Ziminiar

In demonology, Ziminiar (also spelled Zymymar or Zimimiar) is one of the four principal kings described in the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, commonly known as the Lesser Key of Solomon, a 17th-century grimoire attributed to King Solomon.^[1] This text portrays Ziminiar as the ruler of the northern quarter of the infernal hierarchy, exercising command over the seventy-two spirits or demons that Solomon allegedly bound to his service.^[1] The four kings—Amaymon (East), Corson (West), Ziminiar (North), and Goap (South)—are positioned above the ranked spirits in the grimoire's structure, serving as intermediaries who must be invoked or propitiated during rituals to ensure the compliance of subordinate entities.^[1] Unlike the individually detailed demons in the Ars Goetia section of the Lemegeton, Ziminiar lacks a specific seal, description of appearance, or assigned powers, emphasizing instead his overarching authority derived from Solomon's legendary seals and commands.^[1] These kings are invoked through elaborate conjurations, often requiring the operator to assume Solomon's mantle, to constrain or command the lesser spirits for purposes such as divination, acquisition of knowledge, or material gain.^[1] Ziminiar's depiction draws from earlier pseudepigraphal traditions, including Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), which lists similar ruling figures under variant names like Zimimay, reinforcing the grimoire's synthesis of medieval and Renaissance occult lore.^[2] While the Lesser Key presents these entities as fallen angels or pagan deities subjugated by divine will, Ziminiar remains a shadowy figure, symbolizing the structured cosmology of hell in Western esotericism without notable independent appearances in later theological or literary works.^[1]

Overview

Description

Ziminiar, also known as Zymymar or Zimimay, is one of the four principal kings in Western demonology, holding authority over the seventy-two demons purportedly constrained by King Solomon within Solomonic magic traditions. These kings—Amaymon (East), Corson (West), Ziminiar (North), and Goap (South)—form the highest tier of the infernal hierarchy described in key grimoires, overseeing the lesser spirits without being part of the enumerated seventy-two themselves. This structure emphasizes Ziminiar's role as a supreme commander rather than a directly evocable entity, positioning it as a foundational figure in the organization of demonic forces.^[1] The entity emerges in medieval and Renaissance grimoires as a high-ranking infernal authority, with its earliest attestation in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), where it appears as Zymymar, the king of the North. This portrayal carries forward into the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, or Lesser Key of Solomon (17th century), solidifying Ziminiar's place in the Solomonic tradition of ceremonial magic. In these texts, Ziminiar is depicted not for personal summoning but as an overseer of broader demonic legions, reflecting the era's fascination with hierarchical cosmologies blending Jewish, Christian, and classical influences.^[3]^[1] Ziminiar's core identity centers on commanding the demonic hierarchies under Solomon's legendary seal, ensuring obedience among the bound spirits during rituals. It is associated with the North, underscoring its dominion in directional invocations.

Name Variations

The name Ziminiar appears in various spellings across historical demonological texts, primarily as Ziminiar, Zymymar, and Zimimar, reflecting phonetic inconsistencies common in handwritten manuscripts of the period. These variants likely stem from scribal errors or regional pronunciations during transcription, where the 'z' and 'y' sounds, along with vowel shifts, were interchangeably rendered due to the fluidity of Latin and pseudo-Latin nomenclature in occult writings.^[1] In Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), the name is given as Zymymar, denoting the king of the North among the four principal rulers over the seventy-two spirits constrained by Solomon. By the 17th century, English translations of the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis (Lesser Key of Solomon) exhibit further variations, such as Ziminiar in the Mathers edition and Zimimar in certain Sloane manuscripts (e.g., Sloane 3648), highlighting discrepancies arising from the translation of original Latin or pseudepigraphic sources into English without standardized orthography.^[3]^[1] These inconsistencies underscore the challenges of 17th-century occult scholarship, where copyists and translators adapted names to fit contemporary linguistic conventions, often without access to authoritative originals, leading to a proliferation of forms that obscure potential etymological roots. While no definitive Semitic or Hebrew derivation has been established, some interpretations suggest possible links to directional guardianship motifs in ancient Near Eastern traditions, though such connections remain unverified in primary sources.^[1]

Textual Origins

In the Lesser Key of Solomon

The Lesser Key of Solomon, also known as the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, is a pseudepigraphic grimoire on demonology and ceremonial magic, compiled anonymously in the mid-17th century from materials drawing on earlier Solomonic traditions dating back to the Renaissance and medieval periods.^[4] This compilation synthesizes influences from texts like Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) and various Hebrew and Latin manuscripts, presenting itself as a manual attributed to the biblical King Solomon for commanding spirits through divine authority.^[4] The work is divided into five books, with the first, Ars Goetia, cataloging 72 demons in a hierarchical system that underscores the grimoire's emphasis on structured invocation and ritual purity.^[5] Within this framework, Ziminiar—spelled variably as Zimimay or Ziminair—appears as one of the four principal kings who hold dominion over the 72 spirits enumerated in the Ars Goetia.^[6] These kings form the apex of the grimoire's demonic hierarchy, which classifies the spirits into ranks such as kings (seals in gold), dukes (copper), marquises (silver), earls (copper or silver), presidents (mercury), princes (also copper or silver), and knights (lead), reflecting a feudal organization adapted to occult practice.^[6] Ziminiar specifically oversees the northern quarter, commanding legions of lesser demons and serving as an intermediary authority under the pseudepigraphic Solomon's supposed control.^[6] Key passages in the Ars Goetia highlight Ziminiar's elevated status and the ritual constraints surrounding invocation: "THESE 72 Kings be under the Power of AMAYMON, CORSON, ZIMIMAY or ZIMINAIR, and GÖAP, who are the Four Great Kings ruling in the Four Quarters, or Cardinal Points, viz.: East, West, North, and South, and are not to be called forth except it be upon Great Occasions; but are to be Invocated and Commanded to send such or such a Spirit that is under their Power and Rule, as is shown in the following Invocations or Conjurations."^[6] This stipulation underscores the text's unique Solomonic emphasis, where direct summoning of Ziminiar or the other kings is prohibited outside extraordinary circumstances, requiring instead their indirect command to dispatch subordinate spirits—a constraint tied to the grimoire's mythic narrative of Solomon's binding of demons through holy names and circles.^[6] Such protocols distinguish the Lesser Key's approach from less hierarchical grimoires, reinforcing the dangers of improper ritual and the exclusive authority ascribed to Solomon.^[6]

Role in the Ars Goetia

The Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis (Lesser Key of Solomon), presents a systematic catalog of 72 demons purportedly bound by King Solomon, each with specified ranks, appearances, powers, and sigils for use in evocation rituals.^[1] These spirits are organized hierarchically into categories such as kings, dukes, princes, marquises, earls, knights, and presidents, commanding varying numbers of legions, and the text provides detailed instructions for their summoning within a protective circle to ensure the magician's safety.^[1] Ziminiar holds a distinct position as one of the four principal kings ruling the cardinal directions, specifically the North, alongside Amaymon (East), Corson or Gorson (West), and Goap or Gaap (South).^[1] Unlike the 72 enumerated demons, which receive individual descriptions, Ziminiar and the other kings lack personal attributes, sigils, or detailed evocations in the Ars Goetia, emphasizing their overarching authority rather than subordinate roles.^[1] This hierarchical structure implies Ziminiar's oversight of demons associated with the northern quarter, integrating into the grimoire's ritual framework where the kings are invoked collectively to enforce obedience among the 72 spirits during major conjurations.^[1] In evocation practices outlined in the text, the four kings, including Ziminiar, are called upon to "cause, enforce, and compell" specific demons to appear visibly and without deception before the magician, often through a preliminary invocation that binds them under Solomonic authority.^[1] This role underscores Ziminiar's function as a cardinal overseer, facilitating the ritual's efficacy by compelling northern-aligned spirits to manifest, though the Goetia does not list explicit subgroups under Ziminiar beyond this directional governance.^[1] The absence of a unique sigil for Ziminiar further distinguishes the kings from the cataloged demons, treating them as foundational enforcers rather than evokable entities in their own right.^[1]

Attributes and Hierarchy

Directional and Elemental Associations

In the Ars Goetia, a section of the Lesser Key of Solomon, Ziminiar is designated as one of the four principal kings governing the infernal hierarchy, specifically ruling over the northern quarter of the compass. This directional association positions Ziminiar as the sovereign of the North, a placement that underscores his authority in rituals requiring invocation from that quarter, typically reserved for significant conjurations to ensure compliance from subordinate spirits.^[1] Within Western esotericism, the North symbolizes stability, endurance, and access to hidden knowledge, often viewed as the realm of profound mysteries and the unseen foundations of existence. Ziminiar's alignment with this direction imbues him with qualities of unyielding structure and esoteric insight, facilitating dominion over concealed truths and foundational forces in magical practice. These symbolic attributes draw from longstanding traditions where the North represents the threshold to the unknown, contrasting with the more dynamic energies of other directions.^[7]

Powers and Legions

Ziminiar, identified as the principal king ruling the northern quarter of the infernal realms, exercises collective authority alongside Amaymon, Corson, and Goap over the 72 spirits cataloged in the Ars Goetia. These spirits serve as the hierarchical commanders of vast demonic forces, with Ziminiar overseeing the northern portion of this structure to enforce obedience and coordinate infernal activities on a grand scale, though the text does not specify exact subordinates or legions under him. This arrangement highlights Ziminiar's role in a broader command system, where direct governance emphasizes strategic oversight of subordinate entities rather than micromanagement of singular demons.^[1] As one of the four kings, Ziminiar shares in the general authority to command the lesser spirits for various purposes, including divination and acquisition of knowledge, through invocation in Solomonic rituals. However, this entity possesses a unique limitation: it cannot be summoned except on occasions of great significance, setting it apart from lesser demons that may be called more routinely. In the Solomonic tradition, this restriction implies that only practitioners of exceptional authority, such as Solomon himself, could reliably compel Ziminiar's cooperation, reinforcing its exalted position within the infernal order. Unlike the lesser spirits, Ziminiar lacks individually detailed powers, seals, or descriptions in the grimoire.^[1]

Cultural and Modern Interpretations

In Occult Literature

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ziminiar received renewed attention through the republished and annotated editions of Solomonic grimoires by prominent occultists. S.L. MacGregor Mathers, in his 1904 translation of The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King, co-edited with Aleister Crowley, identifies Ziminiar (alternatively spelled Zymymar or Zimimay) as the principal king of the North, one of four cardinal rulers—alongside Amaymon (East), Corson (West), and Goap (South)—who govern the 72 Goetic spirits and are invoked only for major evocations to command subordinate entities.^[1] This edition, drawing from earlier manuscripts like the British Museum's Sloane collection, emphasized Ziminiar's hierarchical authority while providing ritual instructions for safe conjuration, influencing subsequent ceremonial magic practices. Scholarly examinations of Ziminiar in the 20th and 21st centuries have framed the entity as a syncretic construct blending Jewish Kabbalistic, Christian demonological, and pre-Christian pagan elements, reflecting the composite nature of Renaissance grimoires. Michelle Belanger's Dictionary of Demons: Names of the Damned (2010) catalogs Ziminiar as a infernal monarch derived from Solomonic lore, noting its integration of directional symbolism with command over legions, which underscores the fusion of biblical apocrypha and Hellenistic influences in Western esotericism. Similarly, Theresa Bane's Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures (2012) analyzes Ziminiar within broader demonological taxonomies, highlighting its appearance in texts like the Grimoirium Verum as evidence of evolving hierarchies that merge Judeo-Christian angelology with pagan chthonic deities, positioning it as a figure of unyielding northern dominion. In modern occult scholarship, Ziminiar's portrayal has persisted in analyses of Goetic evocation, often reinterpreted through psychological or archetypal lenses while retaining its core Solomonic attributes. This continuity emphasizes Ziminiar's enduring symbolic weight in esoteric traditions, where it embodies structured infernal governance amid syncretic evolutions, including 19th-century occult revivals by groups such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn that preserved and expanded upon the entity's commanding presence in ritual hierarchies without altering its foundational textual origins.

In Contemporary Media

Ziminiar appears sparingly in contemporary media, primarily within niche contexts that draw from demonological traditions rather than mainstream adaptations. One notable reference occurs in the 1994 video game Shin Megami Tensei II, developed by Atlus, where Ziminiar is mentioned as one of the four principal kings of Hell alongside Amaymon, Corson, and Gaap, reflecting the structure outlined in the Lesser Key of Solomon. This inclusion integrates Ziminiar into the game's expansive lore of summonable demons and infernal hierarchies, emphasizing his directional rule over the north.^[8] Beyond gaming, Ziminiar features in modern visual and textual compilations of demonology that influence popular culture. For instance, Ed Simon's 2022 illustrated volume Pandemonium: A Visual History of Demonology includes Ziminiar in its comprehensive family tree of fallen angels, exploring his role within the Ars Goetia and tracing demonic motifs from historical grimoires to their subtle echoes in contemporary art and literature. The book underscores how such figures persist in cultural imagination, though Ziminiar himself remains overshadowed by more iconic demons in broader media narratives.^[9] This encyclopedic approach contributes to Ziminiar's visibility in educational and inspirational resources for creators in horror, fantasy, and role-playing genres.