Munich Manual of Demonic Magic

The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic or Liber incantationum, exorcismorum et fascinationum variarum (CLM 849 of the Bavarian State Library, Munich) is a fifteenth-century goetic grimoire manuscript. The text, composed in Latin, is largely concerned with demonology and necromancy.

Richard Kieckhefer edited the text of the manuscript in 1998 under the title Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century. Portions of the text, in English translation, are presented in Forbidden Rites as well, embedded within the author's essays and explanations on the Munich Manual in specific and grimoires in general. The Russian translation of this Latin grimoire was published in 2019.^[1]

Content

There is only one known surviving manuscript of the Munich Manual, which is almost complete, except for the first two folios that describe the beginning of the first ritual. The rest of the grimoire contains complete instructions for the invocation of demons such as Satan, Lilith, Astaroth, Valac and Samael, as well as the supposed attainment of favors and supernatural powers from them. Some of the spells allow for obtaining the love of a woman, achieving invisibility, acquiring wealth and treasures, or gaining knowledge. The text is accompanied by over 40 illustrations of magic circles and symbols to be used in the rituals.

Pages 130 to 133 include a list of 11 demons, similar in part to the one from Ars Goetia.

Count / Duke Barbarus
Duke Cason
President / Count Otius
King Curson
Duke Alugor
Prince Taob
President Volach
Duke Gaeneron
Marquis Tuveries
President Hanni
Marquis Sucax

The manuscript seems to be a compilation from multiple earlier sources. Most of the text is in Latin, with the exception of two appended materials in German and Italian.^[2]

One of the most famous sections of the Munich Manual is the Bond of Solomon, a ritual that supposedly allows the magician to bind demons for the purpose of either guarding him, providing treasures, or answering questions on any matter.^[3]

References

^ Арафель, Вирр (2019). Мюнхенская демоническая магия (Codex Latinus Monacensis 849). Н. Новгород: Magic-Kniga.
^ Kieckhefer, Richard (2012). Forbidden rites: a necromancer's manual of the fifteenth century. Magic in history (5. print ed.). University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State Univ. Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-271-01751-8.
^ "Bond of Solomon". The Digital Ambler. 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2023-09-18.

Bibliography

Kieckhefer, Richard (1998). Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century. Penn State Press. ISBN 0-271-01751-1.

External links

Black and white facsimile at the Bavarian State Library

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[1] Арафель, Вирр (2019). Мюнхенская демоническая магия (Codex Latinus Monacensis 849). Н. Новгород: Magic-Kniga.

[2] Kieckhefer, Richard (2012). Forbidden rites: a necromancer's manual of the fifteenth century. Magic in history (5. print ed.). University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State Univ. Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-271-01751-8.

[3] "Bond of Solomon". The Digital Ambler. 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2023-09-18.

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