Bifrons is an Earl of the Ars Goetia, ruling 6 legions of spirits.
Key facts
| Rank | Earl |
|---|---|
| Legions | 6 |
| Powers | Knowledge & sciences, The dead |
| Enn (modern chant) | «Avage secore Bifrons remie tasa» |
| Sources | Ars Goetia, Pseudomonarchia |
| Seal no. | 46 / 72 |
| External IDs | Wikidata · Wikipedia |
On this page
How it appears
A monster who then takes the form of a man.
What you ask of it
He teaches astrology, geometry, and the other arts and sciences; reveals the virtues of herbs, stones, and woods; moves corpses and lights candles upon the tombs.
Provenance
Bifrons already appears in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), which abbreviates a tradition of the earlier Liber Officiorum Spirituum. The Ars Goetia preserves him in the same Goetic chain, though it reorders him and incorporates the seal characteristic of the Lemegeton tradition.
The seal: printed edition and facsimile
Bifrons'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).
How it is summoned
In antiquity
According to the Ars Goetia, the operation is the same for all 72 spirits:
- The magician draws the magic Circle and never steps out of it during the whole work.
- A few paces away he draws the Triangle of Art: there, and only there, must the spirit manifest.
- On his breast he wears the lamen bearing the demon's seal, engraved in metal.
- He recites the conjurations, calling it by its names and by the divine names.
- If the spirit resists or delays, the constraint and the 'chain of spirits' are used.
- Once the request is granted, he gives it the license to depart, and never before.
He does not appear with an orientation, planetary hour, offering, or ritual precaution of his own.
Source: Ars Goetia (17th c.); already in Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, 1577
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
- Print or draw its seal and place it before you on a clean surface.
- Light a candle and, if you wish, some incense; still your mind and set your intention.
- Intone its enn softly and repeatedly, eyes on the seal, until you feel a shift in the air.
- State your request clearly and respectfully, not as a command.
- Give thanks, let the candle burn down a little and close; modern practice is devotional, with no coercive conjuration.
Enn (modern chant): «Avage secore Bifrons remie tasa»
Source: Enn of modern demonolatry (lists circulated by S. Connolly and Valerie Corban; tradition collected in The Complete Book of Demonolatry, 2006)
The enn is a modern demonolatry addition; it does not come from the Ars Goetia or Weyer.
Modern experiences (personal gnosis)
In modern demonolatry (highlighted in S. Connolly's work), practitioners describe the presence of Bifrons as somber, quiet, and deeply comforting. He is frequently approached today not only for traditional necromancy and crystal lore, but as a compassionate guide for processing grief and releasing emotional attachments to the past.
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 Daemonolatry Goetia» (2010); UPG de la demonolatría contemporánea sobre nigromancia y trabajo de duelo.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Bifrons?
Bifrons 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 Earl. It is not a deity or a biblical figure: it is an entry in these historical spirit-catalogues.
What is the sigil (seal) of Bifrons?
The seal image of Bifrons 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 Bifrons's rank in the Ars Goetia?
Bifrons is a Earl, ruling 6 legions of spirits according to the Lesser Key of Solomon.
How do you summon Bifrons?
According to the ancient sources (the Lemegeton, the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum), Bifrons 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 Bifrons do? What is it invoked for?
He teaches astrology, geometry, and the other arts and sciences; reveals the virtues of herbs, stones, and woods; moves corpses and lights candles upon the tombs.
What sources does Bifrons come from?
Bifrons already appears in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), which abbreviates a tradition of the earlier Liber Officiorum Spirituum. The Ars Goetia preserves him in the same Goetic chain, though it reorders him and incorporates the seal characteristic of the Lemegeton tradition.
What is the enn (chant) of Bifrons?
The enn of Bifrons circulating today is «Avage secore Bifrons remie tasa». It is a MODERN demonolatry chant (late 20th c.); it does not appear in the old grimoires.
Of the same rank · Earl
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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