Olympic spirit
An Olympic spirit (or Olympian spirits, Olympick spirits) refers to seven spirits mentioned in several Renaissance and post-Renaissance grimoires of ritual magic/ceremonial magic, such as the Arbatel de magia veterum, The Secret Grimoire of Turiel, and The Complete Book of Magic Science.
The Grimoire of Armadel says of the Olympian spirits: "They are called Olympick spirits, which do inhabit in the firmament, and in the stars of the firmament: and the office of these spirits is to declare Destinies, and to administer fatal Charms, so far forth as God pleaseth to permit them."
Each Olympian spirit is also associated with one of the seven luminaries which figure in ancient and medieval Western magic.
Provinces
In this magic system, the universe is divided into 196 provinces (a number which in numerology adds up to 7: 1+9+6=16; 1+6=7) with each of the seven Olympian spirits ruling a set number of provinces. Aratron rules the most provinces (49), while each succeeding Olympian rules seven fewer than the former, down to Phul who rules seven provinces.
Timeline of rulership
Each of the Olympic spirits rules alternately for 490 years. This process is theorized to continue in a repeating cycle, so when the rulership of one spirit ends, the next begins in an eternal cycle.
The ruler of our current age is Ophiel who has ruled since the year 1900.
Seven Olympian spirits
| Number | Name | Years of Rule | Role | Provinces Ruled | Planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aratron (or Arathron) | 550 BC - 60 BC | Alchemist | 49 | Saturn |
| 2 | Bethor | 60 BC - 430 AD | Health and Longevity | 42 | Jupiter |
| 3 | Phaleg (or Phalec, Pharos) | 430 - 920 | Warlord | 35 | Mars |
| 4 | Och | 920 - 1410 | Alchemist, Physician, and Magician | 28 | Sun |
| 5 | Hagith | 1410 - 1900 | Transmuter of Metals | 21 | Venus |
| 6 | Ophiel | 1900 - 2390 | Creates the Philosopher's stone | 14 | Mercury |
| 7 | Phul | 2390 - 2880 | Supreme Lord of the Waters | 7 | Moon |
Connection to the archangels
The seven Olympian spirits are often evoked in conjunction with the seven classic archangels, and summoning sigils often associate one of the classic seven with one of the Olympian spirits. For example, a magic seal from Frederick Hockley's The Complete Book of Magic Science shows the form of a seal which binds a spirit of Jupiter, Pabiel, to the magician: Pabiel's name appears in a band stretched between two circles: the circle on the left bearing the name and sigil of Bethor, the circle on the right bearing the name and sigil of Sachiel (equivalent to Archangel Zadkiel).