The magical seal of Venus transmitted by Agrippa is the planetary character drawn from a numerical table of seven squares by seven. It belongs to a technical series in which each celestial body has a square, its own seal, and characters of intelligences and spirits. Venus's seal must therefore not be confused with the astrological glyph ♀, nor with the character of Hagiel, the planet's intelligence.
| Structure | How does Agrippa organize the figures of Venus? |
|---|---|
| Square | What does the 7 × 7 table produce? |
| Glyph | Why is ♀ a different sign? |
| Talismanic magic | What functions does the text attribute to Venus? |
| Legacy | Why does the seal remain central to planetary magic? |
How does Agrippa organize the figures of Venus?
After the numerical table, Agrippa reproduces the character of Venus, that of her intelligence Hagiel, that of her spirit Kedemel, and a collective character of the intelligences of Venus.
These figures appear together in the same section but do not have the same function.
What does the 7 × 7 table produce?
The magic square of Venus contains forty-nine numbers. Each row, column, and diagonal totals 175, while the entire grid reaches 1225.
The planetary seal is presented as derived from this arithmetical arrangement.
Why is ♀ a different sign?
The glyph ♀ serves to identify Venus in astrology and copper in alchemy. Agrippa's seal belongs to numerical talismanic magic.
The two symbols refer to the same planet without belonging to the same graphic layer.
What functions does the text attribute to Venus?
Agrippa associates a favorable Venusian table with concord, the easing of conflicts, love, conception, fertility, and joy.
It indicates an engraving on silver when Venus is considered favorable. These effects belong to the magical cosmology of the Renaissance.
Why does the seal remain central to planetary magic?
The planet of harmony and attraction occupies a major place in later talismanic traditions.
Occultists adopt the character transmitted by Agrippa in tables of correspondences, talismans, and planetary magic workings.
Sources and historical background
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, De occulta philosophia, Book II, Chapter XXII, digital edition by Joseph H. Peterson.
