The Magical Calendar (excerpts)

Transcribed Nov 13, 2004 by Joseph H. Peterson. Last updated: June 24, 2021 JHP.

Published in 1617 or 1618, the Magical Calendar contains tables of correspondences arranged by number from one to twelve. They are based in part on extensive tables in Agrippa, book 2, chapters 4-14 (1533) but draw on other sources as well, including Arbatel (1575).

Some of the sigils (e.g. "Tabula Saturni") in section 7 can be found in Darmstadt ms. Hs-1410 fol. 10v ff (circa 1550).

The engraving was executed by the brilliant Johannes Theodorus de Bry who illustrated other important occult works such as those of Robert Fludd. The author was Johann Baptista Großchedel. Carlos Gilly has identified the original manuscript on which the printed Magical Calendar was based as British Library manuscript Harley 3420 (1614 AD). (Gilly, Carlos, "The rediscovery of the original of Großchedel's Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum," in Carlos Gilly, Cis van Heertum (ed.) Magia, Alchimia, Scienza Dal '400 al '700. L'influsso di Ermete Trismegisto Centro Di: 2 vols. Firence, 2002, vol. 1 pp. 310-317. I am indebted to Rafal Prinke for bringing this to my attention.)

The Harley manuscript adds some very interesting details missing from the engraving. For one thing, the 8 tables (or seals) of the Fathers (one of which is the famous seal of Solomon, used as the Table of Practice in Theurgia Goetia) have particular virtues ascribed to them. So for example, Solomon's is for Wisdom, Jeremiah's for visions, Ezechiel's for health, etc. The "Sigilla Decem Nomina Dei Principalia Complectentia" also have more detail than in the engraving.

Another things that was not clear to me from the engraving is that the sigils and images of the planets are 2 separate sets. Both sets are used on the Ars Paulina table of practise.

In addition to the Lesser Key texts mentioned above, at least two other grimoires — Abognazar and Janua Magicae Reserata — depend heavily on the Magical Calendar. In my research on esoterica, I find myself constantly referring to this volume.

For more information on this extraordinary document, see the edition by Adam McLean.

FOUR	Compare with Agrippa, OP2.7.
[Four Elements] Fire Air Water Earth [Governors of the Elements] Seraph Cherub Tharsis Ariel [Archangels] Raphael Michael Gabriel Uriel [Four Winds] Eurus Zephirus Aquilo Auster [Cardinal directions] East West North South [Zodiacal attributions] Aries, Leo, Saggitarius Gemini, Leo, Aquarius Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn [Elemental Qualities] Lumen (Light) Diaphanum (Transparent) Agilitas (Motile) Sodalitas (Solid) [Elements of Mankind] Mens (Mind) Spiritus (Spirit) Anima (Soul) Corpus (Body) [Powers of the Soul] Intellectus (Intellect) Ratio (Reason) Phantasia (Imagination) Sensus (Perception) [Four Stages in the Ladder of Existence] Esse (to be) Vivere (to live) Scire (to know) Intelligere (to understand) [Spiritus Theophr: una cum characteribus (Spirits of Theophrastus with characters)] Menealop Amadich Emachiel Damalech Prin: Spir. ad 4or partes mundi [Principal spirits in the four parts of the world] Bael Moymon Poymon Egin Spiritus Elem. [Spirits of the elements] Silpphani (Sylphs) Aerei (Aerei) Nimphæ (Nymphs) Pigmei (Pigmies) SEVEN
7 Angeli qui Astant ante faciem Dei. Zaphkiel צפקיאל Zadkiel צדקיאל Camael כמאל Raphael רפאל Haniel האניאל Michael מיכאל Gabriel גבריאל In Mundo Intelligibili 7 Planetarum Intel- ligentiæ. Agiel אגיאל Iohpiel יהפיאל Graphiel גראפיאל Nachiel נכיאל Hagiel הגיאל Tiriel טיראל Malcha מלכא 7 Angeli 7 Spheris pla- netarum adtributi ex quorum influentia Oriphiel Zachariel Zamael Michael Anael Raphael Gabriel 7 Spiritus Planetarum Aratron Betor Phalec Och Hagit Ophiel Phul 7 Nomina et Cha- racteres Planetarum שבתאי Saturnus צדק Jupiter מאדים Mars שמש Sol נוגה Venus כוכב Mercurius לבנה Luna	NOTE: This table has been muddled in the engraving: Raphael and Anael are reversed from the manuscript. This is probably due to the fact that Sol/Raphael/Machen is split by the binding. The order shown here (Raphael/Sun and Michael/Mercury) agrees with Liber Juratus Honorii Raziel, and Agrippa, OP2.10. However, Heptameron has Michael/Sun and Raphael/Mercury. The third line is from Agrippa, OP3.24, and based on Trithemius De Septem Secundeis. Line 4 is from Arbatel. Line 5 is again from Agrippa, OP2.10.
Sigils of the planetary angels [Angeli Planetarum Sigilis.]
From Harl. 3420, [27v] Engraving Cassiel Machator vel Araboth Sachiel Zebul Samael Machon Raphael Machen Anael Sagum Michael Raquie Gabriel Schamain. Cælum
7 Planetarum sigilla [Planetarum sigilla.]   From Harl. 3420, [27v] Engraving
Imagines	The earliest examples of these imagines that I am aware of can be found in Liber Orationum Planetarum septem, ms. Darmstadt HS-1410 fol. 69v (dated around 1550).]
From Harl. 3420, [27v] Engraving Divinæ Planetarum literæ
From Harl. 3420, [28v] Engraving	From Agrippa, OP1.33. Agrippa probably based it in turn on Bartholomeus Cocles, Chyromantie ac phisionomie anastasis (Bononie 1504).
Tabula in abaco From Harl. 3420 From engraving Tabula in abaco From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] Tabula in abaco From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in abaco] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in abaco] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in abaco] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in abaco] From Harl. 3420 From engraving [Tabula in notis Hebraicis.] From Harl. 3420 From engraving	Compare Agrippa, OP2.22 and Darmstadt HS-1410 fol. 10v. According to the Darm. ms., the second figure is to be executed on the back side (a tergo) of the magic square (abacus). Agrippa's versions are simpler however.
EIGHT
Eight most holy Tables of the Fathers1	1. From Harl. 3420, 40v-41r. Compare Manchester, Chetham's Library, MS Mun. A.4.98 pp. 147 ff. (16th ce); Wellcome 110 fol. 88v ff (late 16th ce); Ad. 36674 64r ff (mid-to-late 16th ce).
Adam. Intelligence Moses. Miracles Elias. Divine Wisdom Joshua. Prophecy Ezechiel. Health Daniel. Interp. dreams Solomon. Wisdom Jeremiah. Visions TEN (Compare Agrippa, OP2.13.) Sigilla Decem Nomina Dei Principalia Complectentia [Sigils have 6, 5, 8, 3, 9, 1, 7, 5, 2, 4 sides respectively.] Cether Seraphim Primum Mobile Metatron [6 sides] Hochma Cherubim Coelum Stellarum [Jophiel] [5 sides] Binah Thrones Saturn Zaphchiel [8 sides] Hesed Dominations Jupiter Zadkiel [3 sides] Geburah Powers Mars Camael [9 sides] Tiphereth Virtues Sphere of the Sun Raphael [circle = 1 side?] Nezah Principalities Sphere of Venus Haniel [7 sides] Hod Archangels Sphere of Mercury Michael Psal. 103. [decorem induisti amictus lumine sicut vestimento] [5 sides] Iesod Angels Sphere of the Moon Gabriel [2 sides] Malchuth Blessed Souls Sphere of the Elements Soul of the Messiah [4 sides] TWELVE Twelve angels of the signs [The earliest examples of these signs that I have found are in BnF ital. 1524, fols. 71v-82r (dated 1446).] Malchidiel Asmodel Ambriel Muriel Verchiel Hamaliel Zuriel Barbiel Adnachiel Hanael Gabriel Barchiel Home Contents Prev mc Next timeline