KING SOLOMON

King Solomon

King Solomon: Master of Magic, Builder of the Temple and Commander of Spirits

King Solomon, also known as Suleiman or Suleimanu, was the legendary king of the Israelites in the 10th century B.C.E., son of David and Bathsheba, builder of the Temple of Jerusalem, and one of the most important figures in biblical, Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition. Although the actual historical existence of Solomon and his father David remains unproved, both are among the most powerful figures of the Old Testament and later occult lore.

Solomon was the last ruler of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah. He was not only remembered as a political, administrative or royal figure, but as the world’s wisest man, a master magician, a ruler over nature, and commander of an army of demons or Djinn. In legend, his name, and especially the title Son of David, became a name of power used to command both good and evil spirits.

Solomon’s Wisdom

In 1 Kings, Solomon takes the throne after the death of his father David. The Lord appears to him in a dream and says:

“Ask what I shall give you” (3:5).

Solomon does not ask for riches, victory or long life. Instead, he asks for an understanding mind, so that he may govern well and discern between good and evil. God is pleased with this request and says:

“Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (3:12).

God also grants him incomparable riches. From this moment, Solomon becomes famed for wisdom beyond that of any other man. He knows the lore of plants, animals and everything in the natural world. Men from distant lands seek him out for counsel. In later legend, this wisdom expands into formidable magical knowledge.

For most of his forty-year reign, Solomon prospers:

“Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (10:23–24).

He rules not only over people, but also over the natural world.

Solomon’s Temple

In the fourth year of his reign, Solomon builds the famed Temple of Jerusalem, along with his palace and administrative complex. As builder of the original Jerusalem Temple, commonly called Solomon’s Temple, he becomes, in mystical and Masonic tradition, God’s own architect.

Much of Freemason lore derives from the building of this temple. Solomon is often seen as the original initiate, the king who received secrets directly from God and the spirits.

Inside the temple, Solomon places two gilded olivewood Cherubim in the innermost part of the sanctuary. One wing of one Cherub touches one wall, while one wing of the other touches the opposite wall. Their other wings meet in the centre of the house. When the temple is dedicated, the priests place the Ark of the Covenant, containing the two stone tablets of Moses with the Ten Commandments, beneath the wings of the Cherubim.

Solomon later receives another vision. The Lord promises that Solomon’s house will prosper as long as the commandments are kept and no other gods are worshipped. If there are transgressions, God will cause ruin to the kingdom.

Solomon and the Djinn

In Jewish, Christian and Islamic lore, Solomon becomes far more than a king. He becomes the greatest of magicians and the master of spirits. He is especially famous as Master of Djinn.

In Islamic tradition, Solomon is regarded as one of the greatest rulers of the world, a true apostle and messenger of Allah, and a prototype of Muhammad. His magical powers over the Djinn are famous. Solomon acquired power over them by asking for:

“sovereignty not allowed to anyone after me” (Sura 38:35).

Allah responds by granting him unique authority:

“Then We subjected the wind to his power, to flow gently by his order wherever he wished, and also the evil Jinns, every builder and diver as well as those bound together in chains” (Sura 38:36–38).

Solomon alone was given the power to bind the Djinn. Much later, the prophet Muhammad repelled Iblis by invoking Solomon’s prayer request for sovereignty.

According to tradition, Solomon commanded and compelled an army of Djinn to complete his great building projects, including the Jerusalem Temple. He also possessed a magical ring that gave him power over spirits. This brass and iron seal ring was engraved with the Ineffable Name of the Creator.

In some traditions, the magical ring was given to Solomon by the Archangel Michael. With this ring, Solomon could command demons, bind them, interrogate them and force them to assist in the construction of the temple.

Solomon as Magician, Root Doctor and Shaman

Solomon was not only a ceremonial magician. In folklore, he was also an expert folk magician: a root doctor, shaman, high priest and ceremonial magician all in one. He spoke to spirits and to birds.

With the help of the Djinn, Solomon constructed a magical ritual bath, or mikvah. He cast a spell over its waters so that all who submerged themselves were healed. The waters also had a rejuvenating effect, painlessly removing scars and wrinkles. This magical bath was destroyed along with the Jerusalem Temple.

North African folk traditions advise against leaving cooked food out all night, because it may attract Djinn. The fear is that they may poison the food or use it for their own purposes, then return it seemingly untouched. A magical remedy exists: place a small stick over the dish and say aloud:

“This is the stick of Solomon.”

Allegedly, Solomon’s name alone is sufficient to ward off Djinn. On the other hand, hearing the name of his nemesis Ashmodai is allegedly enough to make Solomon himself nervous.

Solomon, Women and Foreign Religions

Solomon loved women, and women loved him. By his later years, he had acquired 700 wives and 300 concubines. His wives included Hittite and Sidonian princesses, the Queen of Sheba, and Pharaoh’s daughter. The marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter is unusual, because pharaohs rarely allowed their daughters to marry foreigners and leave Egypt.

Many of Solomon’s marriages to foreign brides were made early in his reign as a way of establishing and strengthening alliances. Solomon is also unique in that he respected his wives’ religions. He allowed them to practise what they chose, and he sought to learn from them, sometimes worshipping alongside them.

This tolerance and open-mindedness did not please everyone. Some of his wives persuaded him to turn away from God and worship pagan deities, especially the goddess Ashtoreth. Angry, God sent adversaries against him. In the end, God chose not to take the kingdom away from Solomon himself, but instead to take it away from all but one of his sons.

Solomon was also accused of backsliding and even of being a Djinn. His relations with Djinn and other spirits were intimate. If the Queen of Sheba was truly an avatar of Lilith, as sometimes reputed, then the relationship was intimate indeed.

Solomon and the Shulamite

One story tells that Solomon went to a person described as “the Jebusite” and fell in love with his daughter, called the Shulamite or Soumanitis.

The priests of Moloch told him:

“Thou canst not have her to wife except thou worship the great gods Remphan and Moloch.”

Solomon refused, but they gave him five locusts and said:

“Crush these upon the altar of Moloch, and it will suffice.”

Solomon says:

“And so I did, and immediately the Spirit of God departed from me . . . and I became a laughingstock unto the idols and to the Demons. Therefore have I written this my Testament that ye which come on it may pray and take heed to your latter end and not to your beginning, that ye may find grace perfectly for ever.”

This story belongs to the legendary and pseudepigraphal tradition that presents Solomon as a magician whose power and downfall are both linked with spirits, desire, wisdom and forbidden worship.

The Judgement of Solomon

The famous story of the Judgement of Solomon tells how two women came before King Solomon, both claiming to be the mother of the same child. The women are often described as prostitutes, although exactly what kind of prostitutes they were is unclear: mundane, sacred, angelic or otherwise.

Jewish folklore identifies one of the women as Lilith and the other as either Agrat or Naamah. All three are classified among the Angels of Prostitution.

Solomon and the Language of Birds

Solomon is associated with the hoopoe, the bird said to have taught him the language of birds. Birds served as Solomon’s spies and messengers. This detail reflects Solomon’s broader role as ruler over nature, spirits, animals and hidden knowledge.

Solomon in Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Descriptions of Solomon’s magical powers and feats appear in several pseudepigraphal and apocryphal texts, including:

The Testament of Solomon
Odes of Solomon
Psalms of Solomon
Wisdom of Solomon

Josephus, in Antiquities, credits Solomon with writing 1,500 books of odes and songs and 3,000 books of parables and similitudes. Josephus also says that Solomon knew how to exorcise demons.

The Sefer Raziel, a magical text based on Hebrew angel lore, says Solomon received the famed book, also known as the Book of Mysteries, from the line of patriarchs. Through it, he became the source of all wisdom.

Solomon is also credited with writing the mysterious Song of Songs.

Solomon in Christian, Jewish and Islamic Lore

From the time of Origen, Solomon became more prominent in Christian lore than in Jewish lore. His name appeared on amulets, talismans and lintels, as well as in numerous incantations for protection against demons and the removal of demons.

His magical seal is described as either a pentagram or a hexagram. The powerful amuletic symbol of two intersecting triangles, the hexagram, is known as the Seal of Solomon.

In Islamic lore, Solomon’s powers were understood as directly granted by Allah. According to tradition, after Solomon died, the Djinn wrote books of magic filled with acts of disbelief or disinformation and placed them under his chair. When these books were discovered, the Djinn claimed Solomon had used the magic in them to control them.

As a result, Solomon was discredited by some Christians and Jews. Others took the books and began practising the magic. According to Islamic scholars, both groups were wrong: one group erred by practising magic, which earns no happiness in the afterlife, while the other erred by discrediting Solomon, whose power came directly from Allah.

The Qur’an says:

“When a messenger from Allah came to them conforming what was revealed to them, a group of those given the scripture cast the book behind their backs as if they did not know about it. They followed what the devils claimed about Sulaymaan’s dominion. However, Sulaymaan did not disbelieve, but the devils did by teaching men magic and what was revealed to the two angels Haaroot and Maaroot in Babylon. Though neither of them taught anyone without first saying, ‘We are only a trial, so do not commit disbelief,’ they learned from them means to separate a man from his wife. But, they could not harm anyone with it except by Allah’s will. They learned what would harm themselves and not what would benefit them, though they knew that the buyers of magic would have no share in the happiness in the next life. They sold their souls for an evil price if they only knew.”
(Sura 2:101–102)

Despite Islamic warnings, the allure of Solomonic magic proved irresistible.

The Testament of Solomon

The Testament of Solomon is a pseudepigraphal text probably written between the first and third centuries C.E. It tells the legendary story of how Solomon built the Temple of Jerusalem by commanding demons.

The text is rich in demonology, angelology, medicine, astrology and magic. Its author is unknown, but may have been a Greek-speaking Christian familiar with the Babylonian Talmud. The magical lore concerning demons shows Babylonian influence.

In the Testament, demons are described as Fallen Angels or as the offspring of fallen angels and human women. They live in stars and constellations, can shape-shift into beasts and forces of nature, lurk in deserts, haunt tombs and dedicate themselves to leading people astray. They are ruled by Beelzeboul, or Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons.

The stellar bodies themselves are demonic and possess destructive power over humanity. The 36 decans, the ten-degree portions of the zodiac, are called heavenly bodies but are also ruled by demons who cause physical and mental illness.

There are seven world rulers, equated with the vices of deception, strife, fate, distress, error, power and “the worst.” Each is thwarted by a particular angel, except for “the worst.”

Angels and Demons in the Testament

The Testament considers angels to be God’s messengers, but it does not describe their origin or hierarchy. The main purpose of angels is to thwart demons and render them powerless. Each angel is responsible for defeating specific demons. Humans must call upon the right angel by name in order to overcome a demon; otherwise, demons are worshipped as gods.

Among the angels named are the archangels:

Michael
Raphael
Gabriel
Uriel

When the demon Ornias vampirises Solomon’s favourite boy by sucking out his soul through his thumb, Solomon prays to God for power over the demon. Michael appears and gives Solomon a ring engraved with a seal upon a precious stone. Michael tells Solomon that this magical ring will give him power over all demons, male and female, and that they will help him build the temple.

The demons are subdued when the ring is thrown at their chests with the command:

“Solomon summons you!”

Solomon interviews the demons and demands the names of the angels who thwart them. Once subdued, the demons are forced to construct the temple.

The Lecherous Spirit of the Giant

One demon interrogated by Solomon gives no name, but describes himself as:

“a lecherous spirit of a giant man who died in a massacre in the age of giants.”

He lives in “inaccessible places.” When someone dies, he sits in the tomb near the body and assumes the form of the dead person. If anyone visits, he tries to seize and kill that person. If he cannot kill the visitor, he causes the person to become possessed by a demon, to gnaw their own flesh and to drool at the mouth.

The demon admits that he is thwarted by the Saviour. If anyone bears the cross, the mark of the Saviour, on the forehead, the demon flees. Solomon binds the demon and locks him away as he has done with the others.

The Demons of the Decans

The Testament of Solomon also describes the demons of the decans of the zodiac, the thirty-six degrees dividing the twelve zodiac signs. In other systems the decans are ruled by angels, but in the Testament they are reduced to lower-level demons who cause disease and strife.

Solomon summons them to appear before him so that he may learn what they do and the names of the angels who thwart them. They appear with heads of formless dogs, and as humans, bulls, dragons with bird faces, beasts and sphinxes.

The demons are as follows:

1st — Ruax, also called Rhyx, or “the Lord”. He causes headaches and is dispatched by the words: “Michael, imprison Ruax.”

2nd — Barsafael. He causes those who live in his period to suffer pains in the sides of their heads. He is repelled by the words: “Gabriel, imprison Barsafael.”

3rd — Artosael. He damages eyes and is sent away by the words: “Uriel, imprison Artosael.”

4th — Oropel. He causes sore throats and mucus and is thwarted by the words: “Raphael, imprison Oropel.”

5th — Kairoxanondalon. He causes ear problems and is dispatched by the words: “Ourouel (Uriel), imprison Kairoxanondalon.”

6th — Sphendonael. He causes tumours of the parotid gland and tetanic recurvation, in which the body bends backward rigidly. He is quelled by the words: “Sabael, imprison Sphendonael.”

7th — Sphandor. He paralyses limbs, deadens the nerves in hands and weakens shoulders. He is subdued by the words: “Arael, imprison Sphandor.”

8th — Belbel. He perverts the hearts and minds of men and is dispatched by the words: “Karael, imprison Belbel.”

9th — Kourtael. He causes bowel colic and pain and retreats when he hears the words: “Iaoth, imprison Kourtael.”

10th — Methathiax. He causes kidney pains and is sent away by the words: “Adonael, imprison Methatiax.”

11th — Katanikotael. He causes domestic fights and unhappiness. To dispel him, one writes on seven laurel leaves the names of the angels who thwart him: “Angel, Eae, Ieo, Sabaoth.”

12th — Saphthorael. He causes mental confusion. To get rid of him, write down the words “Iae, Ieo, sons of Sabaoth” and wear the amulet around the neck.

13th — Phobothel. He causes loosening of the tendons and retreats when he hears the word “Adonai.”

14th — Leroel. He causes fever, chills, shivering and sore throats and retreats when he hears the words: “Iax, do not stand fast, do not be fervent, because Solomon is fairer than eleven fathers.”

15th — Soubelti. He causes shivering and numbness and is dispatched by the words: “Rizoel, imprison Soubelt.”

16th — Katrax. He causes fatal fevers. He can be averted by rubbing pulverised coriander on the lips and saying: “I adjure you by Zeus, retreat from the image of God.”

17th — Ieropa. He causes men to collapse and creates stomach problems that cause convulsions in the bath. He retreats if the words “Iouda Zizabou” are repeated three times in the right ear of the afflicted person.

18th — Modebel. He causes married couples to separate but will retreat if the names of the eight fathers are written down and posted in doorways.

19th — Mardeo. He causes incurable fevers and is sent away by writing his name down in the house.

20th — Rhyx Nathotho. He causes knee problems and is repelled if the word “Phounebiel” is written on a piece of papyrus.

21st — Rhyx Alath. He causes croup in infants and is dispelled if the word “Rarideris” is written down and carried on a person.

22nd — Rhyx Audameoth. He causes heart pain and is dispatched by the written word “Raiouoth.”

23rd — Rhyx Manthado. He causes kidney disease and is thwarted by the written words “Iaoth, Uriel.”

24th — Rhyx Atonkme. He causes rib pain. If a person writes “Marmaraoth of mist” on a piece of wood from a ship that has run aground, the demon retreats.

25th — Rhyx Anatreth. He causes bowel distress and is quelled by the words “Arara, Arare.”

26th — Rhyx, the Enautha. He alters hearts and “makes off” with minds. He is thwarted by the written word “Kalazael.”

27th — Rhyx Axesbuth. He causes diarrhoea and haemorrhoids. If he is adjured in pure wine given to the sufferer, he retreats.

28th — Rhyx Hapax. He causes insomnia and is subdued by the written words “Kok; Phedisomos.”

29th — Rhyx Anoster. He causes hysteria and bladder pain and is thwarted when someone mashes laurel seeds into oil, massages it into the body and calls upon Mamaroth.

30th — Rhyx Physikoreth. He causes long-term illnesses but retreats when the sick person massages the body with salted olive oil while saying: “Cherubim, seraphim, help me.”

31st — Rhyx Aleureth. He causes choking on fish bones. If one places a fish bone into the breasts of the afflicted one, the demon retreats.

32nd — Rhyx Ichthuron. He detaches tendons and retreats when he hears the words “Adaonai, malthe.”

33rd — Rhyx Achoneoth. He causes sore throats and tonsillitis. He is sent away by writing “Leikourgos” on ivy leaves and heaping them into a pile.

34th — Rhyx Autoth. He causes jealousy and fights between people who love each other. He is subdued by writing the letters alpha and beta.

35th — Rhyx Phtheneoth. He casts the Evil Eye on everyone and is thwarted by the “much suffering eye” amulet.

36th — Rhyx Mianeth. He holds grudges against the body, causes flesh to rot and demolishes houses. He flees when the words “Melto Ardad Anaath” are written on the front of the house.

After interrogating the demons of the decans, King Solomon orders them to bear water and prays that they will go to the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

Solomonic Grimoires and Magical Handbooks

The Testament of Solomon made a significant contribution to the legends of Solomon’s magical powers and to the magical handbooks attributed to him.

Numerous grimoires were credited to Solomon’s authorship in the early centuries of Christianity. By the twelfth century, at least forty-nine Solomonic magical texts were in existence.

The two most important Solomonic grimoires are:

The Key of Solomon, also called the Greater Key of Solomon
The Lemegeton, or Lesser Key of Solomon

Both are said to be based on Solomonic wisdom, and many other grimoires borrow from these texts. The Greater Key of Solomon became especially famous and was quoted often in magical books of the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries.

The multitude of grimoires and apocryphal texts attributed to Solomon includes The Testament of Solomon, The Greater Key of Solomon and The Lesser Key of Solomon. These works helped shape Western ceremonial magic, demonology, angelology, spirit conjuration and occult practice.

One could argue that both Freemasonry and ceremonial magic were inspired, at least in part, by the figure of Solomon.

The Legacy of King Solomon

King Solomon stands at the crossroads of religion, magic, folklore and occult tradition. He is the wise king of the Bible, the builder of the Temple, the master of Djinn, the commander of demons, the possessor of the magical ring, the speaker with birds, the author of mystical songs, and the legendary source of Solomonic magic.

He is also a figure of contradiction: faithful yet tempted, wise yet vulnerable, divinely favoured yet accused of backsliding, a ruler of spirits whose name became a protective weapon against spirits.

For students of demonology, Solomon is essential because so much of Western grimoire magic is built around his legendary authority. For students of witchcraft and ceremonial magic, he represents the magical king who commands spirits through names, seals, rings, divine authority and ritual knowledge. For students of folklore, he is the bridge between biblical kingship, Islamic Djinn lore, Jewish angelology, Christian amulets, Freemasonry and the magical handbooks of Europe.

To study Solomon is to study the foundation of Solomonic magic itself.

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