(article may suffer further editing)
This is part of a larger article meant to study in detail the diffusion of the seals of the seven planetary archangels.
These seals have become quite popular from the seventeenth century onward due to the publication of the so called Heptameron, or Magical Elements of Peter de Abano (Pierre d`Abane, Petrus Apono) or rather, to their appended material.
In the following studies we shall discuss the influence and importance of the Heptameron and it s possible sources, the works that drew their information primarily from it, including the seals as well as parallel sources dealing with the same information.
I believe the study of the seals can reveal, through minor graphic differences that alter with multiple copying and through changes in their attribution, a model of evolution and perhaps a history of the sources that might otherwise remain obscure due to lack of proper bibliographic information. Just as the study of the handwriting of one manuscript can tell us quite a number of things, from the formation and profession of the scribe to the period and place, the study of the seals can yield useful information regarding the source or the school that the author or copyist belonged to.
I have used the following sources, and the following siglae:
Hept.1.
Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius, and Petrus.
Henrici Cornelii Agrippae liber qvartvs De occvlta philosophia, seu de cerimonijs magicis.
[Marburg?:] Impressum, 1565.
Facsimile included in:
Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius, and Karl Anton Nowotny. De occulta philosophia. Graz: Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, 1967, presented at http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/heptamer.htm#part7
Hept.2.
Latin text is Lyon 1600 (?). Facsimile in
Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius. Opera I. With an introduction by
Richard H. Popkin. Hildesheim: G. Olms, 1970, from http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/heptamer.htm#part7
Hept.3.
Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, and Geomancy. Magical Elements.
London: [s.n.], 1655. Turner at http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/heptamer.htm#part7
A notable contribution in my study is the volume "The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy" edited by Stephen Skinner, Ibis Press, Maine, 2005.
Other authors, such as Francis Barrett and Papus, along with the Clavicles, will be treated separately.
Seal of Michael (Sun)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: the seal remains unchanged in proportion and detail. Slight hesitation in Hept.2 in making the first circle in the left curve, reducing it to a hooked ending.
Seal of Gabriel (Moon)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: Seal remains unchanged, with the exception of Hept.2, which presents two ruptures.
Seal of Samael (Mars)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: while Hept.1 and 3 present a rupture in the semicircle, Hept.2 seems to correct it.
Seal of Raphael (Mercury)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: multiple minor variations. Hept.2 presents a vertical line separate from the right enclosure, while 1 and 3 present only a vertically elongated line affixed to the enclosure, Hept.1 and 3 have similar boxing, of four unequal chambers, while Hept.2 has only two, Hept.1 and 2 have circles at the end of the horizontal line while 3 has a small rectangle, and Hept.2 has a disjoint formation in the shape of the letter K, whereas Hept.1 and 3 present continuity with the lines of the pentagonal enclosure.
Seal of Sachiel (Jupiter)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: minor variations. In the first figure, Hept.1 and 3 attempt a circled ending, while 2 only has curved lines, and the interior is marked differently: Hept.1 has an ornate horizontal line with two dots, Hept.2 has just a vertical line and Hept.3 shares common features, with a vertical line and a horizontal one. The second and third figure remain unchanged, with slight fluency variations.
Seal of Anael (Venus)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: First sign remains unchanged. Second sign varies slightly, the tail having different juncture points to the full figure, that is upper (Hept.3), medial (Hept.2) and lower (Hept.1). Claims have been made that the seal of Anael, patron of Venus and thus, reproduction, mimics the sexual organs.
Seal of Cassiel (Saturn)
Hept.1
Hept.2
Hept.3
Notes: the seals suffers no changes, except for small breaks in Hept.1 caused most probably by ink.
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