Magical Treatise of Solomon
15th century Greek manuscript, now at the British Library, London | |
| Author | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Language | Medieval Greek |
| Genre | Grimoire |
The Magical Treatise of Solomon, also known as the Hygromanteia (Greek: Ὑγρομαντεία) or Solomonikê (Greek: Σολομωνική), is a collection of late Byzantine grimoires. A pseudepigraphon, the book was written in medieval Greek and purports to contain Solomon's instructions to his son Rehoboam on various magical techniques and tools. It includes guides on how to summon and control spirits and their powers, instructions on the selection of charms and the magical uses of herbs, as well as different means of divination and astrological beliefs. The Magical Treatise survives in fragments from a number of manuscripts dating from the 15th century CE. The book has been important for the history of European magic, serving as a link between the earlier Greek magical practices and the later grimoires of Western Europe. During the early modern period, the book began to be translated in Latin, becoming the source for future European grimoires, most notably the Key of Solomon.