The Testament of Solomon 9781593338718, 1593338716

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T H E T E S T A M E N T OF S O L O M O N

Analecta Gorgiana 56 General Editor George Anton Kiraz Analecta Gorgiana is a collection of long essays and short monographs which are consistently cited by modern scholars but previously difficult to find because of their original appearance in obscure publications. Now conveniently published, these essays are not only vital for our understanding of the history of research and ideas, but are also indispensable tools for the continuation and development of on-going research. Carefully selected by a team of scholars based on their relevance to modern scholarship, these essays can now be fully utilized by scholars and proudly owned by libraries.

T h e Testament of Solomon

F R E D E R I C K CORNWALLIS CONYBEARE

GORGIAS PRESS

2007

First Gorgias Press Edition, 2007 The special contents of this edition are copyright Xov' Trjp yeveaÖai !tv6pa>iros, ov TO ev tb

Ka\ TIS biäßoXos

6eds, o (Xpas hath brought [it] up from the Bed Sea, from inner Arabia. He it is that shall be shut up in a skin-bottle and brought before thee. But at the entrance of the Temple, which thou hast begun to build, 0 K i n g Solomon, lies stored much gold, which dig thou up and carry off." And I Solomon sent my servant, and found it to be as the demon told me. And I sealed him with my ring, and praised the Lord God. 56. So I said to h i m : " W h a t art thou c a l l e d ? " And the demon said : " I am the crest 7 of dragons." And I bade him make bricks in the Temple. He had human hands. 57. And I adored the Lord God of Israel, and bade another demon present himself. And there came before me a spirit in woman's form, that had a head without any limbs 8 , and her hair was dishevelled. And I said to h e r : " W h o art t h o u ? " But she answered: " N a y , who art thou ? And why dost thou want to hear concerning me ? But, as thou wouldst learn, here I stand bound before thy face. Go 1

TptpoXaioi.

The rpipoXos

was a three-spiked instrument, thrown on

the ground to wound horses' feet. 2

(liufia, an u n k n o w n word.

3

vjroSvva is a word of doubtful sense.

1

axwXos m a y bear this sense.

5

i. e. Golgotha.

The old legend was t h a t A d a m ' s skull reposed in this

spot, and that the cross was planted upon it. 6

7rop