Astaroth
Astaroth · 29th of Solomon's 72 Spirits — Great Duke
29th demon of the Lesser Key of Solomon, a great duke. Originally Ishtar / Astarte, the ancient Semitic goddess of fertility, love, and war; Judeo-Christian tradition transformed her into a male demon. He appears riding a wicked dragon, holding a viper, and teaches the conjurer all things past, present, and future, along with the liberal arts and astronomy.
Origin
From the Mesopotamian Ishtar (c. 2000 BCE), goddess of love, fertility, and war, who became Phoenician-Canaanite Astarte. In the Old Testament she is a foreign goddess; in 16th-century grimoires she was degraded into a male demon-duke. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum lists him with 40 legions.
Features
- Vast male form riding a wicked dragon
- Viper in one hand
- Crown, armor, and ducal majesty
- Stench so foul the conjurer must use a magical ring to shield his nose
Stories
In Solomonic magic invoked as a demon teaching the liberal arts, natural sciences, and astronomy. The trace of his former goddess form remains in the promise of secret knowledge and the unveiling of hidden truths. He is said to confess truthfully how he fell from heaven and what his sin was.