Asmodeus is a King of the Ars Goetia, ruling 72 legions of spirits.
Key facts
| Rank | King |
|---|---|
| Legions | 72 |
| Powers | Knowledge & sciences, Wealth & treasure, Protection |
| Enn (modern chant) | «Ayer avage aloren Asmoday aken» |
| Alternate names | Asmoday, Sydonai |
| Sources | Ars Goetia, Book of Tobit, Testament of Solomon |
| Seal no. | 32 / 72 |
| Cardinal king | Amaymon · South (S) |
| External IDs | Wikidata · Wikipedia |
On this page
How it appears
Three heads—of a bull, of a man, and of a ram—a serpent's tail, goose's feet; he rides an infernal dragon and breathes fire, with lance and banner.
What you ask of it
He gives the ring of virtues; teaches arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and all arts and crafts; answers fully and truly; makes the magician invincible; and shows the place of treasures, which he also guards.
Provenance
He is among the oldest in the catalogue: he appears as a demon of desire in the Book of Tobit (2nd c. BCE) and is a chief figure in the Testament of Solomon (1st–3rd c.), much earlier than the Goetia. Weyer (1577) lists him as Asmoday; the Ars Goetia takes up that inheritance and gives him seal and royal rank. Already attested in the Livre des Esperitz (15th c.) as «Asmoday (f181r)» and in the Liber Officiorum Spirituum (Folger V.b.26, 16th c.) as «Asmiday».
The seal: printed edition and facsimile
Asmodeus's main seal follows the printed Mathers–Crowley (1904) form; the Sloane MS 2731 manuscript facsimile is shown separately for comparison.
The main image and SVG/PNG downloads reproduce the printed form of S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley's 1904 edition, using the normal vector pack documented on Wikimedia Commons (public domain/CC0). The Sloane MS 2731 facsimile remains separate for comparing manuscript variants; it is not used as the main image.
The FULL manuscript facsimile («Lemegeton, Clavicula Salomonis», Sloane MS 2731) is in our library; the original is held at the British Library (Sloane MS 2731).
Documented ancient datum
How it is summoned
In antiquity
In addition to the common procedure, the source preserves: a specific ritual prescription.
Ancient operation: common procedure plus the documented detail in this entry.
- Trace Circle and Triangle and wear the lamen with his seal, as in every Goetic operation.
- Invoke him ALWAYS STANDING and with the head UNCOVERED: if the magician sits or covers himself, Amaymon — under whose power he is — deceives him.
- Call him by his proper name, Asmoday, and require him to swear that he will speak truth.
- Then he grants the ring of virtues, teaches arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy, and makes a man invincible.
- The Testament of Solomon preserves his weak point: the smoke of a fish’s liver and gall drives him away (the same motif as in the Book of Tobit).
- Once the answer is given, dismiss him with license.
Source: Ars Goetia · Testament of Solomon (1st–3rd c.) · motif of the fish’s liver and gall in the Book of Tobit (2nd c. BCE)
The common Goetic operation also adds, when needed: to constrain a resisting spirit (Wellcome MS 110, c74–c78), to show it the Pentacle of Solomon once manifested (Ars Theurgia-Goetia), to work in its planetary hour and day (by rank), and finally to give it licence to depart —and never before (Wellcome MS 110, c53). Practise the full rite at The Practitioner's Table.
What is the “chain of spirits”?
Modern · not ancient
- Set out his seal and light a red or black candle; some work with him on the day and hour associated with Mars.
- Intone his enn repeatedly, concentrating upon the intention.
- Ask him for what modern practice attributes to him: desire and passion, sensuality, luck in gambling.
- Offer a gesture of respect (incense, liquor) if your tradition is accustomed to it.
- Close with thanks; remember that here the ancient rite of the fish and the uncovered head does not apply.
Enn (modern chant): «Ayer avage aloren Asmoday aken»
Source: Enn of modern demonolatry; Asmodeo among A. LaVey’s “infernal names,” The Satanic Bible (1969); martial correspondences from modern ceremonial magic.
Practice of contemporary demonolatry; Asmodeo also appears among the “infernal names” of the Church of Satan (1969). It does not come from the ancient grimoires — it may not be real.
⛓ How it was subdued in antiquity
In the oldest sources Asmodeus is not summoned but SUBDUED. The Testament of Solomon tells how Solomon mastered him and that the angel Raphael is the one who thwarts him; his weakness is the smoke of a fish's liver and gall (the same remedy with which Tobias drives him off in the Book of Tobit). This is exorcism and expulsion, not a summoning for service.
Source: Testament of Solomon (1st–3rd c.); Book of Tobit (2nd c. BC)
Modern experiences (personal gnosis)
Modern practitioners describe Asmodeus as an intense and commanding presence, approached not only for matters of lust and wealth, but also for self-mastery, physical discipline, and intellectual empowerment. In contemporary demonolatry, his energy is frequently perceived as a potent force that demands respect, resolve, and absolute honesty from the practitioner.
Personal gnosis (UPG): how contemporary practitioners say they experience it. This is subjective experience, not a historical source or doctrine; it does not come from the ancient grimoires and may not be real.
Source: S. Connolly, «The Complete Book of Demonolatry» (2006) y «The Daemonolatry Goetia» (2010); tradición demonólatra contemporánea y corrientes luciferianas modernas (ej. M. W. Ford).
Frequently asked questions
Who is Asmodeus?
Asmodeus is one of the 72 spirits catalogued in the Ars Goetia (the first book of the Lemegeton, 17th c.) and in Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577); it is listed with the rank of King. It is not a deity or a biblical figure: it is an entry in these historical spirit-catalogues.
What is the sigil (seal) of Asmodeus?
The seal image of Asmodeus that we display and offer for download follows the printed Mathers–Crowley (1904) form, using the normal vector pack documented on Wikimedia Commons (public domain/CC0). The Sloane MS 2731 manuscript facsimile is provided separately because Lemegeton witnesses preserve variants.
What is Asmodeus's rank in the Ars Goetia?
Asmodeus is a King, ruling 72 legions of spirits according to the Lesser Key of Solomon.
How do you summon Asmodeus?
According to the ancient sources (the Lemegeton, the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum), Asmodeus is summoned with the goetic rite: the Circle and the Triangle of Art are traced, its seal is engraved and worn, the candles are lit and the conjuration is spoken by the divine names; if it delays, it is constrained, and at the end it is given the licence to depart. This is historical-documentary material, not a how-to for real summoning.
What does Asmodeus do? What is it invoked for?
He gives the ring of virtues; teaches arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and all arts and crafts; answers fully and truly; makes the magician invincible; and shows the place of treasures, which he also guards.
What sources does Asmodeus come from?
He is among the oldest in the catalogue: he appears as a demon of desire in the Book of Tobit (2nd c. BCE) and is a chief figure in the Testament of Solomon (1st–3rd c.), much earlier than the Goetia. Weyer (1577) lists him as Asmoday; the Ars Goetia takes up that inheritance and gives him seal and royal rank.
What is the enn (chant) of Asmodeus?
The enn of Asmodeus circulating today is «Ayer avage aloren Asmoday aken». It is a MODERN demonolatry chant (late 20th c.); it does not appear in the old grimoires.
Of the same rank · King
Of the same power · Knowledge & sciences
→ Where does «your demon by birthdate» come from? See how the different systems distribute the 72 spirits: Goetia Correspondences.
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