30. Forneus: a marquis of the Ars Goetia

How to read the labels Historical what the old sources say. Later tradition what later writers added. Modern modern practice and my own notes.

Forneus is spirit 30 of the 72 in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a marquis ruling 29 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Forneus teaches and makes men “wonderfully knowing in the Art of Rhetoric.”

His entry centres on speech, reputation and languages, with an image drawn from the sea. Each part below carries a label for its layer, explained in how to read a spirit page.

At a glance

The 1904 entry

Historical The full entry from the 1904 edition, with footnote numbers and the dash after the heading left out and the heading set in ordinary type:

Forneus. The Thirtieth Spirit is Forneus. He is a Mighty and Great Marquis, and appeareth in the Form of a Great Sea-Monster. He teacheth, and maketh men wonderfully knowing in the Art of Rhetoric. He causeth men to have a Good Name, and to have the knowledge and understanding of Tongues. He maketh one to be beloved of his Foes as well as of his Friends. He governeth 29 Legions of Spirits, partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels. His Seal is this, which wear thou, etc.

Forneus is “a Mighty and Great Marquis” who appears as “a Great Sea-Monster”. He teaches and makes men “wonderfully knowing in the Art of Rhetoric”, gives “a Good Name” and the knowledge of tongues, and makes one beloved of foes and friends. His legions are “partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels”.

Appearance

Historical Forneus “appeareth in the Form of a Great Sea-Monster.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

Historical The offices of Forneus, in the order the 1904 text gives them:

• Teaches and makes men “wonderfully knowing in the Art of Rhetoric.”
• Causes men to have a good name.
• Gives knowledge and understanding of tongues.
• Makes one beloved of foes as well as friends.

He governs 29 legions, “partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical The Weyer catalog, as Scot renders it, gives “Forneus” as “a great marquesse, like unto a monster of the sea,” who “maketh men woonderfull in rhetorike,” adorns a man with a good name and knowledge of tongues, and makes him beloved of foes and friends.

There are nine and twenty legions “of the order partlie of thrones, and partlie of angels.” There are no significant differences.

Historical Weyer’s Latin is close: “similis monstro marino”, like a sea monster, who makes a man “in Rhetoricis admirabilem” and adorns him “optima fama”, with the best reputation. Weyer has no separate teaching verb; the Goetia’s “He teacheth” is an addition. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Forneus is sometimes linked to Latin fornax, “furnace”, or to a sea creature, but no source supports either link. Treat both as speculation.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Forneus’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in silver, the metal of his rank. Why seals were worn, why editions draw them differently and how to study one are explained in seals, circle and triangle.

Later tradition and modern practice

Modern The sea-monster has been drawn in modern art as a whale, a giant fish, a serpent, or a kraken-like creature. Modern practitioners often approach Forneus for skill in communication and reputation.

Lore about Forneus’s personality, likes or chosen people is modern, not grimoire material; modern approaches explains where such claims come from.

Beginner’s quick reference

Before you burn or handle anything listed for Forneus, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Forneus fits the beginner criteria well. He is a marquis whose offices center on rhetoric, languages, and good reputation. A question about how to communicate more clearly would suit a first contact.

His office of making one “beloved of his Foes” should not be turned into an attempt to influence particular people. A good reputation is built, in the end, by how you treat others.

In the directory, Forneus is one of the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

Write down what a “Good Name” meant socially in the sixteenth century, and why it might sit next to rhetoric in one office.

What next

To compare Forneus with other spirits of his rank, read Ronove and Marchosias.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Forneus is the day spirit of the third decan of Capricorn, which belongs to the Four of Pentacles; the night spirit of the same decan is Cimejes (spirit 66).