Simon Necronomicon
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The Simon Necronomicon (or Simonicon) is the best-known of the many real Necronomicon claimants. It is called the "Simon Necronomicon" because its introduction was written by a man identified only as "Simon." The book is largely based on Sumerian mythology and attempts to identify the Great Old Ones and other creatures from Lovecraft's Mythos with gods and demons from the Sumerian myths. The myths presented in the book are a blend of Mesopotamian myths (not only Sumerian, but Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian as well), and a storyline of unknown authenticity about a man known only as the "Mad Arab."
The book was released in 1977 by Schlangekraft, Inc. in hardback form and later as an Avon paperback.
Contents |
[edit] Simon's introduction
The introduction to the book (comprising about 50 pages of a total of around 250) is the only part that Simon indicates that he wrote. It relates how Simon and his associates were said to have been introduced to a copy of the Greek Necronomicon by a mysterious monk. The introduction also attempts to establish links between Lovecraft, Aleister Crowley and Sumerian mythology, as well as draw parallels to other religions (such as Christianity, Wicca, and Satanism).
[edit] The testimony of the Mad Arab
The Testimony is in two parts, comprising a prologue and an epilogue to the core Necronomicon. The author is described as a "Mad Arab." The name Abdul Alhazred does not appear in this text, however; the author remains nameless.
The first part tells how the Mad Arab first came to know of the existence of the dark secrets he is writing down (by accidentally witnessing an arcane ritual performed by a cult of the Ancient Ones).
In the second part, the Mad Arab is haunted by demons and monsters. He fears that his gods have foresaken him due to some sin he believes to have unwittingly committed. Apparently, he is taken away by these demons (i.e., dies) just after he finishes writing his book, but before he is able to sign it; thus his name remains unknown.
[edit] Good versus evil
A main theme of the book is the struggle between good and evil. The principal forces of good and evil are the "Elder Gods" and the "Ancient Ones", respectively. These two sides are populated with authentic Mesopotamian gods and monsters as well as fictitious ones. The Ancient Ones are older and represent primeval Chaos. Chief among them is Tiamat. The Elder Gods are younger entities, children of the Ancient Ones, who rebelled against them and prevailed.
Included in the Necronomicon is a story which is a variant of the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation epic. It relates how Marduk (one of the Elder Gods) slew Tiamat, clove her body in two and created the Heaven and the Earth from the two halves. The Elder Gods also created Mankind from the blood of Kingu (an Ancient One). Other Ancient Ones are imprisoned beneath the Earth or beyond the Heavens. To this editor's knowledge, all of this is derived from authentic myths (except, perhaps, the terms "Elders Gods" and "Ancient Ones" themselves).
Simon's introduction claims that Lovecraft's Mythos, just like the Sumerian mythology, is a story of the struggle between good and evil, there personified by the good "Elder Gods" and the evil "Great Old Ones". This is incorrect. Such a "cosmic war" does indeed appear in August Derleth's version of the Cthulhu Mythos, but not in Lovecraft's stories. (See Cthulhu Mythos for more information on this subject.) The theme of "cosmic war" derives instead from Lovecraft's essay, "Supernatural Horror in Literature", where he mentions the apocryphal Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch elaborates on Genesis 6:1-4, describing how Fallen Angels, variously known as Watchers or Grigori, looked upon the daughters of humankind and took them as wives, subsequently giving birth to demonic offspring. At this point the Flood ensues, submerging the Abominations beneath the sea. The Ancient Ones now lie "dead but dreaming", awaiting a day when they may return to life. To do this, they are dependent on the positions of the stars as well as the sacrifices of their mortal followers. This is an obvious attempt to reconcile the myths of the Simon Necronomicon with Cthulhu Mythos stories such as The Call of Cthulhu and with the Armageddon and Apocalypse of Judeo-Christianity where, following the conflagration of the End Times, the flesh of the vanquished Leviathan is then served up to the victorious survivors for dinner.
[edit] Elder Gods
The Elder Gods include the following:
- Anu
- Enlil
- Enki
- Nanna, also called Sin
- Nebo
- Inanna, also called Ishtar
- Shammash, also called Udu or Uddu
- Nergal
- Marduk
- Ninib, also called Adar
The latter seven are known collectively as the seven Zonei.
[edit] Ancient Ones
The Ancient Ones include the following:
- Tiamat
- Absu
- Kingu
- Ereshkigal
- Kutulu
- Azag-Thoth
- Ishnigarrab
- Ninnghizhidda
- Nammtar (or Namtar)
- Humwawa (or Humbaba)
- Pazuzu
- The Seven Maskim, also spelled Masqim, the Liers-In-Wait
[edit] Magic
Much of the book is a guide to magic. Many magical incantations, seals and rituals are described. Most of these are used to ward off evil or to invoke the Elder Gods to one's aid. Some of them are curses to be used against one's enemies. The incantations are written in a mix of English and ancient Sumerian with a few possible typos in the Sumerian words.
The many magical seals in the book usually pertain to a particular god or demon and are used when invoking the entity. In some cases there are specific instructions on how to carve the seals (on what material, at what time, etc.). In other cases, only the seal itself is given.
[edit] Controversy
Considerable debate has occurred over the historic authenticity of the Simon Necronomicon. No manuscript has ever been made available for examination, so the controversy centers around the book's content.
The question of whether the Necronomicon displays influences from later civilizations is no longer under dispute, as Simon has stated in Dead Names that the book contains Gnostic and Neoplatonic material. Some see the Necronomicon as an ancient work that has been corrupted down through the ages, while their opponents maintain that the book is a modern hoax combining published Mesopotamian material with Lovecraft's fiction and modern magical practices.
According to one book on the topic, The Necronomicon Files, several portions of the Necronomicon bear striking similarities with other works mentioned in its bibliography, such as R. C. Thompson's The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia and Pritchard's Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, to an extent that it becomes unlikely that separate translations could have arrived at the same result. In addition, two members of the Magickal Childe scene, Khem Caigan (the Necronomicon's illustrator) and Alan Cabal, have independently stated that the book was widely known as a hoax in the local occult community. Simon has yet to produce any other individuals who are willing to back up his version of events.
A crucial difficulty with the Necronomicon being authentic is the question of how Lovecraft would have learned about the book before 1921, and why he would have maintained that he invented it. Some proponents that Lovecraft was an unconscious medium who learned about a real book in his dreams, or cite links to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn or other magical orders for which documentation has yet to appear.
Many practitioners of magic maintain that, no matter what the book's origins, the Necronomicon provides a complete and workable system that can be pursued on a path of personal revelation and growth.[1]
[edit] Possible Attribution
The authorship of the Simon Necronomicon has been attributed to figures as diverse as Sandy Pearlman and Anton LaVey. Some attribute it to James Wasserman [2], a well-known producer and designer of occult books and protege of Samuel Weiser, the largest publisher of occult books in America. (James has been associated with the recent re-publishing of many of the works of Aleister Crowley, the greatest occult figure of the 20th century.) The more likely author would be nonfiction writer Peter Levenda, a possibility "Simon" (whether intentional or accidentally) does little to deny in Dead Names. Levenda had not yet officially published any books at the time of the first printing. Subsequently he has done so, publishing nonfiction works on the topic of the influence of occult secret societies on international politics.
[edit] Dead Names
In 2006, Avon published Simon's Dead Names: The Dark History of the Necronomicon (ISBN 0-06078-704-X), in which he details the history of the Necronomicon and attacks his critics who claim the book is a hoax. The book's conclusions are considered suspect by some [3].
[edit] Influences on music
Many musicians, especially metal bands, have been influenced by the Necronomicon. Here follows a list of songs that are based on, or make references to, Simon's Necronomicon.
- Bal-Sagoth (epic, symphonic black metal)
- The Dreamer in the Catacombs of Ur
- Deicide (death metal)
- Dead But Dreaming
- They are the Children of the Underworld
- Fields of the Nephilim (gothic rock)
- Psychonaut
- Last Exit for the lost
- Nile (death metal)
- Wrought
- Barra Edinazzu
- Defiling the Gates of Ishtar
- Virgin Steele (heavy metal)
- The Blood of Vengeance
- God of our Sorrows
- The Fire God
- Summoning the Powers
- Morbid Angel (death metal)
- Angel of Disease
- Lord of All Fevers and Plague
- Prayer of Hatred
- The Need (operatic metal)
- Dark Sally
- Metallica (thrash metal)
- The Call Of Ktulu
- The Thing That Should Not Be
- Cradle of Filth (symphonic metal)
- Cthulhu Dawn
- Therion (symphonic metal)
- Blood of Kingu
- Mercyful Fate (Black Metal)
- The Mad Arab
- Kutulu (The Mad Arab Part Two)
- Tech N9ne (Trip-Hop)
- Twisted
[edit] Related links
[edit] External links
- Comments on the Necronomicon. An article by Kalyn Tranquilson comparing the Simon Necronomicon with actual Mesopotamian myths.
- Fake Necronomicons. An article by Dan Clore, discussing several supposed "Necronomicons", including Simon's.
- Papers Falling from an Attic Window. Blog of Daniel Harms, co-author of The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind the Legend (ISBN 1-57863-269-2), in which he takes on recent criticisms levied by Simon against The Necronomicon Files.
- The Doom that Came to Chelsea by Alan Cabal which describes the creation of Simon's Necronomicon
