Dantalion is a Duke of the Ars Goetia, ruling 36 legions of spirits.
Key facts
| Rank | Duke |
|---|---|
| Legions | 36 |
| Powers | Knowledge & sciences, Love, Divination |
| Enn (modern chant) | «Avage ayer Dantalion on ca» |
| Sources | Ars Goetia |
| Seal no. | 71 / 72 |
On this page
How it appears
A man with very many faces—of men and women—with a book in his hand.
What you ask of it
He teaches all arts and sciences; declares the secret thought of anyone and changes it; provokes love; and shows the image of any person wherever they may be.
Provenance
Dantalion does not appear in Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum or in Scot; the Ars Goetia incorporates him among the final spirits added to the catalogue. The proto-Lemegeton manuscript tradition contains a very close entry, centered on his book, his many faces, and his knowledge of thoughts and sciences.
Not found in Weyer's Pseudomonarchia (1577): a late addition, entering with the Lemegeton.
The seal: printed edition and facsimile
Dantalion'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.
No direction, hour, offering, or ritual danger of his own is given to him.
Source: Ars Goetia (17th c.); not in Weyer or Scot; manuscript parallel in Sloane 3824
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 ayer Dantalion on ca»
Source: Enn of modern demonolatry, circulated in lists derived from S. Connolly and Valerie Corban; modern addition to Goetic reception
Modern usages focus him on mind, persuasion, or love because of his Goetic office, but those applications are not a separate ancient rite.
Modern experiences (personal gnosis)
In modern demonolatry, practitioners describe Dantalion's presence as distinctly cerebral and analytical, consistent with his traditional dominion over the mind. He is frequently worked with for deep psychological exploration, the development of empathy, or subtle influence over the thoughts of others, being perceived as a patient yet rigorous guide.
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); Demonolatría contemporánea (s. XX–XXI); listas y práctica difundidas por S. Connolly.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dantalion?
Dantalion 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 Duke. It is not a deity or a biblical figure: it is an entry in these historical spirit-catalogues.
What is the sigil (seal) of Dantalion?
The seal image of Dantalion 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 Dantalion's rank in the Ars Goetia?
Dantalion is a Duke, ruling 36 legions of spirits according to the Lesser Key of Solomon.
How do you summon Dantalion?
According to the ancient sources (the Lemegeton, the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum), Dantalion 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 Dantalion do? What is it invoked for?
He teaches all arts and sciences; declares the secret thought of anyone and changes it; provokes love; and shows the image of any person wherever they may be.
What sources does Dantalion come from?
Dantalion does not appear in Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum or in Scot; the Ars Goetia incorporates him among the final spirits added to the catalogue. The proto-Lemegeton manuscript tradition contains a very close entry, centered on his book, his many faces, and his knowledge of thoughts and sciences.
What is the enn (chant) of Dantalion?
The enn of Dantalion circulating today is «Avage ayer Dantalion on ca». It is a MODERN demonolatry chant (late 20th c.); it does not appear in the old grimoires.
Of the same rank · Duke
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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