Graveyard Hound
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Generally, books of magical knowledge written between the late-medieval period and the 18th Century. They supposedly contained astrological correspondence, list of demons, instructions on casting charms and spells,as well as information on how to mix medicines and make talismaans but perhaps they are best known as texts that set out the names of demons as well instructions on how to summon and banish them.
The words grimoire is from the Old French ""gramaire" or grammar" and indicated to both educated and illiterate alkie a book of basic instruction. Noted historical grimoires include:
"The Book of Sacred Magi of Abraa-Melin the Mage"
"Liber Juratis, or, the sworn Book of Honorius"
"The Black Pullet"
"The Greater Key of Solomon"
"The Lemegeton, or the "Lesser Key of Solomon"
Generally those produced in the late 19th Century, were in French, German, or Latin and a few that remain are quite rare. Although accurate editions were available, a cottage inddustry developed selling false or poorly translated grimories.Even some famous writers tried their hand at creating "fictional grimoires", such as H.P. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" and including its existance in their sinister works. Many of his readers believed it to be real, which caused him all sorts of trouble as readers of his works were constantly begging as to where they could buy a copy. Lovecraft finally started adding in his works, a "disclaimmer", the last chapter, informing his readers, that the "Necronomicon" does not nor did it ever exist. "It is a work of pure fiction"(H.P. Lovecraft)'The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World".Theresa Cheung.
The words grimoire is from the Old French ""gramaire" or grammar" and indicated to both educated and illiterate alkie a book of basic instruction. Noted historical grimoires include:
"The Book of Sacred Magi of Abraa-Melin the Mage"
"Liber Juratis, or, the sworn Book of Honorius"
"The Black Pullet"
"The Greater Key of Solomon"
"The Lemegeton, or the "Lesser Key of Solomon"
Generally those produced in the late 19th Century, were in French, German, or Latin and a few that remain are quite rare. Although accurate editions were available, a cottage inddustry developed selling false or poorly translated grimories.Even some famous writers tried their hand at creating "fictional grimoires", such as H.P. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" and including its existance in their sinister works. Many of his readers believed it to be real, which caused him all sorts of trouble as readers of his works were constantly begging as to where they could buy a copy. Lovecraft finally started adding in his works, a "disclaimmer", the last chapter, informing his readers, that the "Necronomicon" does not nor did it ever exist. "It is a work of pure fiction"(H.P. Lovecraft)'The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World".Theresa Cheung.