2020 Reprint of the 1889 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. The Key of Solomon (Latin: Clavicula Salomonis) is a grimoire (also known as a book of spells) attributed to King Solomon. It probably dates back to the 14th or 15th century Italian Renaissance. It presents a typical example of Renaissance magic. It is possible that the Key of Solomon inspired later works, particularly the 17th-century grimoire also known as Clavicula Salomonis Regis, Lesser Key of Solomon or Lemegeton, although there are many differences between the books. Many such grimoires attributed to King Solomon were written during the Renaissance, ultimately being influenced by earlier works of Jewish kabbalists and Arab alchemists. These, in turn, incorporated aspects of the Greco-Roman magic of Late Antiquity.
This grimoire of sigils and rituals for summoning and mastering spirits the most famous, or infamous, of all magic books. It has influenced everything from the revival of magic and the Western Mystery Traditions (tarot, alchemy, astrology, etc.) to fictional works such as Lovecraft’s The Necronomicon.
S. L. MacGregor Mathers (1854-1918) was a prominent scholar and leader of the occult movement in Britian at the turn of the century. A lifelong fascination with mysticism and Celtic symbolism led Mathers to hold high office in the Rosicrucian Society of England, and eventually to become a founder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He is also well known for having been a key tutor to Aleister Crowley.