Paimon is a spirit named in early grimoires. These include The Lesser Key of Solomon (in the Ars Goetia ), [1] Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum , [2] Jacques Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal , [3] the Livre des Esperitz (as "Poymon"), [4] the Liber Officiorum Spirituum (as Paimon), [5] [6] The Book of Abramelin , [7] and certain French editions of The Grimoire of Pope Honorius (as Bayemon); [8] [9] as well as British Library, Sloane MS 3824. [10]
The Goetia and Weyer begin entries on King Paimon noting that he is quite obedient to Lucifer. [1] [2]
King Paimo(n) appears as the ninth spirit in the Ars Goetia, [1] the 22nd spirit in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, [2] and in the Dictionnaire Infernal. [3] In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, he is first listed as the sixth spirit [5] [6] and later as the third king. [11] [12]
The Goetia, Weyer, de Plancy, Livre des Esperitz, Liber Officiorum Spirituum, and Sloane MS 3824 all rank Paimon as a king. [1] [2] [3] [4] [10] [5] [6] [11] [12] [ excessive citations ]The Livre des Espiritz, Sloane MS 3824, and the Grimoire of Pope Honorius specify that King Paimon is king of the west. [4] [10] [8] [9] In the Book of Abramelin (where his appearance is given no description), he is instead one of the eight dukes. It is said that he has no power over the lord above and would be demolished in any battle. [7]
The Goetia, Weyer, and de Plancy warn that if King Paimon appears alone, a sacrifice must be made to summon Lebal (sometimes called Bebal), [13] the most devoted to Lucifer, and Abalam, two kings who serve under him but do not always accompany him. These three sources state that he rules 66 legions of spirits, some of which are of the order of Angels and the rest being Powers. [1] [2] [3] The Livre des Esperitz, on the other hand, credits him with just 25 legions of spirits. [4] Sloane MS 3824 mentions him as employing a "bishop" named Sperion, among other spirits. [10]
Critical editions of the Lesser Key of Solomon list him as a former Dominion. [1] Weyer notes a confusion over whether he was a former Dominion or Cherub. [2] According to Thomas Rudd, King Paimon is opposed by the Shem HaMephorash angel Haziel. [14]
In the Goetia, Weyer, de Plancy, Livre des Esperitz, Liber Officiorum Spirituum, he is described as a man riding a dromedary, preceded by men playing loud music (particularly trumpets), as well as cymbals. [10] [11] [12] [13] Sloane MS 3824 describes the camel as crowned, [10] while the rest describe King Paimon himself as crowned. [1] [11] [12] The Goetia itself makes no mention of King Paimon's face, [1] while the rest describe him as having a beautiful face but still refer to him as male. [6] [11] [12]
Sloane MS 3824 and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum describe him as having a "Hoarse Voice", [10] [5] [12] and those works, Weyer, and the Goetia note that he must be commanded to speak, [1] [11] [12] with the Liber Officiorum Spirituum specifying that King Paimon will speak in his native language until commanded to converse in the summoner's own language. [11] [12]
The Goetia, Weyer, Livre des Esperitz, and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum all describe him as teaching science and answering other questions. [1] [11] [12] The Goetia and Weyer specify that his knowledge includes all arts and "secret Things" [ sic ], such as knowledge regarding the Earth, its waters, and the winds. [1] [2] The Livre des Esperitz and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum broaden this to truthfully answering all questions asked of him, [4] [11] [12] with the former source also claiming that he can reveal hidden treasures [4] and the latter highlighting that he knows all the affairs of the world. [11] [12] The Goetia, Weyer, and the Livre des Esperitz also claim he has the ability to bestow dignities and lordships. [1] [2] [4] The Goetia and Weyer credited him with granting familiars (who are likewise good at teaching). [1] [2] The Liber Officiorum Spirituum uniquely gives him command over fish. [11] [12] Sloane MS 3824 mentions Paimon in "An Experiment to Cause a Thief to Return". [10]
In Abramelin, King Paimo(n)'s powers include [15] knowledge of past and future events, clearing up doubts, making spirits appear, creating visions, acquiring and dismissing servant spirits, reanimating the dead for several years, flight, remaining underwater indefinitely, and general abilities to "make all kinds of things" (and) "all sorts of people and armor appear" at the behest of the magician. [16]
King Paimon is the primary antagonist in Ari Aster's 2018 film, Hereditary. [17] A version of the Sigil of Paimon can be seen multiple times within the film, along with many other signs indicating his presence. [18] [19]
Bael is a demon described in demonological grimoires such as The Lesser Key of Solomon and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum 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. The Lesser Key of Solomon describes him as appearing in the form of a cat, toad, human, some combination thereof, or other "diverse shapes", while the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and the Dictionnaire Infernal state that he appears with the heads of a cat, toad, and human simultaneously.
Alloces is a demon that appears in demonological grimoires such as the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and the Lesser Key of Solomon. He is described in the Lesser Key of Solomon and in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum as a duke, taking the form of a fire-breathing, lion-headed soldier riding a horse. His purported duties include teaching astronomy, and liberal sciences, and granting familiars. He is claimed to have 36 legions of demons under his command. In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, Alloces appears as Allogor or Algor, again a duke, but otherwise with a completely different appearance and abilities -- a spear-toting knight who answers questions, provides advice for plans, and commands only 30 legions of demons. In the duplicate entry, Alloces appears as Algor, ruled by the spirit "Orience" (Oriens), again as a knight who explains secrets, but with the additional power of garnering the favor of nobles. According to Rudd, Alloces is opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Imamiah.
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The Lesser Key of Solomon, also known by its Latin title Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis or simply the Lemegeton, is an anonymously authored grimoire on sorcery, mysticism and magic. It was compiled in the mid-17th century, mostly from materials several centuries older. It is divided into five books: the Ars Goetia, Ars Theurgia-Goetia, Ars Paulina, Ars Almadel, and Ars Notoria. It is based on the Testament of Solomon and the ring mentioned within it that he used to seal demons.
Agares is a demon described in demonological grimoires.
In demonology, Halphas is the thirty-eighth demon in the Ars Goetia in the Lesser Key of Solomon, ranked as an earl.
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Bathin is a demon described in demonological grimoires.
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