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King Solomon the Magus

by Claude Lecouteux

Painting a portrait of Solomon the Magician-King, Lecouteux reveals how this legendary magus left a deep impression upon the occult, magical traditions, and philosophies of the ancient world that can still be felt to this day.

FORMAT
Hardcover
LANGUAGE
English
CONDITION
Brand New


Publisher Description

• Explores the schools of Solomonic magic around the world and works such as The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon the King and The Hygromancy of Solomon

• Examines Solomon's magical possessions, including his famous ring that gave him command over animals, weather, demons, genies, and djinns, as well as his amulets, remedies, exorcisms, and charms

• Looks at the extensive presence of Solomon in folklore around the world, including in Armenia, Malaysia, Russia, Bulgaria, Morocco, India, and Egypt

Looking at the Solomonic magical tradition and Solomon's profound influence on esoteric traditions around the world, Claude Lecouteux reveals King Solomon not only as one of the great kings of prehistory but also as the ancient world's foremost magician and magus. Examining the primary sources on Solomon, such as the Bible, the Koran, and the writings of Flavius Josephus, the author explores Solomon's judgments, his explorations, his literary and scientific works (including an herbal), and his constructions beyond the eponymous temple, such as the copper city in Andalus built by the djinns and the baths of Sulayman. He also looks at Solomon's magical possessions, such as his famous ring and the Philosopher's Stone. The author examines the supernatural powers granted to Solomon by his ring, which he received from the angel Gabriel, including command over animals, weather, and demons, and explores in detail Solomon's power over genies and djinns.

Following the esoteric threads hidden within the primary sources on Solomon, Lecouteux reveals the work of Solomon the Magician, exploring his amulets, remedies, exorcisms, charms, and his influence on Arab and Western magic. Providing illustrations of sigils, talismans, and other magic symbols related to Solomon, the author examines the schools of Solomonic Folkloremagic and works such as The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon the King and The Hygromancy of Solomon. He then looks at the extensive presence of Solomon in folklore worldwide, including in Armenia, Israel, Malaysia, Eastern Europe, Russia, Morocco, India, Mongolia, and among the Abyssinians of Ethiopia and the Copts in Egypt. He also looks at Solomon's role within the Bulgarian tradition from which the Cathars derived.

Painting an in-depth portrait of Solomon the Magician-King, Lecouteux reveals how this legendary magus left a deep impression upon the occult, magical traditions, and philosophies of the ancient world that can still be felt to this day.

Author Biography

Claude Lecouteux is a professor emeritus of medieval literature and civilization at the Sorbonne. He is the author of numerous books on medieval beliefs and magic, including The Pagan Book of the Dead and Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION
The Legend of King Solomon

PART ONE
The King

ONE
The Source Texts

TWO
Solomon and the Animals

THREE
Solomon's Constructions

FOUR
The Judgments of Solomon

FIVE
Solomon's Possessions

SIX
Solomon's Literary and Scientific Works

SEVEN
Solomon's Explorations

EIGHT
Solomon and the Djinns

NINE
The Sins of Solomon

TEN
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

ELEVEN
Solomon and Death

TWELVE
Solomon among the Sabaeans

PART TWO
The Magician

THIRTEEN
The Testament of Solomon

FOURTEEN
Solomon's Hygromancy

FIFTEEN
The Keys of Solomon

SIXTEEN
The Other Magic Books

SEVENTEEN
The Archaeological Traces of Solomon

EIGHTEEN
The Lapidaries of Solomon

NINETEEN
The Account of Zosimos of Panopolis

TWENTY
Solomon's Successors

PART THREE
Solomon in Folklore

Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Review

"In this splendid compendium, Claude Lecouteux brings together stories, folktales, lore, and legends associated with the Biblical King Solomon. King of ancient Israel, he founded castles and cities as well as a palace of glass and his most famous Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's legacy spread across the Middle East into Europe, Africa, and beyond. Reputed author of one thousand and five books of poems, psalms, and songs and three thousand parables, he also interacted with animals, whose languages he understood. Solomon was one of the great historical practitioners of magic. Solomon's seal and ring gave him power over various kinds of spirits. All his possessions--his net, his throne, and his chalice among them--were infused with magical power. Claude Lecouteux's masterly reconstruction of the wondrous world of King Solomon from ancient documents is by far the most comprehensive survey yet published of the many different aspects of this ancient and influential monarch." * Nigel Pennick, author of The Ancestral Power of Amulets, Talismans, and Mascots and Elemental Magic *
"Lecouteux's in-depth study and presentation of the legend and importance of the image of King Solomon in the magical mythology fills an important role in our understanding of the history of the practice of magic in both Europe and Asia. Solomon was ascribed some of the most important magical grimoires and symbols and signs bearing his name that may be found from Arabia all the way into the realm of the Far North in Iceland." * Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D., author of Icelandic Magic and Original Magic *
"This remarkable book, fully illustrated with archival images, shows Solomon--the mythical man, the mystical man, the personal and cultural man--at ease in a world he co-created with his Creator." * Gerald Hausman, author of Rastafarian Children of Solomon: The Legacy of the Kebra Nagast and the Pa *
"Professor Lecoueux is a well-known historian of medieval cultural history. His new book on the legendary King Solomon represents a convincing proof of the author's erudition. This excellent work presents a wealth of relevant information about Solomon's supernormal wisdom, his relations to the world of spirits, his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, and much more. The author's analysis of Solomon's relations to shamanism is also very useful. This is a fundamental study of one of the most enigmatic figures in history." * Ronald Grambo, former professor of folklore at the University of Oslo *
"The story of King Solomon is universal, found in different cultures and different sources. His close contact with God, his relations with djinns and exorcists as well as his love for women, made him a universal legend. In this book, the French scholar Claude Lecouteux presents the complete story of King Solomon for us to read." * Ahmed Osman, author of The Egyptian Origins of King David and the Temple of Solomon *
"The author uses The Bible, the writings of Yosef ben Matityahu HaCohen (better known as Flavius Josephus), and the classic book The Thousand and One Nights as primary sources to demonstrate the universality of Solomon the King and Solomon the Magician. No stone is left unturned. Solomon's relationships with animals, with the djinns, and with his people are explored. The places he lived, the magical talismans he created and used, and more are all discussed. The text is fully illustrated, including images I've used myself in crafting protective talismans. The combination of history, legend, and religion makes King Solomon the Magus an important work for anyone who interested in Arabian or Western magic." * The Magical Buffet *

Review Quote

"In this splendid compendium, Claude Lecouteux brings together stories, folktales, lore, and legends associated with the Biblical King Solomon. King of ancient Israel, he founded castles and cities as well as a palace of glass and his most famous Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's legacy spread across the Middle East into Europe, Africa, and beyond. Reputed author of one thousand and five books of poems, psalms, and songs and three thousand parables, he also interacted with animals, whose languages he understood. Solomon was one of the great historical practitioners of magic. Solomon's seal and ring gave him power over various kinds of spirits. All his possessions--his net, his throne, and his chalice among them--were infused with magical power. Claude Lecouteux's masterly reconstruction of the wondrous world of King Solomon from ancient documents is by far the most comprehensive survey yet published of the many different aspects of this ancient and influential monarch."

Excerpt from Book

INTRODUCTION The Legend of King Solomon Few sovereigns have left such a deep imprint in legends and folktales as King Solomon. A historical figure who built the Temple of Jerusalem and founded cities and fortresses, the son of David was God''s chosen prophet who had dominion over demons and owned many magical objects. This king, known for his wisdom, was the subject of a thousand stories and has found a place in the pantheon of men who left their mark on history. The Hebrews called him Schlomo; the Arabs, Sulayman; the Greeks and Romans, Salomo--a family name that carries the notion of peace for his reign, and he was according to all the traditions, quite peaceful. His memory has traveled through the centuries and can be found among the Arabs and Persians, as well as in the work of the church father Origenes. His name can also be found among the Bulgarians, the Byzantines, the Russians, the Ukranians, the Egyptian Copts, the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians. The primary sources of his legend are the books of Kings of the Bible, as well as Flavius Josephus, the Qu''ran, and the Talmud. Over the course of time, these elements have been embellished, developed, and enriched with outside contributions, and, little by little, came together to form the history of a monarch whose notoriety is equaled only by that of Alexander the Great--both kings serving as model monarchs for rulers throughout history. Furthermore, we can find certain episodes from the life of the Macedonian conqueror in the Solomonic history, for example, his descent to the bottom of the sea and his flight into the heavens. The legend of the son of David has been the subject of countless studies, such as that of Ren

Details

ISBN1644112434
Author Claude Lecouteux
Short Title King Solomon the Magus
Pages 288
Language English
Year 2022
ISBN-10 1644112434
ISBN-13 9781644112434
Format Hardcover
Subtitle Master of the Djinns and Occult Traditions of East and West
Publisher Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Imprint Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Place of Publication Rochester
Country of Publication United States
Illustrations 56 b&w illustrations
Publication Date 2022-10-27
NZ Release Date 2022-10-27
US Release Date 2022-10-27
UK Release Date 2022-10-27
DEWEY 222.53092
Audience General
AU Release Date 2022-12-13

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