How to correctly invoke Clauneck - A small correction on the modern editions of the Grimorium Verum operation.
If you have attempted the Grimorium Verum ritual before, you may have stumbled upon a small incongruency when it comes to invoking Clauneck.
GV says that we must call the superior spirits, with the highest being Lucifer, and then one of the two deputies: Satanakia or Agalierap.
But once we get into the list of spirits, we read the following passage:
>There are yet other demons under Duke Syrach; there are eighteen
of these, and their names and rulerships are:
It then continues by listing the first of the inferior spirits, with Clauneck appearing first.
But this leaves us with two questions: Who does Syrach answer to? And what is his sigil?
He is not listed as a deputy for any of the Chief Spirits (LBA), which presents a problem when drafting the contract, as we must attribute the correct chain of command; otherwise, we risk a failed ritual.
However, I think we can clarify who Syrach is if we first look at the predecessor to the GV grimoire: Clavicula Salomonis de Secretis (JHP edition).
This grimoire correctly attributes Syrach as being under Lucifer, and even gives a sigil (see attached picture), but leaves Agalierap out.
At first, it may appear that Agalierap was an addition to the GV framework, but one possible explanation might be that Agalierap is in fact Duke Syrach.
If we take a closer look at the name, it sounds like a deformation of the name “Agares,” the first duke under Oriens.
How does he relate to Syrach, you may ask? Let’s take a look at his entry in Stellas Daemonium:
>“The consistency of Agaros's position as the first duke to appear following Oriens and Baall in the Livre des Esperitz, Book of Offices, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and Lemegeton makes him one of the most important dukes in the corpus of Goetic texts. This importance is reflected in his appearance in the Grimorium Verum as Duke Syrach, whose name may originate from a reversal of the Greek form of Agaros's name, Aχαρoς (Acharos),8 which provides us with the word Σoραχα (Soracha), from which the name Syrach can be derived. Little is said of Syrach's abilities in the Grimorium Verum, but his underling Khil has the power to cause earthquakes, which, being a power shared by no other spirit except Agaros in any of the above texts, makes it appear likely that Agaros, as Syrach, devolves this power to Khil.”
If this hypothesis is correct, then Agalierap is in fact Duke Syrach.
But GV makes things confusing by using both names with no clear connection between them. It does not help that JKS goes on to wrongly attribute Clauneck as being under Satanakia:
>“Ruled by Lucifer and Satanakia are Claunech, Musisin and Bechaud.”
Joseph H. Peterson's edition of the Grimorium Verum does not shed clarity on this matter either.
So, the next time you wish to invoke Clauneck, consider this argument when correctly constructing the pact and conjuring this spirit.
If there's something I have gotten wrong, feel free to correct me! As I'm sure I might have overlooked something...