Demons of Illusion

ASMODEUS
Described as "the king of the demons," Asmodeus appears in the Book of Tobit (sometimes also known as the Book of Tobias).  According to this story, the demon Asmodeus fell in love with the beautiful Sarah, daughter of Raguel.  Asmodeus wanted Sarah for himself, and he refused to allow her to be married to any human man.  Subsequently, each time that Sarah was married, the demon came to the marriage bed and took the life of her new husband.  Seven men fell to the predations of this jealous demon, until Tobias, the eponymous author of the book, received as visit from the angel Raphael, who instructed him on how to handle the demonic paramour.  Tobias married Sarah and drove the demon away.  Asmodeus reportedly fled to the furthest reaches of Egypt, where he was then bound by the angel Raphael.  In the Testament of Solomon, Asmodeus also plays a significant role.  Here, the demon is called up by King Solomon, who demands to know its names and functions.  This version of Asmodeus claims to have been put in charge of the destruction of fidelity, either by separating man and wife through calamities or by causing husbands to be led astray.  He is also said to attack the beauty of virgins, causing them to waste away.  In a passage that echoes the Book of Tobit, Asmodeus admits that the angel Raphael holds power over him.  He could also be put to flight by burning the gall of a certain fish.  

Further in the Testament of Solomon, Asmodeus claims to have been "born an angel's seek by a daughter of man," a statement that connects him firmly with the tradition of the Watcher Angels.  The statement is also reflected in the portion of the Jewish Haggadah concerned with the life of Noah.  Here, Asmodeus is said to have been born of the union of the fallen angel Shamdon and the lustful maiden Naamah.  He was reputedly bound by King Solomon with iron, a metal that was often presented as an anathema to demons.  Curiously, in the faerie lore of the British Isles, iron is also a metal that can harm or drive away the fey. 

The Grimoire of Armadel mentions Asmodeus in conjunction with Leviathan, claiming that these two demons can teach about the malice of other devils.  However, that text cautions against summoning these two beings, citing the fact that they lie.  Francis Barrett's The Magus depicts an image of Asmodeus, associating him with the sin of wrath.  Asmodeus is mentioned in Arthur Edward Waite's 1910 Book of Black Magic and Pacts, where he is listed as the super-intendent of Hell's casinos.  This demonic hierarchy stems from the writings of nineteenth-century demonologist Charles Berbiguier.

Rendered Asmodee in the Mathers translation of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, this demon is identified as one of eight sub-princes ruling over all the other demons.  According to this text, Asmodeus has the power to produce food, typically in the form of vast, impressive banquets.  He can learn the secrets of any person.  He also has the power to transmute metals and transmogrify people and animals, changing their shapes at will.  He also appears as the thirty-second demon of the Goetia under the name Asmoday.  In the grimoire known as Janua Magica Reserata, or Keys to the Gateway of Magic, Asmodeus appears in a nine-tiered hierarchy of evil spirits intended to echo the nine orders of angels.  According to this text, Asmodeus presies over the Altores Scelorum, or "Revengers of Evil."  This is the fourth order of demons in the hierarchy, over which he reigns as prince.  Variations of the demon's name include Asmodeay, Ashmedai, Asmodee, and Asmodai.  See also ASMODAY, BERBIGUIER, GOETIA, JANUA MAGICA RESERATA, LEVIATHAN, MATHERS, SOLOMON, WAITE.

CASTUMI
A demon of invisibility, Castumi appears as part of an invisibility spell outlined in the Clavicula Salomonis.  According to the text, Castumi serves Almiras, the demonic Master of Invisibility.  Castumi can also be found associated with invisibility spells in Mathers's translation of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.  See also ALMIRAS, CLAVICULA SALOMONIS, MATHERS.

CUTROY
A squire spirit with impressive powers of illusion.  Cutroy is named in the Munich Handbook, where he is said to be able to help conjure an entire, well-fortified castle out of thin air.  According to the text, Cutroy will only perform this feat outside in a remote location, far away from prying eyes.  An offering of milk and honey make this demon more tractable to a mortal's will.  See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.

DABUEL
According to the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Dabuel is a demon with the power to confer invisibility.  His demonic superior is Almiras, who bears the title of Master of Invisibility.  Dabuel also answers to the demon Cheros, who serves Almiras as his minister.  The same invisibility spell, and thus the same set of demons, also appears in Mathers translation of the Clavicula Salomonis.  See also ALMIRAS, CHEROS, MATHERS.

DANTALION
A great and mighty duke, Dantalion is said to rule over thirty-six legions of lesser spirits.  He is named as the seventy-first demon of the Goetia.  According to the text, he knows the thoughts of all men and women and can thus declare innermost secrets of any individual.  He can also use illusory power to create an image of any person from anywhere in the world.  This image will be accurate in all respects, regardless of how far this person may be.  When he manifests, he is said to have the body of a man holding a book in his right hand.  He has many faces, however, and these faces belong to both men and women of various sorts.  In addition to his other powers, he can cause love and teach all arts and sciences.  According to The Goetia of Dr. Rudd, the angel Hajajel has the power to constrain him.  In this text, his name is rendered Dantaylion.  He also appears in the Welsh Book of Incantations.  See also BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, RUDD.

DEMOR
A demon of illusion described in the Munich Handbook.  According to this text, he is best called in a remote and secret location.  He can be enticed with an offering of milk and honey.  As a so-called "squire spirit," he has power to conjure an entire, realistic castle from thin air.  The text also gives his name as Denior.  See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.

DERISOR
A trickster demon specializing in the magick of mockery and deceit.  He can be called upon to assist with illusions and spells that obscure things and make them seem invisible.  Derisor appears in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage as well as in the Matheres translation of Clavicula Salomonis.  See also CLAVICULA SALOMONIS, MATHERS.

DESTATUR
A prevaricator who specializes in spells that mislead the senses, Destatur appears in the Mathers translations of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and the Clavicula Salomonis.  He is said to be especially useful in casting illusions and spells of invisibility.  See also CLAVICULA SALOMONIS, MATHERS.

DESTATUR
A prevaricator who specializes in spells that mislead the senses, Destatur appears in the Mathers translations of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and the Clavicula Salomonis. He is said to be especially in casting illusions and spells of invisibility.  See also CLAVICULA SALOMONIS, MATHERS.

FEGOT
A demon named in the True Keys of Solomon.  He is one one several servants of chief Sirachi, an agent of Lucifer.  Fegot is a demon of illusion, and he can make nightmarish monsters and chimeras appear to be real.  See also LUCIFER, SIRACHI, TRUE KEYS.

GLITHREL
A demon of illusion in service to Duke Syrach.  Flithrel conjures many Marvels, making spectators think day is night and night is day.  His name appears in the seventeenth-century grimoire Clavicula Salomonis de Sevretis.  See also SECRETS OF SOLOMON, SYRACH.

GLITIA
According to the True Keys of Solomon, this demon can make sumptuous banquets and fine wines apppear our of thin air.  He is one of several demons of illusion in service to chief Sirachi.  See also SIRACHI, TRUE KEYS.

GOMEH
A demon specializing in tricks and illusions, Gomeh is said to offer assistance with spells that involve the deveit of the senses.  This demon appears in both the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and the Clavicula Salomonis, Mathers translations.  See also CLAVICULA SALOMONIS, MATHERS.

GUTHAC
A trickster demon who should be conjured in spells involving mockery and deceit, Guthac appears in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.  He can assist the magician with illusions and invisibility.  He appears in the same capacity in the Mathers translation of the Clavicula Salmonis.  See also MATHERS.

GUTHOR
A demon of trickery, deceit, and illusion.  He is named in the Mathers translation of the Clavicula Salomonis as well as the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.  Guthor can be called upon to help turn a person invisible.  See also MATHERS.

HEMOSTOPHILE
This curious name appears in the Mathers translation of the Grimoire of Armadel.  It is very probably a corruption of the traditional name Mephistopheles, although the prefix hemo- would seem to also link this demon's name with blood.  According to the text, Hemostophile can show how to conjure devils and can help people to acquire infernal servants.  He is a demon of deception that can change a person's shape as well as a person's passions.  Perhaps because of his mastery of illusion, the text warns against summoning this demon.  See also MATHERS, MEPHISTOPHELES.

HEPOTH
A demon of illusion named in the True Keys of Solomon, Hepoth reputedly has the power to cause any man, woman, or child from any distant region to seem to appear across that distance.  According to that grimoire where his name appears, Hepoth is a servant of chief Sirachi, who himself is a servant of Lucifer.  See also LUCIFER, SIRACHI, TRUE KEYS.

HUDAC
A prevaricator and illusionist, Hudac appears in the Mathers translation of the Clavicula Salomonis.  He is called upon in spells concerning trickery and deceit.  He can also assist the magician in spells of invisibility.  The Mathers edition of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage also contains a reference to this demon.  Here, he is again associated with trickery, illusion, and deceit.  See also MATHERS.

IAT
This demon can be summoned to assist the magician in any spells involving trickery or deceit.  He is a master of lies and illusion, and he appears in a list of several similar demons in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.  He appears in the same capacity in the Clavicula Salomonis.  See also MATHERS.

KLEPOTH
A demon of illusion named in the True Keys of Solomon.  According to this text, Klepoth can connjure illusory music that seems entirely real.  He can also make a person feel as if they are spijning and dancing even when they are merely standing still.  He serves chief Sirachi, who himself serves directly beneath Lucifer.  Klepoth also appears in Peterson's edition of the Grimoire Verum.  Here, he is called upon in the ritual preparation of the magician's staff.  In addition, he is credited with the power to let the magician see all manner of dances.  Klepoth serves as the fifth demon under the infernal duke Syrach.  In the Secrets of Solomon, he will whisper the contents of your opponents' hands helpfully into your ear to help you cheat at cards.  In addition to helping people win at cards, Klepoth materializes hecklers out of thin air to jeer, or an elegant entourage deressed in rich garments of silk to impress and entertain.  The name of this demon is curiously close to Qlippoth, a term unique to Qabbalism.  Although opinions vary, the Qlippoth of the Qabbalah are generally perceived as emanations of the Dark Tree of Life.  See also GRIMORIUM VERUM, LUCIFER, SECRETS OF SOLOMON, SIRACHI, SYRACH, TRUE KEYS.

LYTAY
According to the Munich Handbook, this demon of illusion can help to conjure a whole castle out of thin air.  This is reputed not only to be a visible illusion, but one that deceives all of the senses.  Lytay can only be called upon to achieve this impressive task in a remote and secluded location.  The text says that he should be summoned with an offering of milk and honey on the tenth night of the moon.  His name is also spelled Lytoy.  See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.

MAGOTH
A demon identified in the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage as one of eight infernal subprinces ruling beneath the four principal spirits Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan, and Belial.  Occultist S. L. MacGregor Mathers relates this demon's name to the French word magot, often used in fairy tales to denote an evil elf or dwarf.  Mathers also relates it to the word magus, meaning "wizard" or "magician."   According to the Abramelin material, Magoth has the power to hinder operations of magic and necromancy.  He can bring books and produce lavish banquets of food.  He also has the ability to cause comedies, operas, and dances to appear for the amusement of those who call him. Through his powers of illusion, the demon can transform someone's appearance.  Magoth oversees a vast number of spirits, and each of these can perform acts of magick similar to those described in this demon's sphere.  In some versions of the Abramelin material, this demon's name is spelled Maguth.  Magoth is a version of the biblical Magog.  See also BELIAL, LEVIATHAN, LUCIFER, MAGOG, MATHERS, SATAN.

Maitor

Moloy

Morail

Onor

Oor

Pumotor

Rishel

Salaul

Silitor

Sirchade

Sirumel

Syrtroy

Tami

Tangedem

Tistator

Transidium

Usyr

VEPAR
The forty-second demon of the Goetia.  According to the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum of Wierus, Vepar takes the form of a siren or mermaid.  This appearance is appropriate, for vepar is a demon connected with the seas.  He is said to be a guide of all the waters and especially of ships laden with armor.  He can cause the sea to become rough and stormy, and he can further cast an illusion of ships, so the waters seem to be full of oceangoing craft.  In addition to all of this, his watery nature allows him to cause wounds to putrefy, filling them with maggots.  Through this, he can reputedly kill in three days.  He holds the rank of duke and has command over twenty-nine legions.  An alternate form of his name is Separ.  He also appears in Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft and in the Book of Incantations.  According to the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, he is constrained in the name of the angel Michael.  This may or may not be the famed archangel Michael.  See also BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, RUDD, SCOT, WIERUS.

XEZBETH
A demon named in the 1853 edition of Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, Xezbeth is said to govern illusions, fantasies, and deceit.  According to the text, he has so many followers that it is impossible to number them.  See also DE PLANCY.

YM
In the Munich Handbook, Ym appears as a demon of illusion.  In this text, he is described as a "squire spirit," and he helps conjure an illusory castle complete with servants, knights, and a banquet hall.  See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.

ZANNO
A demon of illusion with the power to completely deceive the senses.  He appears in the Munich Hnadbook in connection with an illusion spell intended to create an entire castle out of thin air.  The text describes Zanno as a "squire spirit."  To properly call him up, an offering of milk and honey is recommended.  He must be called in a remote and secluded location on the tenth night of the moon.  His name is also given as Zaimo within the text.  See also MUNICH HANDBOOK.