Astaroth (also Ashtaroth, Astarot and Asteroth), in demonology, is the Great Duke of Hell, in the first hierarchy with Beelzebub and Lucifer; he is part of the evil trinity.
He is generically considered a male figure and his name and character were the demonization of the Israelite goddess Ashtart.
Etymology[]
The name Astaroth is the Plural of Ashtoreth, which come from the Phoenician goddess Astarte, Ashtoreth means star of shame in old Hebrew.
Overview[]
Astaroth is a great and a strong duke, coming forth in the shape of a foul angel, sitting upon an infernal dragon, and carrying on his right hand a viper, who also claimed to rule 40 legions, and had to be approached by the conjurer with a magical ring on account of his stinking breath.
According to some demonologists of the 16th century, August is the month during which this demon's attacks against man are stronger.
According to Sebastien Michaelis, he is a demon of the First Hierarchy, who seduces by means of laziness, vanity, and rationalized philosophies. His adversary is St. Bartholomew, who can protect against him for he has resisted Astaroth's temptations.
Astaroth in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum[]
The Pseudomonarchia daemonum, or False Monarchy of Demons, by the Dutch occultist Johann Weyer, was published as an appendix to his book titled De praestigiis daemonum, or On the Tricks of Demons, in 1577. The description of Astaroth from the Pseudomonarchia daemonum is as follows:
| “ | Astaroth is a great and a strong duke, comming foorth in the shape of a fowle angell, sitting upon an infernall dragon, and carrieng on his right hand a viper: he answereth trulie to matters present, past, and to come, and also of all secrets. He talketh willinglie of the creator of spirits, and of their fall, and how they sinned and fell: he saith he fell not of his owne accord. He maketh a man woonderfull learned in the liberall sciences, he ruleth fourtie legions. Let everie exorcist take heed, that he admit him not too neere him, bicause of his stinking breath [lit. "because of the intolerable stench which he exhales"]. And therefore let the conjuror hold neere to his face a magicall [silver] ring, and that shall defend him.[1] | ” |
Astaroth in the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis (Ars Goetia)[]
The Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis or Lesser Key of Solomon is an anonymously written book of demonology that is believed to have been complied sometime during the 17th century CE. The work is divided into five books, the first of which, known as the Ars Goetia, lists 72 demons. The Ars Goetia is heavily based off of Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia daemonum.
In 1904, the British occultist and founder of the religion of Thelema, Aleister Crowley, published a version of the Lesser Key of Solomon which was translated by another British occultist, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, and contained additional invocations added by Crowley. The Ars Goetia's passage on Astaroth from the 1904 version is as follows:
| “ | ASTAROTH. - The Twenty-ninth Spirit is Astaroth. He is a Mighty, Strong Duke, and appeareth in the Form of an hurtful Angel riding on an Infernal Beast like a Dragon, and carrying in his right hand a Viper. Thou must in no wise let him approach too near unto thee, lest he do thee damage by his Noisome Breath. Wherefore the Magician must hold the Magical Ring near his face, and that will defend him. He giveth true answers of things Past, Present, and to Come, and can discover all Secrets. He will declare wittingly how the Spirits fell, if desired, and the reason of his own fall. He can make men wonderfully knowing in all Liberal Sciences. He ruleth 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which wear thou as a Lamen before thee, or else he will not appear nor yet obey thee, etc.[2] | ” |
Astaroth in the Dictionnaire Infernal[]
The Infernal Dictionary is a book of demonology written in 1818 by the French occultist Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy. The entry for Astaroth is as follows:
| “ | Astaroth, a very powerful grand duke in hell. He has the figure of a very ugly angel, and appears riding on an infernal dragon; he holds to the left hand a viper. Some magicians say that he presides over the West, that he procures the friendship of great lords, and that he must be evoked on Wednesdays. The Sidonians and the Philistines worshipped him. He is, it is said, the great treasurer of hell. Wierus tells us that he knows the past and the future, that he willingly answers questions put to him on the most secret matters, and that it is easy to make him talk about creation, the faults and the fall of the angels, of which he knows the whole story. But in his conversations, he maintains that for him he has been unjustly punished. He teaches the liberal arts thoroughly, and commands forty legions. Whoever summons him must take care not to let himself approach him, because of his unbearable stench. This is why it is prudent to hold under one's nostrils a magic silver ring, which is a preservative against the fetid odors of demons . Astaroth has figured in several possessions. He is cited as one of the seven princes of hell who visited Faust, according to English tradition; he appeared as a serpent, having "a tail colored like changing bricks, two very short little feet, all yellow, a white and yellowish belly, a reddish-chestnut neck, and a point in the form of a line, like those of the hedgehog, which advances the length of a finger".[3] | ” |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Astaroth - Solium Infernum (2024).jpg (213 KB)")
References[]
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| The 72 Demons of The Ars Goetia | |
|---|---|
| Kings | Asmodeus • Bael • Balam • Beleth • Belial • Paimon • Purson • Vine • Zagan |
| Dukes | Abigor • Aim • Agares • Allocer • Amduscias • Astaroth • Barbatos • Bathin • Bune • Berith • Crocell • Dantalion • Flauros • Focalor • Gremory • Gusion • Murmur • Sallos • Valefor • Vapula • Vepar • Vual • Zepar |
| Princes | Gaap • Ipos • Orobas • Seere • Stolas • Sytry • Vassago |
| Marquises | Amon • Andrealphus • Andras • Cimejes • Decarabia • Forneus • Gamigin • Leraje • Marchosias • Nebiros • Orias • Phenex • Ronové • Sabnock • Shax |
| Counts | Andromalius • Bifrons • Furfur • Halphas • Raum |
| Knights | Furcas |
| Presidents | Buer • Botis • Foras • Glasya-Labolas • Marbas • Morax |
| Great Presidents | Amy • Camio • Haagenti • Malphas • Ose • Volac |