Course Overview
This upper-division seminar examines the Grand Key of Solomon the King (also known as Ajnas), an Arabic grimoire attributed to the legendary figure of Asaph ben Berechiah, the vizier of King Solomon in Islamic tradition. We will approach this text through the lens of religious studies, manuscript studies, and the history of Western esotericism—treating it as a primary source document reflecting the syncretic magical traditions of the medieval and early modern Islamic world, and as a manual for practice.
Prerequisites: Introductory coursework in Western Esotericism, History of Magic, or Religious Studies recommended.
Required Text: Grand Key of Solomon the King: Ancient Handbook of Angel Magic & Djinn Summoning (Pseudo-Asaph Ben Berechiah, Ishtar Publishing, 2009).
Academic Integrity & Safety Notice
This course examines historical religious and magical texts from an academic, descriptive perspective and practitioner perspective. Students are expected to engage with scholarly distance and critical analysis while mapping a route toward personal practice. All assignments and submissions for this course must be original and cited appropriately in order to satisfy the requirements of this course.