ALSO KNOWN AS:
Suleiman; Suleimanu
The Biblical King Solomon (died circa 925 BCE), son of David and Bathsheba was the last ruler of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah, but he was more than a political, administrative, or warrior king. King Solomon is Master of Magic and the world’s wisest man. As builder of the original Jerusalem Temple, commonly called Solomon’s Temple, he is God’s own architect. Much of Freemason lore derives from the building of this temple: Solomon is the original initiate who received secrets directly from God and the spirits.
Solomon is the subject of an immense body of Islamic and Jewish folklore, most of it centering on his role as magician. One could argue that Freemasonry as well as ceremonial magic was inspired by Solomon. King Solomon is Master of Djinn. He commanded and compelled an army of Djinn to complete his building projects, including the Jerusalem Temple. In addition to his extraordinary magical wisdom, Solomon also possessed a magical ring, which gave him power over spirits. This brass and iron seal ring, is engraved with the Ineffable Name of the Creator.
In addition to close, personal knowledge of spirits, Solomon was also an expert folk magician. He was a root doctor, shaman, high priest, and ceremonial magician all rolled into one. He spoke to spirits; he spoke to birds. With the help of the Djinn, Solomon constructed a magical ritual bath (mikvah). He cast a spell over its waters so that they healed all those who submerged themselves. The waters also had a rejuvenating effect, painlessly removing scars and wrinkles. This bath was destroyed along with the Jerusalem Temple.
North African folk traditions advise against leaving cooked food out all night, as it may attract Djinn. The fear is that they will somehow poison the food or use it for their own purposes, and then put it back seemingly untouched. A magical remedy exists: place a small stick over the dish, saying aloud, “This is the stick of Solomon.” Allegedly his name alone is sufficient to ward off Djinn. (On the other hand, allegedly hearing his nemesis Ashmodai’s name is sufficient to make Solomon himself nervous!)
Solomon loved women, and women loved him. He had seven hundred wives, including Hittite and Sidonian princesses, the Queen of Sheba, and Pharaoh’s daughter. (This is unusual; pharaohs rarely let their daughters marry foreigners and leave Egypt.) Many of his marriages to foreign brides were made at the beginning of his reign as a method of establishing and strengthening alliances. He had an additional three hundred concubines in his harem. Solomon is unique in that he respected his wives’religions. He allowed them to practice whatever they chose, and he sought to learn from them, sometimes worshipping alongside them.
Solomon is credited with writing the mys terious Song of Songs. A multitude of grimoires and apocryphal texts are attributed to him, including
The Testament of Solomon, The Greater Key of Solomon, and The Lesser Key of Solomon. The powerful amuletic symbol of two intersecting triangles, the hexagram, is known as the Seal of Solomon.
A true occultist, he was a man of insatiable curiosity. This tolerance and open-minded attitude did not please everyone. Solomon was 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.
The famous story of the Judgment of Solomon describes how two women came before King Solomon, both claiming to be the mother of a single child. The women are often described as prostitutes, but exactly what kind of prostitute is not really clear. Mundane? Sacred? Angelic? 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.
Bird:
Hoopoe, which taught him the language of birds. Birds serve as Solomon’s spies and messengers.
SEE ALSO:
- Agrat bat Mahalat
- Asherah
- Ashmodai
- Djinn
- Genie
- Karina
- Lilith
- Naamah
- Sarkin Aljan Suleimanu
- Silibo
- Solomon’s Seventy-Two Spirits;
- Umm Es Subyan
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.