The Hermogenes and Virgil Flight Experiment

The experiment of Hermogenes and Virgil involving travel by cloak is described in the manuscript Codices Magici 130. Dating to the early 17th century, this manuscript is housed in the University of Leipzig Library's renowned collection of magical codices and originates from the private collection of Samuel Schröer. I intend to include this text, along with many other documents from this collection, in one of my forthcoming books scheduled for release in 2026–2027. Furthermore, I have already translated many texts from this collection in my previous works¹. A complete list of the texts contained in this collection can be found in another of my books: Trithemius, J. Seals and Magical Images; Gratarolo, G. The Art of Memory / Trans. from Latin, commentary, and intro. by I. Bengalsky. — St. Petersburg: Academy of Cultural Studies Press, 2026.

The full title of the text is "Hermogenis und Virgilii Experimentum auf den Mantel zu fahren" (The Experiment of Hermogenes and Virgil on Traveling by Cloak). It is written in Kurrent (a form of German Gothic cursive).

As the title suggests, this work is attributed to two well-known historical figures.

Hermogenes, according to legend, was a philosopher and sorcerer of renown. He sent his disciple Philetus to the Apostle James, intending for him to shame the preacher's faith. Yet, upon witnessing the Apostle's miracles, Philetus converted to Christianity himself. Enraged, Hermogenes summoned legions of demons, commanding them to bind James and bring him forth. Legend holds, however, that as the demons approached the Apostle, they were themselves bound by an invisible force and began to beg James for mercy. The Apostle commanded the spirits to return to Hermogenes, bind the sorcerer, and bring him to him, while strictly forbidding them from harming the mage. Seeing that his customary magic proved powerless against this new faith, and that the demons he once commanded now obeyed the word of James, Hermogenes repented. In the final act of the story, he renounced his sorcery, ordered his magical books to be burned, and received baptism.

Publius Vergilius Maro (70–19 BCE) was a great Roman poet whose legacy in the Christian era remained ambivalent. On one hand, Emperor Constantine the Great, in his Oration to the Assembly of the Saints, described Virgil as a man who "knew the holy and glorious mystery of the Savior." Scholars found textual parallels between lines 21–25 of his Fourth Eclogue and the 11th chapter of the Book of Isaiah. On the other hand, myths portrayed the poet as a sorcerer. Legend held that he possessed an ancient book of spells, which allowed him to teleport and to craft special statues that indicated exactly which Roman province had erupted in rebellion. Such views on Virgil are well documented in works like the Gesta Romanorum (c. 13th–14th centuries) and the writings of Vincent of Beauvais (Speculum Historiale, 13th century). The poet's unique status in the medieval worldview was later immortalized in Dante's Divine Comedy.

The ritual described in the manuscript essentially concerns the creation of a "magic carpet" equivalent—or, more precisely, a method for traveling to any location using an ordinary cloak. Such practices are genuinely fascinating. They originated from meditative rituals performed on specialized mats, similar to those used by Muslims during prayer. These objects were intended to facilitate the operator's and their students' entry into spiritual realms, allowing them to remain there together. However, once these concepts entered popular culture, they were distorted and perceived in an entirely different light. For the history of magic, such texts are invaluable and offer significant insight into the reconstruction of ancient techniques.

Translation

If you wish to fly upon a mantle (so that you may arrive in distant lands a thousand miles away in a short time, without harm to your body or soul, and without noise or fury), to wherever you and your companions need to go.

Order of Operations

During the waxing moon, inscribe the following signs, as indicated at the end of this chapter, upon virgin parchment using the blood of a hoopoe or a bat. Once you have done so, consecrate them according to the instructions provided below. After they are consecrated, take them and, two days prior, travel—whether on foot or by other means—to an abandoned house, a dense forest, or any other secluded location with your companions. You must not show timidity before them. Bring with you a new red silk cloth of suitable quality. Instruct your companions not to be timid or afraid, but to remain courageous. The Master must place the cloak in the center, as shown below, and spread it out to its full length and width so that all companions may fit entirely upon it.

Following this, the operator must take the sigils and sew them onto the cloak using a new needle and red silk. Once they are securely attached, the master shall instruct his companions to enter the circle and sit upon the cloak without fear. When everyone is seated, the master must command them to remain unafraid and to utter not a single word until they arrive at the appointed destination. Finally, the master must stand upon the cloak and, facing north, speak in a loud voice:

Sathalaron, Larathon, Barbaroth. You three princes who wield the three powers, set forth and fulfill your duty to transport us from one land to another, from one province to the next. The one who is not bound by fear adjures you: by your strength and might, carry us from this place to that destination where we firmly intend to arrive. Do no harm to our bodies, our souls, our senses, our limbs, or our eyes. Do not strike fear into us, but transport all four of us, sitting upon this cloak, joyfully and merrily through wind and mist without unnecessary noise—as swiftly and nimbly as we rely upon you. Fulfill this faithfully and in full measure.

If they do not appear, compel them by the power of the signs inscribed upon the cloak, and the spirits will manifest at once with a pleasant breeze. Upon their arrival, receive them and say:

Marvelous spirits, my (or our) companions, welcome on this pleasant breeze! We are most grateful for your obedience. Know that we value your treasures far above any other possession, provided you transport us to and fro at our will. But should you fail to show us due reverence, I shall bind and hide your treasures, lock them in a secret chamber, or consume them in a terrible fire.

When the wind rises thereafter, the master must strike at it with both hands and command his companions to close their eyes. The spirits will then instantly lift the cloak, along with the master and his companions, and carry them as if they were flying swiftly toward their intended destination—with such speed and haste that they themselves will be astonished. Upon arriving at the place with your companions, say:

I, [Name], and my companions express to you, noble and most illustrious princes, our profound gratitude for the obedience you have shown us by voluntarily bringing us to this place at our request, without any harm or injury to our bodies or souls. I, [Name], now conjure, bind, and banish you entirely and completely—not by my own power, but by the power of God the Father Almighty, the supreme authority of God the Son and the Holy Spirit, and by that very obedience through which you have submitted to us. You, noble and most illustrious princes Sathalaron, Larathon, and Barbaroth [Fürsten Sathalaron, Larathon, Barbaroth], I command to go where I desire. Whenever I invoke your names in His name, you shall appear to me and my companions immediately and without delay, in a gracious manner (devoid of terrifying signs or unnecessary solemnity), as soon as I spread the cloak bearing the signs and summon you to me or my companions, so that you may transport us back to the place designated or determined by me or my companions upon our arrival.

Execute my command in the presence of others, whether man or woman, and do so in the deepest secrecy, without discord and without any harm to their bodies, lives, or souls. Let this flying carriage arrive at the place I appoint, and let it occur so covertly and miraculously that no one may perceive it.

Their Absolution

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and with you now, spirits—Sathalaron, Larathon, Barbaroth—who have been under my command. Depart in peace to your dwellings from whence you came, and do no harm to me or my companions. Inflict no damage upon our bodies, our lives, or our souls, nor upon our limbs or our possessions. And should you be summoned again by me or any of my companions, be ready to appear willingly and fulfill my will without hesitation or delay.

The following four signs are: