Summary
The Lesser Key of Solomon, particularly the Goetia section, is a legendary grimoire (magical manual) that deals with the evocation of 72 demons, supposedly summoned and controlled by King Solomon using divine seals and names.
The text provides detailed descriptions of each demon—names, ranks, appearances, powers—and instructs magicians on how to summon them safely into a magical circle using rituals, sigils, incantations, and ceremonial tools.
The Goetia is the first and most famous part of the Lemegeton, a broader five-part magical text.
Unlike moral religious literature, it approaches demonology as ritual magic, blending Jewish mysticism, Christian angelology, and Renaissance ceremonial magic.
Often associated with Western esotericism, the text has had lasting influence in occult circles and modern pop culture, especially in literature, video games, and supernatural fiction.