Goetic Demons

From the Lesser Key of Solomon and possibly as early as ancient Greece, a who’s-who of demons developed into a standardized catalog. The number varies but it’s usually 72 (the same number as cards in the tarot and nodes in the Kabbala’s Tree of Life). There’s some minor differences in the lists…different inclusions, different names, different powers and details, but there’s enough similarity in the lists that a reasonably standard list of goetic demons exists today. 

Unless you’re into ritual magic, reading through the Goetia can be a bit overwhelming. It’s a long list of “this demon is associated with this astrological sign, can be conjured either at this place or this time, and offers these abilities.” Rather than a list of colorful personalities like the Greek Gods, most of the Goetia are just magic spells wrapped in some basic descriptive text that could have been procedurally generated by an app. There are a few exceptions! But in general while the Goetia contains some of the better-known demons, someone was struggling to make it to 72. I mean, there’s like four guys with lion heads. Why not a giraffe?

One concept to look for: ghosts. Because of scribal error, intentional duplication, or legends that separated or grew together, there’s some duplication within the Goetia and in less name-brand demons (Stratton-Kent, Pandemonium.) 

Most of the weird and colorful depictions of the Goetic demons come from the 19th century Dictionniare Infernal and are more informed by the whimsy of its artist, Le Breton, than 16th century source material. 

This is not going to be a comprehensive resource on these spirits because the editor gets bored easily, but we’ll work our way there slowly.

So far as hierarchies go, the standard Goetia 72 begins with the Cardinal demons of the four directions, and works its way down through various titles of nobility. There’s a few notables that sit at the top that don’t always make the list, possibly because they’re too powerful to deal with in a magicianly way. Particularly with these high-ranking demons and their assistants, the lists don’t always agree. Some demons have multiple titles (“Marquis and Earl” seems like a common combination.” The title of “President” is worth a mention, as the Goetia predate the idea of “President as elected head of state,” it’s more like “one who presides,” maybe a chairman or a chancellor sort of role.

 

Chiefs and Secret Masters

Astaroth

Astaroth

One of the world's most powerful goddesses, now a mid-level demon
Beelzebub

Beelzebub

Lord of the flies and the divinely-appointed regent of Hell
Lucifer

Lucifer

First of the Fallen and Emperor of Hell
Satan

Satan

The first name in devilry.

Second-In-Commands and Assistants

Note: Sirachi, Stephanate/Stephanuta, Tarchimache, and Hymeteh should also make this list but there is too little information to reference here. Many demons just occur in one grimoire without any outside references…that seems to be the case with these second-in-command types.

Agaliarept

Agaliarept

Keeper of mysteries and a general of Hell
Cerberus/Naberius

Cerberus/Naberius

The 3-headed guardian at the gates of Hell
Fleurity

Fleurity

Fey-touched Lieutenant General of Hell's Army. May bring 'shrooms.
Leonard/Lucifuge Rofocale

Leonard/Lucifuge Rofocale

Grand Master of Sabbats and Satan's personal assistant
Sargatanas

Sargatanas

Spymaster and Brigadier-General of Hell
Satanachia

Satanachia

The Grand General of Hell, often invoked for love spells

Cardinal Kings

Amaymon

Amaymon

Mysterious king of the East. Or South. The jury is out.
Egin

Egin

King of the North quarter, teacher of all kinds of good stuff. And bad stuff.
Ornias/Orias

Ornias/Orias

Incubus, Succubus, or snake lion. The spirit that introduced Solomon to demonology!
Paimon

Paimon

Gender-ambiguous king of the West, now in theaters!

Kings

Asmodeus

Asmodeus

I would like the Prince of Lust to look a little less...you know...horrifying
Balam

Balam

King of hell, invoked for divination and sparkling dinner conversation.
Belial

Belial

How can one demon be "worthless" and "#2 in Hell, second only to Luucifer?"
Bileth

Bileth

Demon of love and musical cats.
Decarabia

Decarabia

Invoked to get that "all the birds love Cinderella" effect. One wonders what the necromancers were thinking.
Purson

Purson

Goetic lion, associated with trumpets, strumpets
Vine / Royne

Vine / Royne

Building towers and fulfilling monogamous relationships...also, Hell's official witchfinder.
Zagan

Zagan

King, bartender, counterfeit coin specialist

Princes

Gaap

Gaap

This goetic prince offers a surprising range of women's health services.
Ipos

Ipos

Need self-confidence? He's your man. Or lion. Or goose-lion-hare thing.
Orobas

Orobas

Gives titles and dignities and divines the past, present and future. A dangerously protective Goetic prince.
Pruflas

Pruflas

A divisive and sometimes forgotten duke of hell
Sitri

Sitri

It takes effort to make love magic even creepier, but he'll take the challenge.
Stolas

Stolas

Fan-favorite demon of astronomy
Vasago (stub)

Vasago (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki

Dukes

Abigor (stub)

Abigor (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Allocer (stub)

Allocer (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Amduscias (stub)

Amduscias (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Argares (stub)

Argares (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Astaroth

Astaroth

One of the world's most powerful goddesses, now a mid-level demon
Aym (stub)

Aym (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Bathym (stub)

Bathym (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Berith (stub)

Berith (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Bune

Bune

A goetic dragon with a strange relationship with the dead
Flauros

Flauros

When you're having demon problems...call a demon. Duke of hell, big angry leopard.
Focalor (stub)

Focalor (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Gemory

Gemory

A rare moment of female representation in the Goetia. Maybe.
Gusoyn (stub)

Gusoyn (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Murmur (stub)

Murmur (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Procell (stub)

Procell (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Pruflas

Pruflas

A divisive and sometimes forgotten duke of hell
Valefar (stub)

Valefar (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Vapula (stub)

Vapula (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Vepar (stub)

Vepar (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Vuall (stub)

Vuall (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Zepar (stub)

Zepar (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki

Marquis

Amon (stub)

Amon (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Andras (stub)

Andras (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Andrealphus   (stub)

Andrealphus (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Cerberus/Naberius

Cerberus/Naberius

The 3-headed guardian at the gates of Hell
Cimeries (stub)

Cimeries (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Decarabia

Decarabia

Invoked to get that "all the birds love Cinderella" effect. One wonders what the necromancers were thinking.
Fenix/Phoenix

Fenix/Phoenix

A fiery bird of poetry and song
Forneus (stub)

Forneus (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Gamigin (stub)

Gamigin (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Marchosias

Marchosias

Fire-breathing, winged wolf, someday to return to Heaven...
Oray (stub)

Oray (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Ornias/Orias

Ornias/Orias

Incubus, Succubus, or snake lion. The spirit that introduced Solomon to demonology!
Ronove (stub)

Ronove (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Sabnacke (stub)

Sabnacke (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Shax (stub)

Shax (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki

Earls

Barbatos (stub)

Barbatos (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Botis (stub)

Botis (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Caim, Raum

Caim, Raum

A chatty president of hell ...
Furfur

Furfur

Thunder! Lightning! Bambi! ...
Halphas (stub)

Halphas (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Ipos

Ipos

Need self-confidence? He's your man. Or lion. Or goose-lion-hare thing ...
Morax (stub)

Morax (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Murmur (stub)

Murmur (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Ronove (stub)

Ronove (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Saleos (stub)

Saleos (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki ...
Vine / Royne

Vine / Royne

Building towers and fulfilling monogamous relationships...also, Hell's official witchfinder ...

Presidents

Amduscias (stub)

Amduscias (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Amy (stub)

Amy (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Andras (stub)

Andras (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Bathym (stub)

Bathym (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Bileth

Bileth

Demon of love and musical cats.
Botis (stub)

Botis (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Buer

Buer

President, doctor, herbalist, pinwheel
Caim, Raum

Caim, Raum

A chatty president of hell
Foras (stub)

Foras (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Glasyalabolas (stub)

Glasyalabolas (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Haagenti (stub)

Haagenti (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Malphas (stub)

Malphas (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Marbas

Marbas

Lionish engineer who can change the shape of others
Morax (stub)

Morax (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Ose (stub)

Ose (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Valac (stub)

Valac (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki
Zagan

Zagan

King, bartender, counterfeit coin specialist
Zepar (stub)

Zepar (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki

And Etc.?

Bifrons (stub)

Bifrons (stub)

AKA text Goetia # Title text Hierarchy text Expertise text Time & Place textDescription text Story Notes txt Links wiki