A grimoire - simply put, is an ancient book of spells.
Through history - a textbook of alleged lost arts that include instruction for talismanic
magic, divination - and in some cases, the summoning and subsequent invocation of supernatural
entities - demons and spirits.
Most of these are differing versions of the same text - but somewhere, through the bizarre
channels of history - a few of them have managed to cling to the fringes of dusty old bookshelves
and shut away libraries.
So - just in case you’re a budding demonologist - we better take a look.
What’s going on guys - and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top 5
Scary Videos.
As always, I’ll be your spirit guide Jack Finch - as we delve deep into the vaults of
ancient history - and take a look at the Top 5 Scariest Demonic Grimoires.
Roll the clip.
I mean - I’m no expert, but I guess it’s safe to say that for any budding amateur demonologist
then this is a list of required reading.
Although - the vast majority of them are pretty unaccessible so props to you if you can read
ancient Sumerian - or even Latin - because Latin Non - est - bonum … meum.
Before we begin guys - you know how it is by now, if you’re a fan of this video, lost
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Make sure to stick around all the way to the end - where I’ll be reading out some of
your most creative comments from the past few days.
Kicking off at Number 5 - The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic.
A text supposedly written some time in the 15th century, the Munich Manual of Demonic
Magic is a grimoire manuscript that describes the lost, ancient rites of demonic knowledge.
It is claimed that this text has been largely ignored by scholars throughout history, due
to its malevolent nature.
The text - which is solely composed in Latin - is pretty much a handbook to demonology
- and much more worryingly - appears to be a handy guide to necromancy.
Although, it was my favourite class in Diablo 2.
Fishymancer.
If you know you know.
The text was later picked up and an edited manuscript was published in 1998 by Richard
Kieckhefer - an American medievalist and religious historian, where it was renamed Forbidden
Rites: A Necromancer’s Manual of the Fifteenth Century.
Stranger still, though - a vast portion of the book has yet to be fully translated - so
who knows what the hell is lurking deep within its message.
Coming in at Number 4 - Picatrix.
Which is a word that I just love saying.
Picatrix.
Almost sounds cute, right?
Well, unfortunately - it’s pretty far from that.
It has been summarized as the most thorough exposition of celestial magic in Arabic.
In actual fact though - Picatrix is a 400-page book of magic and astrology, originally written
in Arabic under the title Ghayat al-Hakim - allegedly dated all the way back to the
11th century - although some scholars have argued that it was in actual fact written
in the first half of the 10th century.
Ghayat al-Hakim loosely translates to The Aim of the Sage - or The Goal of The Wise.
It wasn’t until 1256 when it was translated into Spanish by Alphonso the 10th of Castile,
and later into Latin where it picked up the name Picatrix.
The book synthesizes ancient works of magic with astrology, and outlines a practice known
as talismanic magic - a celestial power that allegedly draws on the cosmic will of the
universe.
It also draws on the Neoplatonic theory of hypostasis - which essentially is the idea
that there’s always a bigger fish, and it may or may not be a demon.
Next up at Number 3 - The Grand Grimoire
A text so nefarious and mysterious that most people believe that it’s kept deep in the
bowels of the Vatican Church’s ancient vaulted archives - which, sadly for us, isn’t open
to the public.
While there is no evidence for this, The Grand Grimoire has nevertheless gained notoriety
throughout the modern era with its legend being popularised in the early 20th century.
Plain and simple, this grimoire outlines black magic - with different editions dating the
book between 1521, 1522 and 1421 - although the most likely versions were written in the
early 19th century.
The Grand Grimoire is also known as Le Dragon Rouge - or The Red Dragon - and is later divided
into two sections, the Sanctum Regnum - which outlines the instructions for making a pact
with a demon - and commanding the spirit through the means of a blasting rod into doing the
readers bidding - including instructions to make a pact with the devil.
The second part - is known as Le Secret Magique - ou le Grand Art de pouvoir parler aux morts.
Which is The Magic Secret - or the Grand Art of being able to speak with the dead.
Which - I think is pretty self explanatory.
Swinging in at Number 2 - The Sworn Book of Honorius
And this is - perhaps - one of the oldest existing medieval grimoires - that can actually
be verified in its entirety.
It’s important to note that this grimoire shouldn’t be confused with the Grimoire
of Pope Honorius - because this one is an entirely different story.
Written by Honorius of Thebes - a mysterious historical figure shrouded in the occult - this
grimoire is pretty much a play by play guide on how to conjure and command demons and allegedly
contact a divine celestial power.
It outlines the use of seals - an operation outlined in The Key of Solomon, which may
or may not be on this list.
The first medieval reference of this text was in 1347, it appears numerous times throughout
history - in 1456 - and frequently throughout the 14th and 15th century.
Allegedly, the Sworn Book of Honorius is a product of a conference of magicians who thought
it would be a grand old idea to stick their heads together, and condense all of their
vast mystical know how into one single volume.
Well - that volume just so happened to be a staggering 93 chapters of demonic, mystical
knowledge.
Pretty heavy reading.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - The Magical Treatise of Solomon
And the primary means that we even understand the term demon.
The Magical Treatise of Solomon is some mystical - funky - stuff - shrouded in the mystery
of an ancient world, well, the Byzantine Empire to be specific.
Also known by it’s more lofty name - The Little Key of the Whole Art of Hygromancy,
Found by Several Craftsmen and by the Holy Prophet Solomon - which, you know, if you’re
going to name something, you may as well name it in full.
This grimoire is literally the cornerstone of every grimoire ever made - and serves as
the bridge between the Roman-era Testament of Solomon - and the renaissance Key of Solomon,
where the mystical era of demonology made a return.
Allegedly, it was based upon the found scripture of King Solomon, laying out his knowledge
to his son Rehoboam - and it is pretty much a guidebook on a vast amount of magical techniques
and tools to summon and control a host of demonic spirits, create charms, understand
a differing means of divination - and heal through the powerful use of herbalism.
Whatever your thoughts - there’s no doubt that the Magical Treatise of Solomon had a
massive influence on everything from folklore and witchcraft to horror cinema and even Harry
Potter, and whatever it is - it makes for a bloody interesting story.
Well - there we have it folks, the Top 5 Scariest Demonic Grimoires - but before we depart,
let’s read out some of your greatest comments from the past few days.
Background Noise says - this channel is watchmojo for horror.
Well background noise - that’s a good thing, right?
I don’t know.
Pretty high praise - but we’re a bit more niche, right?
Next up - Og Nargual says - the witch in the background comes too frequently please make
the gif longer or something its driving me nuts.
-- haha, well, that is an absolutely astute observation, but I’ll see what I can do.
Maybe the editors will magically hear this phrase and do something about it?
Well, I guess it’s out of my hands now.
Thanks for stopping by horror fans - I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this video.
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As always, I’ve been your host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5 Scary Videos
- and until next time, you take it easy.