The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

242 Solomon
The demons are described as FALLEN ANGELS or the
offspring of fallen angels and human women, and they
live in stars and constellations. They can shape shift into
beasts and forces of nature. They lurk in deserts and
haunt tombs, and they dedicate themselves to leading
people astray. They are ruled by Beelzeboul (BEELZEBUB),
the Prince of Demons.
The stellar bodies themselves are demonic, wielding
destructive power over the affairs of humanity. The 36
decans, or 10-degree portions of the zodiac, are called
heavenly bodies and likewise are ruled by demons, who
cause mental and physical illnesses. There are seven
“world rulers,” who are equated with the vices of deception,
strife, fate, distress, error, power, and “the worst,”
each of whom is thwarted by a particular angel (with the
exception of “the worst”).
The testament considers angels as God’s messengers
but does not describe their origin or hierarchy. The main
purpose of angels is to thwart demons and render them
powerless. Each angel is responsible for thwarting specific
demons. Humans must call upon the right angel by
name in order to defeat a demon; otherwise, demons are
worshipped as gods. Among the angels named are the
archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel.
When the demon ORNIAS vampirizes Solomon’s favorite
boy by sucking out his soul through his thumb,
Solomon begs God for power over the demon. While he
prays, Michael appears and gives Solomon a ring with a
seal engraved upon a precious stone. Michael tells Solomon
that this magical ring will give him power over all
demons, male and female, and that they will help him
build the temple. The demons are subdued when the
ring is thrown at their chests with the command “Solomon
summons you!” Solomon interviews the demons
and demands from them the names of their thwarting
angels. When they are subdued, they are made to construct
his temple.
One of demons interrogated by Solomon gives no
name but describes himself as “a lecherous spirit of a
giant man who died in a massacre in the age of giants.”
He lives in “inaccessible places.” When someone dies,
he sits in the tomb near the body and assumes the form
of the dead man. If anyone visits, he tries to seize him
or her, and, if he can, he kills that person. If he cannot
kill the person, the demon causes him or her to become
possessed by a demon and to gnaw his or her own flesh
and drool at the mouth. The demon admits to Solomon
that he is thwarted by the Savior, and if anyone bears the
cross, the mark of the Savior, on his forehead, the demon
flees. Solomon binds the demon and locks him up as he
has the others.
The Testament of Solomon also describes the demons
of the decans of the zodiac, the 36 degrees dividing the 12
zodiacal signs. The decans are ruled by ANGELs, but in the
Testament, they are reduced to lower-level demons who
cause disease and strife.
Solomon summons them to appear before him for
interrogation to learn what they do and the names of
the angels who thwart them. They appear with heads of
formless dogs and as humans, bulls, dragons with bird
faces, beasts, and sphinxes. The demons are, by order
of decan:
1st—Ruax (also Rhyx), or “the Lord”: He causes headaches
and is dispatched by the words “Michael, imprison
Ruax.”
2nd—Barsafael: He causes those who live in his period
to have pains in the sides of their heads. He is repelled by
the words “Gabriel, imprison Barsafael.”
3rd—Artosael: He damages eyes and is sent away by
the words “Uriel, imprison Artosael.”
4th—Oropel: He causes sore throats and mucus and is
thwarted by the words “Raphael, imprison Oropel.”
5th—Kairoxanondalon: He causes ear problems and
is dispatched by the words “Ourouel (Uriel), imprison
Kairoxanondalon.”
6th—Sphendonael: He causes tumors of the parotid
gland and tetanic recurvation (the body bent backward
rigidly) and is quelled by the words “Sabael, imprison
Sphendonael.”
7th—Sphandor: He paralyzes limbs, deadens the
nerves in hands, and weakens shoulders. He is subdued
by the words “Arael, imprison Sphandor.”
8th—Belbel: He perverts the hearts and minds of men
and is dispatched by the words “Karael, imprison Belbel.”
9th—Kourtael: He causes bowel colic and pain and
retreats when he hears the words “Iaoth, imprison Kourtael.”
10th—Methathiax: He causes kidney pains and is sent
away by the words “Adonael, imprison Methatiax.”
11th—Katanikotael: He causes domestic fights and
unhappiness. To dispel him, write on seven laurel leaves
the names of the angels who thwart him: “Angel, Eae, Ieo,
Sabaoth.”
12th—Saphthorael: He causes mental confusion. To
get rid of him, write down the words “Iae, Ieo, sons of
Sabaoth” and wear the AMULET around the neck.
13th—Phobothel: He causes loosening of the tendons
and retreats when he hears the word “Adonai.”
14th—Leroel: He causes fever, chills, shivering, and
sore throats and retreats when he hears the words “Iax,
do not stand fast, do not be fervent, because Solomon is
fairer than eleven fathers.”
15th—Soubelti: He causes shivering and numbness and
is dispatched by the words “Rizoel, imprison Soubelt.”
16th—Katrax: He causes fatal fevers. He can be averted
by rubbing pulverized coriander on the lips and saying, “I
adjure you by Zeus, retreat from the image of God.”
17th—Ieropa: He causes men to collapse and creates
stomach problems that cause convulsions in the bath. He
retreats if the words “Iouda Zizabou” are repeated three
times in the right ear of the afflicted person.