Solomon the King

The Keys of Solomon the King

The Keys of Solomon are two distinct grimoires, or books on magic incorrectly attributed to King Solomon. They likely date back to the 14th or 15th century Italian Renaissance, and present a typical example of Renaissance magic. It is possible that the Greater Key of Solomon inspired later works, particularly the 17th century grimoire also known as Clavicula Salomonis or The Lesser Key of Solomon, although there are many differences between the books. Many such grimoires attributed to King Solomon were written in this period, ultimately influenced by earlier (High Medieval) works of the Jewish kabbalists and Arab alchemists, which in turn hark back to Greco-Roman magic of Late Antiquity. Several versions of the Key of Solomon exist, in various translations, and with minor or significant differences.