| Author: | Unknown |
| Language: | Medieval Greek |
| Genre: | Grimoire |
The Magical Treatise of Solomon, also known as the Hygromanteia (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ὑγρομαντεία) or Solomonikê (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Σολομωνική), is a collection of late Byzantine-era grimoires written in medieval Greek. A pseudepigraphon, the book purports to contain Solomon's instructions to his son Rehoboam on various magical techniques and tools to summon and control different spirits and their powers, astrological beliefs, select charms, different means of divination, and the magical uses of herbs. 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 begun to be translated in Latin, becoming the source for future European grimoires, most notably the Key of Solomon.
The oldest preserved manuscripts date from the 14th century, and the majority from the 15th century CE. Torijano (2002) asserts that the text originates from the early Byzantine period and it might have been composed in Italy, as the Greek appears to be correctly written and it shows some Italian influence. He further suggests that, due to the lack of obvious signs of Christianization in the text, the work preserves much older material that could go as far back as the early centuries of the common era; a theory that is either accepted or at least regarded as plausible. Marathakis (2011) writes that if, according to Torijano, the text was first composed in Italy, it would have been some time between the 6th and 11th centuries, when parts of Italy were under Byzantine rule. Nevertheless, Marathakis finds it more probable that the work was in fact composed in Venetian-ruled Crete some time between the 13th or 14th centuries. McCown argued that the book was known to Byzantine scholars prior to the 13th century based on Niketas Choniates' reference of a Solomonic book, which allowed sorcerers to summon demons in legions. Marathakis notes that, except for the Magical Treatise, this description also fits the earlier Testament of Solomon, which could be the book that Choniates was referring to instead.
The Magical Treatise of Solomon served as a bridge between the magical practices of the late antiquity and Middle Ages and the later European grimoires of the Renaissance, the most widely known being the Key of Solomon. Early copies of the Magical Treatise were appended to or incorporated elements of the Roman-era Testament of Solomon. Portions of the Treatise also select ideas which may bear distant relationships to the Book of Abramelin, the Greek Magical Papyri (particularly the "Sword of Dardanus"), Sefer Raziel HaMalakh, Sepher Ha-Razim, the Sword of Moses, and the Cyranides.[1]
The Magical Treatise itself has been an important source of material for the Key of Solomon, from which a number of European grimoires later derived. The introduction of the Magical Treatise in Italy likely occurred after the sack of Constantinople by the Ottomans, which caused a wave of scholars to migrate to Italy, bringing with them a large number of Greek manuscripts for safety. Among those manuscripts, their Hygromanteia was almost certainly included. As a result, the Greek Magical Treatise is sometimes regarded as the earliest copy of the Key of Solomon before its translation into Latin in the 16th century. Similarly, one of the earliest manuscripts of the Key of Solomon is also classified as a late copy of the Magical Treatise.[2] Some manuscripts of the Treatise featured demons assigned to the four cardinal directions, distinct from those found in the Lesser Key of Solomon and related works, but very similar to those found in later works such as the Grand Grimoire and Grimoirium Verum. Portions of the Treatise also have some relationship to the Heptameron of Pietro d'Abano, the Lesser Key of Solomon, and the Sworn Book of Honorius.
The Magical Treatise provides instructions on how to create planetary, daily, and hourly talismans, a magic sword, vessels for divination and conjuration, wax figures, scrolls (written in the blood of a bat), a ring, special clothing, and a garland, all intended to control summoned spirits. Angelic conjurations, general prayers to God, and prayers to control planetary influences are listed. Astrological beliefs, including supposed relationship between planets and select plants, are presented as esoteric knowledge. Different angels and demons over different planets, days, and hours are named, as well as what function they perform, although the lists are mostly unique to each manuscript. Angels mentioned include Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Anael. Demons mentioned include Asmodeus, Abizouth, Oniskeliá, Lucifer (as Loutzipher), Astaroth, and Beelzebub.[3]