54. Murmur: a duke and earl 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.

Murmur is spirit 54 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 duke and earl ruling 30 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Murmur teaches philosophy perfectly.

He arrives with trumpets, teaches philosophy and calls the dead, the clearest necromantic office in the book. 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:

Murmur, or Murmus. The Fifty-fourth Spirit is called Murmur, or Murmus, or Murmux. He is a Great Duke, and an Earl; and appeareth in the Form of a Warrior riding upon a Gryphon, with a Ducal Crown upon his Head. There do go before him those his Ministers with great Trumpets sounding. His Office is to teach Philosophy perfectly, and to constrain Souls Deceased to come before the Exorcist to answer those questions which he may wish to put to them, if desired. He was partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels. He now ruleth 30 Legions of Spirits. And his Seal is this, etc.

Murmur appears “in the Form of a Warrior riding upon a Gryphon, with a Ducal Crown upon his Head”, with ministers going before him “with great Trumpets sounding”. His offices are “to teach Philosophy perfectly, and to constrain Souls Deceased to come before the Exorcist to answer those questions which he may wish to put to them”. “Constrain” means compel. His origin is split: “partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels”.

Appearance

Historical Murmur appears “in the Form of a Warrior riding upon a Gryphon, with a Ducal Crown upon his Head.” Before him go “those his Ministers with great Trumpets sounding.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Teaches philosophy perfectly.
• Constrains souls of the dead to come before the magician to answer questions, “if desired.” Reported as history; not taught here.

He “was partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels” and rules 30 legions.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s translation of Weyer gives “Murmur” as “a great duke and an earle, appearing in the shape of a souldier, riding on a griphen, with a dukes crowne on his head,” with “two of his ministers” blowing great trumpets.

He “teacheth philosophie absolutelie” and “constraineth soules to come before the exorcist.” Scot’s modern editor notes that the line about ruling legions is not in Weyer’s Latin. The Goetia gives 30.

Historical Weyer’s Latin has a surprise: Murmur rides “in vulture”, on a vulture, which Scot turned into a griffin. The trumpeters are “duo ministri”, two ministers. He “Cogit animas coram exorcista apparere”, compels souls to appear before the exorcist, so the necromantic office is already in Weyer. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Murmur is also a Latin word, a low continuous sound, but no source explains the name. The 1904 text adds Murmus and Murmux.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Murmur’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in copper or copper and silver, the metals of his two ranks. 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

Later tradition Later demonologies add nothing of note to Murmur’s entry.

Modern Murmur’s office concerning the dead has made him popular in modern writing about necromancy and ancestor work. That is a modern application. His philosophical office is less often discussed.

Lore about Murmur’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 Murmur, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Murmur’s teaching office of philosophy fits the beginner criteria. His office of calling the souls of the dead is necromancy, which I do not teach. If you choose Murmur, keep your question to philosophy.

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

Try this: one question to study

Weyer’s vulture became a griffin in Scot and the 1904 text. Decide whether the change looks like a misreading or a choice.

What next

To compare Murmur with other spirits of his rank, read Alloces and Gremory.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Murmur is the night spirit of the third decan of Virgo, which belongs to the Ten of Pentacles; the day spirit of the same decan is Bathin (spirit 18).