Bael (demon)

This article is about the demon. For the Semitic deity whose Biblical depiction inspired this demon, see Baal. For a demon sometimes refers to Satan, see Beelzebub. For other uses, see Bael.

Bael (Ba’al or Baal) is a demon described in demonological grimoires such as The Lesser Key of Solomon and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (where he is the first spirit mentioned) and also in the Dictionnaire Infernal. He is described as a hoarsely-voiced king with the power to make men invisible and ruling over sixty-six legions of demons.^{[1][2][3][note 1]} The Lesser Key of Solomon describes him as appearing in the form of a cat, toad, man, some combination thereof, or other "divers shapes",^[4] while the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and the Dictionnaire Infernal state that he appears with the heads of a cat, toad, and human simultaneously.^[2][3]

Dictionnaire Infernal illustration of Bael

The sigil of Bael

Jacques Collin de Plancy wonders if Bael is the same as the Canaanite deity Baal,^[3] a reasonable assumption.^[5][6] In the Livre des Esperitz, Bael (as Beal) is described as a king ruled by Oriens (himself a demon overseeing the cardinal direction east, or the Orient), still possessing the power of invisibility, as well as the power to garner the favor of others, but ruling over only six (rather than sixty-six) legions of demons.^[7] The Liber Officium Spirituum features Baal, Baall, Boal, or Boall, again a hoarsely-voiced king (or sometimes a soldier), with not only powers of invisibility but also sciences and love.^[8][9] Sloane MS 3824 mentions Baal, in "Of the Demon Rulers", as a king ruled by Oriens, attributed with teaching science, (again) granting invisibility, and controlling 250 legions of spirits.^[10] Bael appears in later editions of The Grimoire of Pope Honorius, under Astaroth, as a prince whose powers include (again) invisibility and popularity.^[11][12] In the Grand Grimoire, Bael (as Baal) is listed as a subordinate of Lucifuge Rofocale.^[13] According to Thomas Rudd, Bael is opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Vehuiah.^[14]

Explanatory footnotes

1. Baal, as a deity, is also listed in an earlier and separate entry, though de Plancy does connect the two.

References

1. Peterson, Joseph H., ed. (May 2001). The Lesser Key of Solomon: Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, Detailing the Ceremonial Art of Commanding Spirits Both Good and Evil. Maine: Weiser Books (published 2001). pp. 7–8. ISBN 1-57863-220-X.
2. Weyer, Johann (1563). Peterson, Joseph H. (ed.). Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Liber officiorum spirituum). Twilit Grotto: Esoteric Archives (published 2000). par. 1.
3. de Plancy, Jacques Collin (1853). Dictionnaire infernal (in French). Paris: Sagnier et Bray. p. 66.
4. Peterson 2001, pp. 7–10.
5. Gettings, Fred (1988). "Baal" and "Bael". Dictionary of Demons. London: Guild publishing. pp. 44, 45.
6. Bane, Theresa (10 January 2014). "Baal". Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland (published 2012). pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0786488940.
7. Boudet, Jean-Patrice (2003). "Les who's who démonologiques de la Renaissance et leurs ancêtres médiévaux". Médiévales. Langues, Textes, Histoire. Médiévales (in French). Revues.org (44). par. 5, 25, 28, 40. doi:10.4000/medievales.1019.
8. Porter, John (2011). Campbell, Colin D. (ed.). A Book of the Office of Spirits. Translated by Hockley, Frederick. Teitan Press. pp. 8–9, 22. ISBN 978-0933429253.
9. Porter, John; Weston, John (2015). Harms, Daniel; Clark, James R.; Peterson, Joseph H. (eds.). The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook for Elizabethan Magic (first ed.). Llewellyn Publications. pp. 192–193, 204. ISBN 978-0-7387-4334-9.
10. Ashmole, Elias (2009). Rankine, David (ed.). The Book of Treasure Spirits. Avalonia Books. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-905297-27-6.
11. Banner, James, ed. (1999). The Grimoire of Pope Honorius. Translated by Ch'ien, Kineta (first ed.). Seattle, Washington: Trident Books. p. 15. ISBN 1879000091.
12. Rankine, David; Barron, Paul Harry, eds. (August 2013). The Complete Grimoire of Pope Honorius (First ed.). London: Avalonia Books (published 2013). p. 221. ISBN 978-1-905297-65-8.
13. Waite, Arthur Edward (1913). "Part II, Chapter III: 'Concerning the Descending Hierarchy,' Section 1: 'The Names and Offices of Evil Spirits'". The Book of Ceremonial Magic. Internet Sacred Text Archive (published 2002). pp. 184–193.
14. Rudd, Thomas (2010). Skinner, Stephen; Rankine, David (eds.). The Goetia of Dr Rudd. Golden Hoard Press (published 2007). pp. 366–376. ISBN 978-0738723556.

Further reading

• S. L. MacGregor Mathers, A. Crowley, The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1904). 1995 reprint: ISBN 0-87728-847-X.