The Heptameron, attributed to Peter de Abano, categorizes spiritual entities through a highly structured and systematic angelic hierarchy based fundamentally on the governance of celestial influences over time and space.
Unlike the invocation-focused structure of the Ars Notoria or the infernal hierarchy of the Goetia, the Heptameron utilizes temporal units (days and hours) and cardinal directions to classify its spirits.
The categorization system of the Heptameron includes the following key structures:
1. Planetary Angels of the Week and Hours
The core of the Heptameron‘s classification is tied to the astrological rule of the seven classical planets over the days of the week and the hours of the day.
- Rulers of the Hours: The text assigns seven angels to rule the hours of the day and night in a successive, repeating order. The first hour of each day is ruled by the angel corresponding to that day’s planet.
- The Seven Planetary Angels: The specific angels listed in the Heptameron that rule the hours are Michael, Anael, Raphael, Gabriel, Cassiel, Sachiel, and Samael. These angels are also referred to as the seven governors of the whole world, according to the seven planets.
- For example, the Angel Samael rules the first hour of the day. The ruler of the seventh hour is Barginiel.
- Hierarchical Subordination: These major angelic rulers command numerous subordinate spirits, typically organized into chief officers (or “lords”) and lesser officers (or “subalterns”).
- For example, the ruler of the first hour, Samael, has 444 serving spirits under eight leaders.
- The ruler of the second hour, Anael, has ten chief and one hundred lesser lords under his control.
2. Temporal and Directional Domains
The Heptameron structures its entities based on their governance over time and direction. The system is dualistic, covering both the day and night hours:
- Angels of the Day: The planetary angels govern the hours of the day.
- Spirits of the Night (Negotia perambulantia in tenebris): Spirits that “wander through the darkness” are more numerous than those of the daylight and are divided under their respective Supreme Rulers into six chief and six secondary orders. Examples of supreme rulers of the night hours include Gamiel (First Hour), Farris (Second Hour), and Sarquamich (Third Hour).
3. Classification of Spiritual Nature (Ambiguity)
While the spirits associated with the days and hours are described as angels and generally belong to “White Magic” (or Theurgia), the practical application and method of conjuration reveal a mixed, ambiguous nature:
- Angels Threatened as Demons: The spirits of the Heptameron are placed among Rituals of a composite character because they are described as angels but threatened as demons in the process of their conjuration.
- Mixed Offices: Although the intelligences are said to be good and great, their stated offices are varied and confusing, including tasks associated with Black Magic, such as:
- Discovery of treasures and detection of secrets.
- Fomenting war.
- Procuring the love of women.
- Sowing hatred and evil thought.
Context within the Solomonic Tradition
The Heptameron provides a unique categorization compared to other texts in the Solomonic tradition:
- It presents a structured celestial bureaucracy tied to time and space.
- Its structured angelic system stands in stark contrast to the infernal classification detailed in the Goetia, which focuses on 72 chief devils and their ministers, categorized by feudal ranks (Kings, Dukes, Marquises, etc.).
- Its emphasis on angels governing planetary hours and zodiacal signs connects it to Ars Paulina, the third book of the Lemegeton.
Overall, the Heptameron categorizes entities not by a fixed moral rank (like the Ars Notoria‘s holy names or the Goetia‘s demonic ranks) but by their celestial assignment as temporal and directional governors, presiding over specific hours and planetary influences.
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