Solomon, His Demons and Women, and the Arrival of the Savior in Gnostic, Hermetic, and “Magical” Literature

Gnostic and related works express ambivalence about Solomon, which reflects both negative attitudes toward the Old Testament and its God and objections to aspects of the king's character, such as his relationships with demons and multiple women. On the other hand, Hermetic and magical texts sometimes exploit Solomon's power over demons for mystical and practical purposes.