67. Amdusias: a duke of the Ars Goetia

How to read the labels Historical what the old sources say. Later tradition what later writers added. Modern modern practice and my own notes.

Amdusias is number 67 in the catalog of 72 spirits that opens the Lesser Key of Solomon.

He is the unicorn duke of music, and his entry shows a single misread word changing an office. Each part below carries a label for its layer, explained in how to read a spirit page.

At a glance

The 1904 entry

Historical The full entry from the 1904 edition, with footnote numbers and the dash after the heading left out and the heading set in ordinary type:

Amdusias, or Amdukias. The Sixty-seventh Spirit is Amdusias, or Amdukias. He is a Duke Great and Strong, appearing at first like a Unicorn, but at the request of the Exorcist he standeth before him in Human Shape, causing Trumpets, and all manner of Musical Instruments to be heard, but not soon or immediately. Also he can cause Trees to bend and incline according to the Exorcist’s Will. He giveth Excellent Familiars. He governeth 29 Legions of Spirits. And his Seal is this, etc.

Amdusias appears “at first like a Unicorn” and then in human shape, “causing Trumpets, and all manner of Musical Instruments to be heard, but not soon or immediately”. He “can cause Trees to bend and incline according to the Exorcist’s Will”, and gives “Excellent Familiars”. “Not soon or immediately” is a strange limit for a musical office, and the Latin explains it.

Appearance

Historical Amdusias appears “at first like a Unicorn, but at the request of the Exorcist he standeth before him in Human Shape.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

Historical The offices of Amdusias, in the order the 1904 text gives them:

• Causes trumpets and all manner of musical instruments to be heard, “but not soon or immediately.”
• Can cause trees to bend and incline according to the magician’s will.
• Gives excellent familiars.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s Weyer gives “Amduscias” as “a great and a strong duke,” who “commeth foorth as an unicorne,” and in human shape causes “that trumpets and all musicall instruments may be heard and not seene,” and that trees bend.

Weyer’s “heard and not seen” becomes the Goetia’s “but not soon or immediately,” likely a misreading of “seen” as “soon.” Both give 29 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin has the instruments heard “nec tamen conspectui appareant”, yet not appearing to sight. This is the Latin behind the “not seen” and “not soon” noted above. The trees bend “ad exorcistæ genu”, literally to the exorcist’s knee, which the Goetia gives as “according to the Exorcist’s Will”. Weyer calls him “Optimus … una cum famulis”, excellent along with his servants, the source of the “Excellent Familiars”. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer and Scot write Amduscias, and the 1904 text Amdusias or Amdukias. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Amdusias’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in copper, the metal of his rank. Why seals were worn, why editions draw them differently and how to study one are explained in seals, circle and triangle.

Later tradition Le Breton’s 1863 plate, titled Amduscias, shows a seated figure with a unicorn’s head among trumpets and horns, joining the first form to the musical office.

Later tradition and modern practice

Modern Amdusias is a favorite of modern musicians, following his office of music.

Lore about Amdusias’s personality, likes or chosen people is modern, not grimoire material; modern approaches explains where such claims come from.

Beginner’s quick reference

Before you burn or handle anything listed for Amdusias, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Amdusias is a duke whose offices are music and bending trees. Neither is harmful. He does not have a teaching office in the strict sense, but a question about your own music practice would be a reasonable first contact. The “not soon” versus “not seen” change is a fine example of how copying changes a text.

In the directory, Amdusias is not among the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

Find the two words in this entry that seem to have changed by misreading, seen and knee, and say how each changed the office.

What next

To compare Amdusias with other spirits of his rank, read Haures and Dantalion.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Amdusias is the night spirit of the first decan of Aquarius, which belongs to the Five of Swords; the day spirit of the same decan is Foras (spirit 31).