// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Goetia say to the demon? "You're possessed with charm.
Goetia, or sometimes referred to as "low magic"[1] is the practice of invocation and evocation of demons or daimons, lesser spirits that are used to control and attain powers or knowledge.[2] Some interpret these lesser spirits as evil. However, in ancient Sumerian and Babylonian culture these spirits are simply accepted as natural facts of life and were frequently attached to persons as either neutral or evil.[3] These spirits often times brought both destruction and offered protection.[4]
In ancient Greece, The term goetia was originally used as a derogatory term towards fraudulent and low-class magic, in opposition to the term of theurgy which was used to describe the magic conducted by priests and philosophers.[5][6]
Etymology
[edit]The Latin word of goetia (pronounced goh-eh-tee-ah) originates from the Greek word for sorcery/witchcraft (γοητεία), or the act of performing sorcery/witchcraft. Goetia is a combination of the two Greek phrases goēs (γόης) meaning sorcerer/wizard, and -eiā (-είᾱ) meaning to be.
The term goes (γόης) meant sorcerer/wizard, and was also used as a derogatory term by higher-class Theurgists (θεουργός) meaning wonder-worker, as a way to differentiate the art of high and low magic.[6][7][8]
Goetia in practice
[edit]Ars Goetia
[edit]The Ars Goetia is the first grimoire of the Legemeton or Lesser Key of Solomon. Despite the the other writings of the Legemeton and Goetia being attributed to King Solomon, the commonly attributed source for the Goetia is Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum in his De praestigiis daemonum.[3][9] The Ars Goetia contains the names, orders, offices and seals of 72 demons, and educates on how to protect oneself when conjuring them.
The demons of the Ars Goetia each offer powers and boons for those who conjure them. These include but are not limited to invisibility, wealth, foresight, knowledge, "the destruction of bonds both spiritual and temporal" in the case of Agares, and the unification of friend and foe in the case of Raum.[3]
- King Bael
- Duke Agares
- Prince Vassago
- Marquis Samigina
- President Marbas
- Duke Valefor
- Marquis Amon
- Duke Barbatos
- King Paimon
- President Buer
- Duke Gusion
- Prince Sitri
- King Beleth
- Marquis Leraje
- Duke Eligos
- Duke Zepar
- Count/President Botis
- Duke Bathin
- Duke Sallos
- King Purson
- Count/President Morax
- Count/Prince Ipos
- Duke Aim
- Marquis Naberius
- Count/President Glasya-Labolas
- Duke Buné
- Marquis/Count Ronové
- Duke Berith
- Duke Astaroth
- Marquis Forneus
- President Foras
- King Asmodeus
- Prince/President Gäap
- Count Furfur
- Marquis Marchosias
- Prince Stolas
- Marquis Phenex
- Count Halphas
- President Malphas
- Count Räum
- Duke Focalor
- Duke Vepar
- Marquis Sabnock
- Marquis Shax
- King/Count Viné
- Count Bifrons
- Duke Vual
- President Haagenti
- Duke Crocell
- Knight Furcas
- King Balam
- Duke Alloces
- President Caim
- Duke/Count Murmur
- Prince Orobas
- Duke Gremory
- President Ose
- President Amy
- Marquis Orias
- Duke Vapula
- King/President Zagan
- President Valac
- Marquis Andras
- Duke Flauros
- Marquis Andrealphus
- Marquis Kimaris
- Duke Amdusias
- King Belial
- Marquis Decarabia
- Prince Seere
- Duke Dantalion
- Count Andromalius
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Russell, Jeffrey Burton (1972). Witchcraft in the Middle Ages. -. Internet Archive. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-0697-3.
- ↑ Graf, Fritz (1997). Magic in the ancient world. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-54151-1.
- 1 2 3 Mathers, S. L. MacGregor; Crowley, Aleister; Beta, Hymenaeus (1995-12-01). The Goetia the Lesser Key of Solomon the King: Lemegeton, Book 1 Clavicula Salomonis Regis. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-0-87728-847-3.
- ↑ Mark, Joshua J. (2026-07-07). "Pazuzu: The Mesopotamian Demon of Destruction and Protection". World History Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Otto, Bernd-Christian; Stausberg, M. (2013-01-01). Defining magic: A reader. ISBN 978-1908049803.
- 1 2 Clark, Stuart; Ankarloo, Bengt (1999). Witchcraft and magic in Europe : the twentieth century. Internet Archive. Philadelphia, PA : University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-3519-7.
- ↑ Luck, George (1985). Arcana Mundi – Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
- ↑ "Definition of THEURGIST". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
- ↑ Davies, Owen (2009-03-26). Grimoires. Oxford University PressOxford. ISBN 978-0-19-920451-9.