Maphteah Shelomo (Book of the Key of Solomon)

Maphteah Shelomo (Book of the Key of Solomon)
A facsimile of an original book of magic in Hebrew with illustrations

by Gollancz, Hermann, 1852-1930

Only 300 copies of this work were issued

Oxford University Press 1914

According to the mythical history of the document, as recorded in its introduction, Solomon wrote the book for his son Rehoboam, רְחַבְעָם and commanded him to hide the book in his sepulchre upon his death. After many years the book was discovered by a group of Babylonian philosophers repairing Solomon's tomb. None could interpret the text, until one of them, Iohé Grevis, suggested that they should ask the Lord for understanding. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him and extracted a promise that he would keep the text hidden from the unworthy and the wicked, after which he was able to read it plainly. Iohé Grevis then placed a spell on the book that the unworthy, the unwise or those who did not fear God would not attain the desired effect from any of the workings contained in the book.

Book I contains conjurations, invocations and curses to summon and constrain spirits of the dead and demons in order to compel them to do the operator's will. It also describes how to find stolen items, become invisible, gain favour and love, and so on.

Book II describes various purifications which the operator (termed "exorcist") should undergo, how they should clothe themselves, how the magical implements used in their operations should be constructed, and what animal sacrifices should be made to the spirits.