Key of Solomon aka The Devil’s Trap

The Key of Solomon, in Latin Clavis Salomonis or Clavicula Salomonis, Hebrew Mafteah Shelomoh (מפתח שלמה), is a grimoire, or book on magic, attributed to King Solomon, probably dating to the 14th to 15th century Italian Renaissance and presenting a typical example of Renaissance magic.

It is possible that the 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.

The text dates to the Late Middle Ages or the Italian Renaissance. Many such grimoires attributed to King Solomon were written in this period, ultimately influenced by earlier (High Medieval) works of 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. The archetype was likely a Latin or Italian text dating to the 14th or 15th century.Most extant manuscripts date to the late 16th, 17th or 18th centuries, but there is an early Greek manuscript, dating to the 15th century (Harleian MS. 5596) closely associated with the text. The Greek manuscript is referred to as The Magical Treatise of Solomon, and was published by Armand Delatte in Anecdota Atheniensia (Liége, 1927, pp. 397–445.) Its contents are very similar to the Clavicula, and it may in fact be the prototype on which the Italian or Latin text was based.

An important Italian manuscript is Bodleian Library Michael MS 276. An early Latin text survives in printed form, dated to ca. 1600 (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Memorial Library, Special Collections). There is a number of later (17th century) Latin manuscripts. One of the oldest extant manuscripts (besides Harleian 5596) is a text in English translation, entitled The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian and dated to 1572. There are a number of French manuscripts, all dated to the 18th century, with the exception of one dated to 1641 (P1641, ed. Dumas, 1980).

HOW TO USE IT

The Devil’s Trap is an excellent way to prision a person who is possessed by a demon. We only urge you to consider having some Holy Water to hurt the demon, and make it not use its powers to break the seal.

Barring the demon is not the only thing you should do to help the person.

The Rite of the Exorcism must be read facing the demon, to send it straight back to Hell:

Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica

Ergo, draco maledicte et omnis legio diabolica, adjuramus te,
cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque æternæ perditionìs venenum propinare

Vade, satana, inventor et magister omnis fallaciæ, hostis humanæ salutis,

Humiliare sub potenti manu Dei, contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili Nomini quem inferi tremunt

Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine.

Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica

Ergo, draco maledicte et omnis legio diabolica, adjuramus te … cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque æternæ perditionìs venenum propinare

Ut Ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus,
audi nos.

In English, since many Hunters have been asking for it:

We exorcise you, every impure spirit, every satanic power, every incursion of the infernal adversary, every legion, every congregation and diabolical sect

Therefore, accursed dragon and every diabolical legion, we adjure you,
Cease to deceive human creatures, and give to them the poison of eternal damnation

Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man’s salvation,

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and Terrible Name which causes hell to tremble

From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.

We exorcise you, every impure spirit, every satanic power, every incursion of the infernal adversary, every legion, every congregation and diabolical sect

Therefore, accursed dragon and every diabolical legion, we adjure you … Cease to deceive human creatures, and give to them the poison of eternal damnation

That Thy Church may serve Thee in secure liberty secure, we ask Thee,
hear us.