Famous Grimoires (Or The Not So Famous)

Sepher Ha-Razim (3rd century)

Generally, not even considered a grimoire, but instead, more like a bizarre, Kabbalistic religious text, that suggest some very grimoire like content. Such as, that it contains lists of angels, and which spells to perform in order to heal, attack enemies, prophecize the future and facilitate good fortune.

The Picatrix, or, Ghâyat al-Hakîm fi’l-sihr; also known as The Aim of the Sage (13th century)

Like many grimoires, or well, actually the majority of them, the author is disputed, but some believe he was Arabic, or was instead, “the celebrated astronomer and mathematician Abu l-Qasim Maslama b. Ahmad Al-Majriti”. The most commonly accepted explanation is that it is a handbook for early Arabic magic.

Liber Iuratus, or, the Sworn Book of Honorius (13th century)

The book is considered to be a “Solomonic Grimoire” because, although it predates The Greater Key of Solomon, or so experts and historians claim, as well as The Lesser Key of Solomon, it contains many similar seals and angelic powers like those in the other two books.

Sefer Raziel Ha-Malakh Liber Razielis Archangeli (13th century)

A grimoire that many historians and experts on the subject claim, is based partially off the Sepher Ha-Razim. In Hebrew, is means “Book of Raziel the Angel”. Supposedly, according to tradition, the book was revealed to Adam by the angel Raziel. It contains the usual, protective spells, talismans, but also a list of the names of God.

The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage (1450s)

A grimoire that became an essential element of the traditions in The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which later went on to influence popular pagan traditions, such as Wicca, Thelema, and various other types of spirituality. Although you’ll be hard pressed to find a Wiccan that knows that their commonly practiced traditional love spells were the product of Abra-Melin the Mage’s supposed correspondence with demons.

The Munich Handbook (15th century)

The Munich Handbook, unlike the majority of the Middle Ages grimoires, revolves particularly around demonic magic, and there is little to no mention of angels or the rituals involving their summoning. Experts believe it was written by a clergy member. Also unlike several other grimoires, the Munich Handbook’s majority of spells include the sacrificing of mythological and folkloric creatures.

Libri tres de occulta philosophia by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1531)

Translated as “Three Books about Occult Philosophy”. Also unique in its literary genre, is that it actually has an author, unlike several other grimoires produced from the medieval eras. Another separate quality, is the scholarly, and academic manner in which Heinrich discussed the contents, much like a scientific manual.

The Greater Key of Solomon (16th century)

The earliest surviving manuscript of The Key of Solomon was written in Greek in the 15th century. It’s divided into two major sections, the first of which gives the necessary spells, curses, and rituals for various end. The second book is focused on the preparations for the one performing said rituals, such as how to dress, and what animals to sacrifice.