65. Andrealphus: a marquis 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.

Spirit 65 of the Ars Goetia is Andrealphus. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a marquis ruling 30 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Andrealphus teaches geometry perfectly.

He arrives as a peacock with great noises and teaches geometry and measurement. 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:

Andrealphus. The Sixty-fifth Spirit is Andrealphus. He is a Mighty Marquis, appearing at first in the form of a Peacock, with great Noises. But after a time he putteth on Human shape. He can teach Geometry perfectly. He maketh Men very subtle therein; and in all Things pertaining unto Mensuration or Astronomy. He can transform a Man into the Likeness of a Bird. He governeth 30 Legions of Infernal Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.

Andrealphus appears “at first in the form of a Peacock, with great Noises” and then in human shape. “He can teach Geometry perfectly. He maketh Men very subtle therein; and in all Things pertaining unto Mensuration or Astronomy.” Mensuration is the art of measuring lengths, areas and volumes. The last office is a transformation: “He can transform a Man into the Likeness of a Bird.” The entry also counts his legions as “Infernal Spirits”, a phrase used for only a few spirits.

Appearance

Historical Andrealphus appears “at first in the form of a Peacock, with great Noises,” but after a time puts on human shape.

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Teaches geometry perfectly.
• Makes men very subtle in geometry and in all things pertaining to mensuration (measurement) or astronomy.
• Can transform a man into the likeness of a bird. Reported as history; not taught here.

He governs 30 legions “of Infernal Spirits.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical In Scot’s English, Weyer gives “Andrealphus” as “a great marquesse, appearing as a pecocke,” who “raiseth great noises,” and in human shape “perfectlie teacheth geometrie, and all things belonging to admeasurements.” He makes a man “a subtill disputer, and cunning in astronomie,” and transforms a man into a bird. Both give 30 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin has “graves edit sonitus”, he makes heavy or deep sounds, and teaches “geometriam & mensuram spectantia”, geometry and things concerning measurement. Scot’s “subtill disputer” translates “reddit hominem in argumentando argutum”, he makes a man sharp in argument; the Goetia keeps the word subtle but attaches it to geometry. The change into a bird is “in avis speciem transmutat”. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer writes Androalphus, and Scot and the 1904 text Andrealphus. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Andrealphus’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in silver, 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 and modern practice

Later tradition The peacock has a long history as a symbol of immortality in Christian art and of pride in moral writing.

Modern Modern writers sometimes connect Andrealphus with mathematics, surveying, and sacred geometry. The last is a modern idea.

Lore about Andrealphus’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 Andrealphus, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Andrealphus fits the beginner criteria well. He is a marquis, and his main offices are geometry, measurement, and astronomy. A question about learning geometry would suit a first contact. His office of transforming a man into a bird is not one I teach.

In the directory, Andrealphus is one of the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

List the measuring arts named in this entry and in Weyer’s Latin, then add one you use in daily life.

What next

To compare Andrealphus with other spirits of his rank, read Cimejes and Andras.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Andrealphus is the night spirit of the second decan of Capricorn, which belongs to the Three of Pentacles; the day spirit of the same decan is Astaroth (spirit 29).