Goetia (magic)

Seals of demons within the Ars Goetia: Haagenti, Sitri, Buer, and Beleth

Goetia, sometimes referred to as "low magic", is the practice of invocation and evocation of demons or daimons, lesser spirits that are used to control and attain powers or knowledge. Some interpret these lesser spirits as evil. However, in ancient Sumerian and Babylonian culture these spirits are simply accepted as natural facts of life and were frequently attached to persons as either neutral or evil. These spirits often times both brought destruction and offered protection, in a role similar to tutelary deities (protectors).

In ancient Greece, the term goetia was originally used as a derogatory term towards fraudulent and low-class magic, in opposition to the term of theurgy which was used to describe the magic conducted by the priests and philosophers.

Etymology

The Latin word goetia (pronounced /goˈɛtia/) originates from the Greek word for sorcery or witchcraft (γοητεία), or the act of performing sorcery or witchcraft. Goetia is formed from the stem goēt- (γόητ-) of the noun goēs (γόης) meaning sorcerer or wizard.

The term goēs was also used as a derogatory term by higher-class theurgists, as a way to differentiate the practice of high and low magic.

Goetia in practice

Ars Goetia

The Ars Goetia is the first grimoire of the Legemeton or Lesser Key of Solomon. Despite the other writings of the Legemeton and Goetia being attributed to King Solomon, the commonly attributed source for the Goetia is Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum in his De praestigiis daemonum. The Ars Goetia contains the names, orders, offices, and seals of 72 demons, and educates on how to protect oneself when conjuring them.

Each of the demons of the Ars Goetia are said to offer powers and boons for those who conjure them. These gifts include but are not limited to invisibility, wealth, foresight, knowledge, "the destruction of bonds both spiritual and temporal" (in the case of Agares), and the unification of friend and foe (in the case of Raum).

  1. King Bael
  2. Duke Agares
  3. Prince Vassago
  4. Marquis Samigina
  5. President Marbas
  6. Duke Valefor
  7. Marquis Amon
  8. Duke Barbatos
  9. King Paimon
  10. President Buer
  11. Duke Gusion
  12. Prince Sitri
  13. King Beleth
  14. Marquis Leraje
  15. Duke Eligos
  16. Duke Zepar
  17. Count/President Botis
  18. Duke Bathin
  19. Duke Sallos
  20. King Purson
  21. Count/President Morax
  22. Count/Prince Ipos
  23. Duke Aim
  24. Marquis Naberius
  25. Count/President Glasya-Labolas
  26. Duke Buné
  27. Marquis/Count Ronové
  28. Duke Berith
  29. Duke Astaroth
  30. Marquis Forneus
  31. President Foras
  32. King Asmodeus
  33. Prince/President Gäap
  34. Count Furfur
  35. Marquis Marchosias
  36. Prince Stolas
  37. Marquis Phenex
  38. Count Halphas
  39. President Malphas
  40. Count Räum
  41. Duke Focalor
  42. Duke Vepar
  43. Marquis Sabnock
  44. Marquis Shax
  45. King/Count Viné
  46. Count Bifrons
  47. Duke Vual
  48. President Haagenti
  49. Duke Crocell
  50. Knight Furcas
  51. King Balam
  52. Duke Alloces
  53. President Caim
  54. Duke/Count Murmur
  55. Prince Orobas
  56. Duke Gremory
  57. President Ose
  58. President Amy
  59. Marquis Orias
  60. Duke Vapula
  61. King/President Zagan
  62. President Valac
  63. Marquis Andras
  64. Duke Flauros
  65. Marquis Andrealphus
  66. Marquis Kimaris
  67. Duke Amdusias
  68. King Belial
  69. Marquis Decarabia
  70. Prince Seere
  71. Duke Dantalion
  72. Count Andromalius

See also

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Jeffrey Burton (1972). Witchcraft in the Middle Ages. -. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-0697-3 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ↑ Graf, Fritz (1997). Magic in the ancient world. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-54151-1.
  3. 1 2 3 Mathers, S. L. MacGregor; Crowley, Aleister; Beta, Hymenaeus (1995-12-01). The Goetia the Lesser Key of Solomon the King: Lemegeton, Book 1 Clavicula Salomonis Regis. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-0-87728-847-3.
  4. ↑ Mark, Joshua J. (2026-07-07). "Pazuzu: The Mesopotamian Demon of Destruction and Protection". World History Encyclopedia.
  5. ↑ Otto, Bernd-Christian; Stausberg, M. (2013-01-01). Defining magic: A reader. ISBN 978-1908049803.
  6. 1 2 Clark, Stuart; Ankarloo, Bengt (1999). Witchcraft and magic in Europe : the twentieth century. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-3519-7 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ Luck, George (1985). Arcana Mundi – Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  8. ↑ Davies, Owen (2009-03-26). Grimoires. Oxford University PressOxford. ISBN 978-0-19-920451-9.