The Testament of Solomon

And when I, Solomon, heard these things, I rose from my throne and saw the demon shivering and trembling, and I said to him, “Who are you, and what is your name?” The demon said, “My name is Ornias.”

And I said to him, “Tell me, in what zodiacal sign do you dwell?” And the demon answered and said, “In Aquarius; and those who are in Aquarius, because of their desire for women, I strangle as they call upon the zodiacal sign Virgo.”

And I am also a somnolent one, transforming into three forms: sometimes as a man having a desire for the form of unpubescent female children, and when I touch them they suffer greatly; sometimes I become winged, going to the celestial regions; sometimes I appear in the form of a lion.

And I am a descendant of an archangel of the power of God, but I am frustrated by the archangel Uriel.

When I, Solomon, heard the name of the archangel, I prayed and glorified the God of heaven and earth, and having sealed him, I assigned him to the work of stone-cutting, to cut stones for the temple, brought by sea from Arabia, those lying by the shore.

And as he was afraid to touch iron, he said to me, “I beg you, King Solomon, allow me to be at ease, and I will bring all the demons to you.”

But as he was unwilling to be subject to me, I prayed for the archangel Uriel to come to my aid. And immediately I saw the archangel Uriel descending from heaven to me.

And he commanded whales to rise from the sea, and he dried up their portion and threw their lot upon the earth, and thus he subjected the great demon Ornias to cut stones and to complete the building of the temple which I, Solomon, was building.

And again I glorified the God of heaven and earth and commanded Ornias to go to his own place, and I gave him the seal, saying, “Go and bring the ruler of the demons here to me.”