzantium (the Hygromanteia), and then reappeared again in medieval grimoires like the Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon).

If you're interested, I would suggest buying these two books (in the photo) together as a set. The Greek Magical Papyri is not a particularly easy read, and Dr. Stephen Skinner's companion book kindly creates some order out of the chaos.



"The Greek magical papyri" is a collection of magical spells and formulas, hymns, and rituals from Greco-Roman Egypt, dating from the second century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. Containing a fresh translation of the Greek papyri, as well as Coptic and Demotic texts, this new translation has been brought up to date and is now the most comprehensive collection of this literature, and the first ever in English.

The Greek Magical Papyri in Transition is an invaluable resource for scholars in a wide variety of fields, from the history of religions to the classical languages and literatures, and it will fascinate those with a general interest in the occult and the history of magic.

Uncover the Techniques Used by Graeco-Egyptian Magicians
Egypt was once at the heart of magical practice, and the Graeco-Egyptian papyri are the clearest and most extensive documentation of some of these earliest methods. Using academic tools, Stephen Skinner has translated and presented the information contained in the papyri so that the magic will transcend theory and become a real practice.
More than simply a guide to the papyri, Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic is a complete survey and explanation of the techniques, including:
Attracting love, health, and foresight
Bowl and lamp skrying
Sending of dreams
Mystery rites for fellowship with the gods
And more!
Uncover the techniques once used by Graeco-Egyptian magicians to bring this powerful magic into your life.