20. Purson: a king 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.

Spirit 20 of the Ars Goetia is Purson. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a king ruling 22 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Purson knows all things hidden and can discover treasure.

He is one of the most richly described kings, and his offices reach from treasure to the creation of the world. 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:

Purson. The Twentieth Spirit is Purson, a Great King. His appearing is comely, like a Man with a Lion’s face, carrying a cruel Viper in his hand, and riding upon a Bear. Going before him are many Trumpets sounding. He knoweth all things hidden, and can discover Treasure, and tell all things Past, Present, and to Come. He can take a Body either Human or Aërial, and answereth truly of all Earthly things both Secret and Divine, and of the Creation of the World. He bringeth forth good Familiars, and under his Government there be 22 Legions of Spirits, partly of the Order of Virtues and partly of the Order of Thrones. His Mark, Seal, or Character is this, unto the which he oweth obedience, and which thou shalt wear in time of action, etc.

Purson’s appearance is “comely”, a man with a lion’s face carrying “a cruel Viper” and riding a bear, with trumpets sounding before him. His offices are wide: hidden things, treasure, past and future, taking a body “either Human or Aërial”, true answers about earthly and divine things “and of the Creation of the World”, and good familiars. The note that his legions are “partly of the Order of Virtues and partly of the Order of Thrones” places him high among the fallen choirs.

Appearance

Historical Purson’s appearance “is comely, like a Man with a Lion’s face, carrying a cruel Viper in his hand, and riding upon a Bear.” Before him go “many Trumpets sounding.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Knows all things hidden and can discover treasure.
• Tells all things past, present, and to come.
• Can take a body either human or aerial.
• Answers truly of all earthly things, both secret and divine, and of the creation of the world.
• Brings forth good familiars.

He has 22 legions, “partly of the Order of Virtues and partly of the Order of Thrones.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical In Scot’s English, Weyer gives “Purson, alias Curson,” “a great king,” with a lion’s face, a “most cruell viper,” a bear, and trumpets. The offices match. Both give 22 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin gives “Pursan, aliàs Curson”, a man “facie leonina” with a “viperam ferocissimam”, riding a bear (“ursoque insidens”). The offices match almost word for word. The Goetia adds only the word “comely”. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical The alias Curson resembles Corson, one of the kings of the four quarters in the Goetia’s Observations, but the text does not say they are the same.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Purson’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in gold, 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

Later tradition The name Curson resembles Corson, one of the four kings of the quarters in the Goetia’s Observations. Some writers have suggested a connection. It is unproven.

Modern Purson’s offices of knowledge about the creation of the world have made him popular with modern practitioners interested in cosmology and esoteric philosophy.

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

Practical notes

Purson is a king. His offices are knowledge, divination, and treasure, not harm, but the text treats kings as the most powerful spirits. The beginner criteria would not suggest this spirit for a first contact. Read his entry as history, and if you are drawn to questions of cosmology, Marax (21) or Stolas (36) may suit a first contact better.

In the directory, Purson is not among the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

Read Purson’s line about the “Creation of the World” and list the questions it suggests a learned reader might have wanted to ask.

What next

To compare Purson with other spirits of his rank, read Beleth and Paimon.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Purson is the day spirit of the second decan of Libra, which belongs to the Three of Swords; the night spirit of the same decan is Gremory (spirit 56).