The Dictionary of Demons, page 30
We cannot erase this past, but we must learn from it.
Furfur: This curiously named demon has an equally curious shape. According to Wierus’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, he takes the form of a deer with a tale of flame. He holds the rank of earl and oversees twenty-six legions of spirits. He is the thirty-fourth demon named in the Goetia. Furfur is a deceitful demon, and he will lie in all things unless otherwise compelled through the use of magick or divine names. He can assume a human form if asked to do so, and when he does, he is said to speak with a hoarse voice. His powers are many and varied. He can inspire love between a man and woman, and he can answer on matters occult as well as divine. In addition, he is credited with the ability to cause thunder, lightning, and tremors. In the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, he does not create tremors but wild gusts of wind, making him very clearly a demon associated with storms. This text also claims that the angel Lehahiah has the power to compel and constrain him. Furfur also appears in Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft. In the Welsh Book of Incantations, he is a great and mighty earl with command over twenty-five legions. He brings love between man and wife and causes violent storms, probably not at the same time. In the French Livre des esperitz, he holds the rank of count and appears in the form of an angel. See also BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, LIVRE DES ESPERITZ, RUDD, SCOT, WIERUS.
A woodcut by Hans Burgkmair featuring the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. From a German copy of the New Testament printed by Silvan Othmar in 1523.
Fursiel: A subordinate to the demon Raysiel. Through allegiance to his master, Fursiel serves in the hierarchy associated with the north. He holds the rank of chief duke and has fifty lesser spirits to serve him. According to the Ars Theurgia, he is only active during the day. See also ARS THEURGIA, RAYSIEL.
Furtiel: According to the Ars Theurgia, Furtiel is an evil and roguish demon who serves the wandering duke Buriel. Furtiel commands eight hundred and eighty lesser spirits who follow and attend him. He is tied to the hours of the night and he hates the day. He will flee from the light and only manifest in darkness. When he does manifest, he assumes the form of a monstrous human-headed serpent. He is such a malevolent being that all other spirits, save those in his own hierarchy, despise him. See also ARS THEURGIA, BURIEL.
Futiel: A night-demon said to have a total of four hundred ministering spirits at his command. Futiel is named as a chief duke in the Ars Theurgia, where it is said that he serves the infernal prince Dorochiel from midnight to dawn each night. His region is the west. See also ARS THEURGIA, DOROCHIEL.
Fyrus: A demon named in the fifteenth-century text known as the Munich Handbook. Fyrus is connected with matters of justice and divination. In particular, he can help reveal the identity of a thief. See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.
[contents]
Gaap: A demon named in both the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum of Johannes Wierus and Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft. Gaap is also one of the traditional seventy-two demons of the Goetia. He is described as both a president and a prince, although there is evidence in the Goetia of Dr. Rudd that suggests his real title should be king. He has a total of sixty-six legions under his command. In Heaven, he reputedly belonged to the angelic Order of Powers, sometimes also called the Order of Potestates. He is said to appear in a sign in the meridian, but the exact sign is left unspecified in the Pseudomonarchia. In the Goetia, he is said to appear when the sun is in certain southern signs (it doesn’t say which signs). When he assumes human form, he appears as a doctor, and he is said to be an excellent “doctor” of women, causing them to burn with love for men. Gaap is also credited with being as mighty a demon as the infernal king Bileth, and he acts as a guide to the four principal kings. In addition to his ability to make women lust after men, he is credited with a number of powers. He is said to steal familiar spirits from other conjurors. He teaches philosophy and the liberal sciences, and he answers on matters concerning the past, present, and future. He can also inspire love and hatred among people, and he has the power to transport individuals from one country to another. He can make people invisible and can also strike people senseless. Finally, he has the power to consecrate things under the dominion of the infernal king Amaimon, although the precise utility of this power is unclear. Alternate versions of his name include Tap and Goap. In the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, Gaap is said to belong to Amaimon, thus allying him with the court of the east. He can be constrained by the angel Jehujah. In the Binsfeld hierarchy of demons connected to the Seven Deadly Sins, Gaap is equated with Satan. He is also named in the Welsh Book of Incantations, where it affirms that he appears when the sun is in one of the southern signs. He holds the rank of prince and governs sixty-six legions. Later in the same manuscript, his rank is given as president. He teaches philosophy and science, transports people from place to place, and can cause love or hatred. See also AMAIMON, BILETH, BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, RUDD, SATAN, SCOT, WIERUS.
Seal of the demon Gaap based on the hand-drawn version in John Harries’s Book of Incantations. This early ninteenth-century Welsh grimoire has several unique variations on the traditional sigils. Image by Catherine Rogers.
Gabio: One of several demons whose names appear in the Ars Theurgia in connection with the infernal king Barmiel. Gabio is said to serve Barmiel during the hours of the night. He holds the rank of duke but has no servants or ministering spirits of his own. Through his service to Barmiel, Gabio is associated with the south. See also ARS THEURGIA, BARMIEL.
Gadriel: A fallen angel mentioned in the Book of Enoch, Gadriel allegedly taught humanity all the blows of death. Like the fallen angel Azazel, he is said to have taught humanity how to craft weapons and armor. In addition to all of this, he is directly credited as being the angel that led Eve astray. See also AZAZEL, WATCHER ANGELS.
Gaeneron: A duke with twenty-seven legions under his command, Gaeneron appears as a beautiful woman riding a camel. According to the fifteenth-century grimoire known as the Munich Handbook, this demon is especially gifted at procuring the love of beautiful women. He can also reveal hidden treasure and respond to any questions concerning the past, the present, or the future. Compare this demon’s description and powers to Gemory, one of the traditional seventy-two demons of the Goetia. See also GEMORY, GOETIA, MUNICH HANDBOOK.
Gagalin: According to the Mathers translation of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, this demon serves the infernal kings Amaimon and Ariton. Mathers attempts to relate the name of this demon to the word ganglion, although the connection is rather dubious. In another version of the Abramelin material kept at the Wolfenbüttel library in Germany, this demon’s name is presented as Gagolchon. See also AMAIMON, ARITON, MATHERS.
Gagalos: A demon named in Mathers’s presentation of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. He is said to serve the arch-demons Asmodeus and Astaroth. Mathers suggests that the name Gagalos may come from a Greek word meaning “tumor.” See also ASTAROTH, ASMODEUS, MATHERS.
Gagison: A servant of the demon Oriens, according to the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. In his translation of this work, occultist Mathers suggests that this demon’s name is derived from a Hebrew term meaning “spread out flat.” See also MATHERS, ORIENS.
The Demons of the Four Directions
The idea that the four quarters or four cardinal directions are watched over by specific otherworldly beings is an old one. In the Christian tradition, four archangels are often thought to oversee one of each of the four directions, and the four authors of the Gospels were often equated with the four winds as well as the four quarters. Perhaps as an antinomian response to this tradition, there was also a widespread belief in medieval and Renaissance Europe that certain demons held sway over the cardinal directions. This belief is reflected in the grimoires, where many of the demons are assigned an affiliation to the hierarchy of a particular direction. These directional correspondences are especially important to the demons of the Ars Theurgia, all of whom are associated with specific points along the compass. Although the notion that certain demons rule over particular directions is a common one in the grimoiric tradition, no source seems to agree on exactly which demons are in charge of which directions. There are so many different demons said to be the “first and supreme” ruler of a particular cardinal point that it can be fairly mind-boggling to keep them all straight. Here are just a few of the lists compiled from the magickal texts sourced within this book:
Source East West North South
Abramelin Oriens Paimon Ariton Amaimon
Agrippa Urieus Paymon Egin Amaimon
Ars Theurgia Carnesiel Amenadiel Demoriel Caspiel
Clavis Infernis Oriens Paimon Egin Amaimon
Dr. Rudd Amaimon Gaap Zinamar Corson
Oberon Oriens Paymon Egyn Amaimon
Sworn Book* Fornnouc Harthan Albunalith Jamaz
* Driscoll edition. In the Peterson edition of the Sworn Book, the demonic rulers are associated with the seven planetary spheres rather than the four cardinal directions.
Gahathus: A demon named in the Peterson edition of the Sworn Book of Honorius. According to this text, Gahathus is a servant of the infernal king Batthan. He is tied to the sphere of the sun, and, as such, he has power to confer wealth, fame, and worldly favor. When he manifests, his body appears bright with golden skin. This demon is one of four who serve in the hierarchy of the sun that are said to also be subject to the north wind. See also BATTHAN, SWORN BOOK.
Galand: A demon named in the seventeenth-century grimoire Secrets of Solomon. A powerful servitor in the court of Duke Syrach, Galand is a demon of affliction. He can visit venereal disease and crabs upon his victims, though he can also be called upon to cure these ailments. He appears in a spell designed to bring death to an enemy. A variant of his name is given as Galant. In the True Keys of Solomon, he is said to be a servant of chief Sirachi. See also SECRETS OF SOLOMON, SIRACHI, SYRACH, TRUE KEYS.
Gallath: A demon tied to the art of divination. He is named in the fifteenth-century Munich Handbook in connection with a scrying spell. He is called upon to help reveal the identity of a thief and bring justice for their victim. See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.
Galtim: A duke of Hell whose name may also be spelled Galtym. He appears in the Munich Handbook, along with a number of other demons called upon to help work a series of spells. See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.
Gamasu: A demon in the hierarchy of Usiel, Gamasu is said to excel at both revealing and concealing hidden treasure. He is also skilled at illusions and enchantments. The Ars Theurgia gives his rank as duke, further saying that he has thirty lesser spirits to serve him. He will only manifest during the hours of the day. He serves in the region of the west. See also ARS THEURGIA, USIEL.
Gamigin: The fourth spirit named among the demons of the Goetia. According to Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft, Gamigin is a great marquis ruling over thirty legions of lesser spirits. He first manifests in the form of a little horse, but he can change this shape to assume the form of a man. Gamigin’s main power is a form of necromancy. He is reputed to be able to call upon the souls of those drowned in the sea as well as any souls confined to purgatory and cause them to appear in “airy” or non-physical bodies. He can further force them to submit to interrogation, answering any questions put to them. His name is given as Gamygyn by Wierus in his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. In the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, the demon’s initial form is said to be that of both a little horse and an ass. He is constrained by the angel Elemiah. In the Book of Incantations, he is also a marquis who appears in the form of a little horse or donkey. He teaches liberal sciences and gives an account of the souls who die in sin. See also BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, RUDD, SCOT, WIERUS.
Gamor: Also spelled Gaymor. A demon of knowledge and instruction who takes the form of a flaming spark. Gamor teaches astronomy as well as all the other sciences. In addition, he can help his summoner to gain favor among rich and influential people. He can also reveal the location of hidden treasure and describe the spirits that guard over it. His name appears in the Elizabethan grimoire known as the Book of Oberon, where he is one of the twelve principal demons serving under Amaimon, king of the south. See also AMAIMON, BOOK OF OBERON.
Gana: An infernal spirit connected with justice and divination. He is named in the Munich Handbook. In this text he helps to reveal the person or persons responsible for a theft by showing their images to a scryer. See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.
Garadiel: A demon named in the second book of the Lesser Key of Solomon, known widely as the Ars Theurgia. In this work, Garadiel is described as a prince of the air who wanders with his massive retinue of attendant spirits, never remaining in one place for very long. Garadiel, together with the thousands of lesser spirits who wait on him, are described as having indifferent natures—neither good nor bad but more properly disposed to good than to evil. See also ARS THEURGIA.
Gariel: A night-demon in service to the infernal prince Dorochiel. Gariel is one of several demons accorded the rank of chief duke in Dorochiel’s western hierarchy. According to the Ars Theurgia, Gariel is responsible for the governance of four hundred lesser spirits. He will only manifest in a specific hour in the second half of the night. See also ARS THEURGIA, DOROCHIEL.
Garsone: A demon named in the Book of Oberon. In the margins of that Elizabethan grimoire, he is noted as a “good and true spirit.” Like many demons named in the Book of Oberon, he knows the location of hidden treasure and will reveal it to those who know how to summon him. Additionally, he can reveal divine secrets about the creation of the world—knowledge that heavily implies that he bore personal witness to the event before his fall. When he manifests, he assumes the guise of an ordinary man. Seven legions of lesser spirits serve under his command. See also BOOK OF OBERON.
Gartiraf: According to the Liber de Angelis, Gartiraf is a demon whose specialty is disease. He is invoked as part of a spell intended to curse an enemy. At the magician’s whim, this demon, along with his fellows, will fly forth and inflict every kind of suffering upon a target. In addition to disease, he can cause fever, trembling, and weakness in the limbs. Gartiraf answers to Bilet, an infernal king also invoked in the course of this spell. Bilet is a variation on the Goetic demon Bileth. See also BILETH, LIBER DE ANGELIS.
Gasarons: Named in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Gasarons is said to serve the demon Oriens. Other versions of the Abramelin material present this demon’s name as Gezeron. See also ORIENS, MATHERS.
Gaster, Dr. Moses: A noted scholar of Hebrew who lived from 1856 until 1939. Born in Romania, he received his PhD in Leipzig in 1878 and then went on to study at the Jewish Seminary in Breslau. Political troubles in Romania brought him to England in 1885, where he established himself within the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation in London. In 1887, he was appointed hakham of this congregation, an honorific that acknowledged his scholarship. He produced a number of books on Jewish folklore and beliefs. Many of these were translations of rare or unusual works, such as the Sword of Moses and the Chronicles of Jerahmeel. Although a good portion of his collection of manuscripts was damaged during World War II, Gaster managed to salvage an impressive amount of material, including codices and scrolls in Hebrew on topics ranging from astronomy to liturgy. The Moses Gaster collection now resides at the University of Manchester, in England. See also SWORD OF MOSES, CHRONICLES OF JERAHMEEL.
Gasyaxe: A demon with a wide range of talents, Gasyaxe appears in the Elizabethan grimoire known as the Book of Oberon. He is described there as a great ruler who teaches how to capture spirits, helping to determine the strengths and talents of each. He also aids in determining whether or not a spirit will be inclined to answer questions truthfully. Gasyaxe himself can be used in a necromantic ritual where he is summoned into the head of a dead man. (The text does not specify whether the entire corpse is required or just the head.) When summoned thusly through a corpse, Gasyaxe will use the dead person’s voice to teach magic, necromancy, and other sciences. When not forced to inhabit someone else’s discarded flesh, the demon takes the shape of a hare. He is said to have sixteen legions of lesser spirits serving beneath him. Geenex, another demon described in the same section of the Book of Oberon, shares almost all of Gasyaxe’s qualities, to the point that Geenex may simply be an alternate name for the same demon. See also BOOK OF OBERON, GEENEX.
Gazon: A great duke who tells of things from past, present, and future. He grants honors and helps people to rise in society, making everyone love and respect them. Identified in the Livre des esperitz, his name translates in French to grass or turf, although the similarity is probably accidental. See also LIVRE DES ESPERITZ.
Gebath: A demon named in the Munich Handbook. According to this text, Gebath is associated with matters of divination and scrying. The name of this demon is likely appropriated from the Hebrew language. In the Talmud, Gebath is a frontier town mentioned several times in connection with the Antipatris. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, it may be connected with the city of Gabbatha. A number of demonic names used in magickal grimoires are borrowed directly from Hebrew or represent corrupted words from this language. See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.
Gediel: According to the Ars Theurgia, Gediel is the second spirit under the demon Caspiel, infernal Emperor of the South. Gediel himself rules as a king by the south and west. He has twenty chief spirits who serve him by day and another twenty who serve at night. He has a fairly benign temperament as demons go. The Ars Theurgia describes him as loving, courteous, and eager to work with those who call upon him. Gediel also appears in a list of demons from Johannes Trithemius’s Steganographia, written around 1499. See also ARS THEURGIA, CASPIEL.
