Related Resources • Hermetic Tradition • Historical interest • Alchemy • Ritual Magick Image Galleries: • The Emerald Tablet of Hermes • The Knights Templar

The Necronomicon, or "Book of Dead Names," is pure invention. It was originally conceived as a literary device by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, as background for his story The Hound. In the fictional history he later created, the Necronomicon was the product of an Arab poet, Abdul Alhazred, who worshipped extra-terrestrial deities named "Yog-Sothoth" and "Cthulhu."

Lovecraft wrote about a dozen or so stories that made reference to the Necronomicon and related characters- what are now known collectively as the "Cthulhu Mythos."

Other writers- friends of Lovecraft- took the idea and ran with it, producing dozens more stories with references to the Necronomicon and Lovecraft's race of ancient Godlike extraterrestrials. Enchanted readers naturally assumed that the numerous references were to real legends, and Lovecraft was delighted by this. However, when many fans wrote to Lovecraft to inquire about the Necronomicon, he always replied truthfully that it was his own invention.

Lovecraft briefly considered but eventually decided not to create an actual text for the Necronomicon, although he did write a detailed "history." In a letter to colleagues written in 1936, he wrote "If anyone were to try to write the Necronomicon, it would disappoint all those who have shuddered at cryptic references to it." This is probably true, but it hasn't stopped a score of imitators from trying their hand at various Necronomicon hoaxes. The most common of these, which can be found for sale at most book retailers, is called the "Simon" Necronomicon, after its supposed translator, an Orthodox Bishop named Simon (in older editions, the mysterious Simon was a spy). The Simon Necronomicon contains invocations to various Sumerian deities, an assortment of fantasy sigils, and a collection of "spells" that appear to parody many found in authentic medieval grimoires.

The Simon Necronomicon is undoubtably a hoax- although claiming to be an ancient Sumerian manuscript, it is filled with anachronism- including distinctly medieval style sigils. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped a number of conspiracy minded individuals from taking it all too seriously- including the notorious David Icke, who faithfully reprints it on his site to bolster his straight-faced claim of an evil alien conspiracy to rule the earth.

These things seem to take on a life of their own- various "true believers" will doubtless continue to claim, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the real Necronomicon is out there somewhere- hidden in the Vatican library, squirreled away by the Nazis, or concealed by a secret cult until the return of the "Old ones."

Related resources:

• Fake Necronomicons [offsite]
  A thorough list of various attempts at Necronomicon spoofs and hoaxes, with links to most versions.
• The Necronomicon Anti-Faq
  A spoof...but since many take it seriously, the rebuttal is here.
• Dr. John Dee, the Necronomicon & the Cleansing of the World
  An interesting bit of synchronicity.
• The Simon Necronomicon
  Reproduced in full, along with David Icke's bizarre theorizing. To read it in original form in PDF: here.
• Grimoire- the magician's handbook
  Often containing complex instructions for conjuring demons and spirits, the Grimoires of European magicians were more than just collections of spells and conjurations.