- What Is the Seal of Forneus, and Where Does It Appear?
- Historical Origins: Where These Seals Come From
- Symbolism and Meaning: What Each Element of Forneus’s Seal Represents
- Practices: How the Seal of Forneus Is Used in Conjuration
- Comparing Forneus’s Seal with Other Seals of the Ars Goetia
- Common Misconceptions About the Seal of Forneus
- Closing
We opened two grimoires side by side on the worktable: the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. The seal of Forneus stared back from the left page — a circle bisected by a cross, flanked by two six‑pointed stars. On the right, the seal of Bael: three concentric circles with a throne of lines. The question arose immediately: why do these sigils look so different, and what does that tell us about the spirits they represent?
The seal of Forneus is a unique sigil among the 72 spirits of the Ars Goetia, characterized by a central cross and two hexagrams, reflecting his dominion over rhetoric, fame, and the arts. Its geometric composition stands apart from the purely abstract or figural designs found in the seals of Paimon, Astaroth, or Bael, and carries distinct implications for how a practitioner approaches this Great Marquis.
What Is the Seal of Forneus, and Where Does It Appear?
Forneus is the 30th spirit listed in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lemegeton. He is a Great Marquis who commands 29 legions of spirits and teaches the art of rhetoric, logic, and all sciences. He also grants a man good name and fame, making him sought after by those who wish to be well‑spoken and remembered.
His seal, as recorded in the standard Mathers‑Crowley edition of the Goetia, consists of a circle containing a Latin cross whose arms extend to the circumference. On either side of the cross, a six‑pointed star (hexagram) sits inside the circle. In the Sloane manuscript 2731 (circa 1600s), the seal appears slightly different: the stars are smaller and the cross is drawn without the arms reaching quite to the edge. Such variations across manuscripts are common — the seal was a mnemonic and a tool, not an immutable photograph.
Historical Origins: Where These Seals Come From
The oldest known source for the seals of the 72 spirits is Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583). Weyer claimed to have compiled his list from a Hebrew manuscript, now lost. Later, the Lemegeton manuscripts (17th century) expanded the descriptions and formalized the seal drawings. Forneus appears in both, but his seal in Weyer’s work is simpler: a circle with a cross and two dots that later editors interpreted as stars.
The seals were not delivered by the spirits themselves. They were designed by medieval Christian magicians who adapted Jewish angelic sigil traditions and Neoplatonic symbol systems. Each seal was believed to embody the spirit’s rank and sphere of influence. Forneus’s cross and hexagrams likely derive from Christian protective iconography fused with astrological symbols — Jupiter is associated with fame and honor, and the hexagram often appears in Jupiter talismans.
Symbolism and Meaning: What Each Element of Forneus’s Seal Represents
The circle is common to nearly all Goetic seals. It represents the spirit’s bounded domain, the compass within which it operates and within which the magician can contain it. Forneus’s circle is unbroken, standard.
The Latin cross is rare among the 72 seals. Only Forneus and a few others (notably Bifrons, who appears as a soldier) incorporate a clear cross. This has led some commentators to argue that Forneus was originally a fallen angel associated with the True Cross, or that the Christian magician added the cross to assert authority. We lean toward the latter: the cross acts as a sign of submission, binding Forneus to the operator’s will through a symbol the magician trusted.
The two hexagrams are often read as Solomon’s seals (the Star of David) or as combined elemental triangles, fire up, water down. In Forneus’s context, they may symbolize the balance of speech (air) and fame (fire) that he grants. Compare with the seal of Marbas, who heals diseases: his seal uses a single pentagram, indicating the five elements and the human microcosm.
Practices: How the Seal of Forneus Is Used in Conjuration
We draw the seal of Forneus on virgin parchment or, for permanent use, engrave it on a silver plate. The drawing is done with a consecrated pen dipped in black ink mixed with myrrh and a drop of holy water. The time matters: the seal is prepared on the first Sunday after the new moon, during the hour of Jupiter, while the moon is waxing.
During the conjuration, the seal is placed inside the triangle of art, the protective structure outside the circle where the spirit is compelled to appear. Forneus is called by his name and the seal is presented as the symbol of his authority. We have found that tracing the seal in the air with the wand while chanting his enn (“Liran Forneus ayer”) increases the clarity of his form. Without the seal, the spirit may appear chaotic or refuse to answer clearly.
This differs from the use of Paimon’s seal. Paimon, a king, requires his seal to be held before the magician’s face and worn on the forehead; Forneus’s seal is merely placed, not worn. Bael’s seal, complex with three circles and interior marks, must be traced on the ground with chalk before the invocation begins.
Comparing Forneus’s Seal with Other Seals of the Ars Goetia
Bael (spirit 1): His seal is three circles nested with a triangular throne inside. No cross. The circles refer to the three heads he manifests, toad, man, cat. Forneus has no animal association, so his seal uses stars and a cross.
Paimon (spirit 9): A complex design of two circles connected by a vertical line with a cross at the bottom. The cross here is small and subordinate, not central. Paimon is a king who demands respect; his seal reflects hierarchy. Forneus is a marquis, one rank lower, and his seal is simpler.
Astaroth (spirit 29): A circle with a curved snake‑like line, sometimes with a spiral. No cross. Astaroth is a duke who gives knowledge of hidden things; his seal is winding and serpentine, evoking the chthonic. Forneus’s straight lines and sharp stars suggest clarity, logic, fame, his domain.
Beleth (spirit 13): A circle with a throne shape and two lines. Again no cross. Beleth is a king who must be treated with special respect; his seal lacks Christian elements entirely, suggesting a more pagan origin.
The most notable distinction: Forneus’s seal is the only one among the 72 that places a Christian cross at the exact center, flanked by stars. This uniqueness has made it a point of contention among modern practitioners. Some believe the cross indicates Forneus is a “redeemable” spirit or a fallen angel of the Crucifixion. Others see it as a later interpolation. We have examined the Sloane 2731 manuscript and the cross is present there, so it is not a Victorian addition.
Common Misconceptions About the Seal of Forneus
Misconception 1: The seal is the spirit’s signature. It is not. The seal was assigned by the grimoire author. Forneus would not necessarily recognize it without the ritual context.
Misconception 2: The cross makes Forneus a Christian spirit. Forneus predates Christianity in origin. The cross is a tool for the Christian magician, not an attribute of the spirit.
Misconception 3: All seals must be drawn exactly as in the Mathers‑Crowley edition. Manuscripts vary. The Sloane 2731 version of Forneus’s seal has smaller stars and a thicker cross. Functionally, both work if consecrated properly.
Misconception 4: Forneus’s seal alone can grant fame without the full rite. The seal is a key in a lock. Without the conjuration, the offerings, and the proper timing, the seal is just ink.
FAQ
How do I draw the seal of Forneus correctly? Draw a circle, then a Latin cross centered inside, extending to the edge. On each side, draw a six‑pointed star (two overlapping triangles). Use black ink on parchment, during the hour of Jupiter on a Sunday with a waxing moon.
Is the seal of Forneus dangerous to use? Any Goetic seal is dangerous without protective circles and knowledge. Forneus is considered relatively mild, he teaches and grants fame, but disrespect can provoke anger. Always perform the LBRP before and after.
What is the difference between Forneus’s seal and Astaroth’s seal? Forneus’s seal uses straight lines, a cross, and hexagrams. Astaroth’s seal uses curves and spirals, no cross. Forneus governs rhetoric and fame; Astaroth governs hidden knowledge and secrets.
Does the cross in Forneus’s seal mean I must be Christian to use it? No. The cross is a historical element, but practitioners of any tradition may substitute a personal symbol of authority, such as a pentagram, provided they consecrate it. The cross is a tool of the will, not a profession of faith.
Closing
Forneus’s seal stands apart in the Ar Goetia: a cross among stars, a circle of speech and renown. Comparing it with the seals of Bael, Paimon, and Astaroth reveals a language where geometry speaks rank, domain, and the magician’s own cultural assumptions. For a deeper study of how sigils work across traditions, see our guide to demonology and Goetia and the glossary of common sigil elements. If you are working specifically with Forneus, we have a dedicated guide to conjuring Forneus with full instructions and variant seal sources.