The Testament of Solomon is one of the most important and enigmatic texts of late antiquity, as it connects the figure of King Solomon with the magical tradition, demonology, authority over spirits, and the origin of the subsequent Solomonic literature.

Written in Greek between the 1st and the 5th century AD, this work is considered by many as one of the earliest "grimoires" of Western magical tradition. Through the novelistic narration of the Temple’s construction, Solomon is presented not only as a wise king but also as a mage-ruler who summons, interrogates, and subjugates spirits, revealing their names, properties, actions, and antidotes.

The present edition, “Testament of Solomon: The First Solomonic,” aims to present the work in a complete, methodical, and accessible way for the Greek-speaking reader. It is not merely a translation but an extensive study and presentation of a fundamental magical and religious text that deeply influenced medieval and modern esoteric tradition.

This volume includes:

• A detailed introduction to Solomon, his position in the magical tradition, and the history of the work.
• A presentation of Solomon as a mage-king.
• Analysis of the content and the summary narration of the Testament.
• A study of the sources, influences, manuscripts, and variations of the text.
• A presentation of the work’s significance in Western esotericism and magical practices.
• The critical edition by C. C. McCown.
• The Recensio C version.
• The EVE 1894 / Bibliothèque Nationale No. 2011 version.
• An extensive appendix with the demons of the Testament of Solomon.
• The Headless Rite.
• Bibliography.

This edition is addressed to those interested in the Solomonic tradition, grimoires, demonology, Byzantine and late antique literature, Western esoteric tradition, as well as any reader wishing to get to know one of the most strange, influential, and fascinating texts of ancient magical literature.

The Testament of Solomon is not simply an old text. It is the beginning of an entire tradition. It is the point where the biblical King Solomon begins to transform into the figure that will dominate later magical manuscripts: the wise king who knows the names of spirits, their powers, and the way to bind them.

An indispensable work for every serious library of occultism, magical tradition, and religious literature.