"Historia von D. Johann Fausten" is the earliest narration of the legend of Faust written by an anonymous German author and published by Johann Spies in Frankfurt, Germany in 1587. It became the inspiration of Christopher Marlowe’s play entitled "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus". Marlowe retains the following three story elements from the original legend:
<em>Faustus visits the Pope.</em> This happens during his third exploratory journey. Becoming invisible he demands to witness all the luxuries inside the Pope’s Palace. He remained there, unseen, for three days and three nights.
<em>The agreement between Faust and the Devil is signed in Faustus' own blood.</em> The agreement contained three clauses, the second of which indicated that a sample of Faustus’ blood would authenticate the negotiation. Doctor Faustus, pierced open a vein in his left hand using a pocketknife.
<em>The Devil serves Faustus for 24 years. </em>Based on the first clause of the agreement, Faustus agrees to give his soul to the Devil, that is become his property at the expiration of a certain number of years. In both the original and Marlow’s narration, this period was of 24 years, during which the Devil, by means of the demon Mephistophilis would be at Faustus’ service.
