A warrior wearing a ducal crown rides a gryphon, accompanied by trumpeters. The gryphon—a hybrid of lion and eagle—symbolizes the union of earth and sky, while the ducal crown denotes sovereign authority over a lesser kingdom. The trumpeters herald a proclamation or victory, making the whole image a tableau of triumphant dominion.

Position on the Tree of Life

This image belongs to the 22nd path (Tau), which connects Malkuth (the Kingdom) to Yesod (the Foundation). In the 32‑path system, the 22nd path is the last of the three mother letters and is associated with the element Earth in its most material aspect. The warrior’s ride upon the gryphon suggests the soul’s ascent from the physical world toward the lunar sphere of Yesod, while the trumpeters announce the completion of a cycle.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

Path 22 is attributed to Saturn (Shabbathai), the slowest planet, representing limitation, structure, and time. The gryphon’s dual nature mirrors Saturn’s role as both the boundary that confines and the gate that opens to higher understanding. The warrior’s ducal crown—a rank below a king—reflects Saturn’s position as the outermost visible planet, a sovereign of the material realm but not the ultimate source.

Historical context

The image derives from the Renaissance grimoire tradition, particularly the Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, where such composite figures appear as the “magical images” for each path. The gryphon itself is a classical and medieval emblem of divine power and guardianship; in alchemy it represents the conjunction of opposites (the fixed and volatile). The ducal crown is a heraldic symbol of a duke, a rank that in the Goetic hierarchy corresponds to a class of spirits who command legions. Trumpeters are a common feature in apocalyptic and triumphal iconography, as in the Book of Revelation where seven angels sound trumpets to announce cosmic events. In the context of the 22nd path, the trumpeters likely signify the proclamation of the Great Work’s completion—the adept’s attainment of the “World” card (Tarot key XXI), which is the corresponding Tarot attribution.

In Liber 777

In column CLXV (Magical Images) of Liber 777, this image is the entry for the 22nd path. It stands alongside other hybrid and martial images for adjacent paths—such as the bull with gryphon’s wings (Path 18) and the lion with gryphon’s wings (Path 25)—forming a sequence of chimerical beasts that embody the forces of the Tree of Life. The warrior with ducal crown rides the gryphon as a master of the elemental and planetary powers, while the trumpeters announce his arrival to the practitioner who visualizes the scene.