60. Vapula: a duke 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.

Vapula is spirit 60 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 ruling 36 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Vapula makes men knowing in all handicrafts and professions.

He is the patron of crafts among the 72, with philosophy and book learning beside them. 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:

Vapula, or Naphula. The Sixtieth Spirit is Vapula, or Naphula. He is a Duke Great, Mighty, and Strong; appearing in the Form of a Lion with Gryphon’s Wings. His Office is to make Men Knowing in all Handicrafts and Professions, also in Philosophy, and other Sciences. He governeth 36 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal or Character is thus made, and thou shalt wear it as aforesaid, etc.

Vapula is “a Duke Great, Mighty, and Strong; appearing in the Form of a Lion with Gryphon’s Wings”. His office is “to make Men Knowing in all Handicrafts and Professions, also in Philosophy, and other Sciences”. The seal clause is longer than usual: “his Seal or Character is thus made, and thou shalt wear it as aforesaid”. “Character” is the older word for a magical sign.

Appearance

Historical Vapula appears “in the Form of a Lion with Gryphon’s Wings.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Makes men knowing in all handicrafts and professions.
• Makes men knowing in philosophy and other sciences.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical In Scot’s English, Weyer gives “Vapula” as “a great duke and a strong,” “seene like a lion with griphens wings,” who “maketh a man subtill and wonderfull in handicrafts, philosophie, and in sciences conteined in bookes.” Both give 36 legions. There are no significant differences.

Historical Weyer’s Latin has “artibus mechanicis”, the mechanical arts, the medieval name for crafts such as building, weaving and metalwork, and “scientijs quæ in libris continentur”, the sciences contained in books. The Goetia’s “Professions” is new. Both give 36 legions. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical The 1904 text gives Vapula or Naphula. Vapula resembles the Latin verb vapulare, to be beaten, but no source makes the link.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Vapula’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in copper, 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 variant Naphula likely comes from a misreading of the V.

Modern Modern writers recommend Vapula to craftspeople and students of practical skills.

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

Practical notes

Vapula fits the beginner criteria. He is a duke, and his offices are crafts, professions, and philosophy, with no office of harm. A question about learning a craft would suit a first contact. The best way to learn a craft is still practice, and that needs no spirit.

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

Try this: one question to study

List the seven mechanical arts of medieval writers and mark which ones a spirit of “artibus mechanicis” would teach.

What next

To compare Vapula with other spirits of his rank, read Gremory and Haures.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Vapula is the night spirit of the third decan of Scorpio, which belongs to the Seven of Cups; the day spirit of the same decan is Naberius (spirit 24).