32. Asmoday: a king 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 32 of the Ars Goetia is Asmoday. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a king ruling 72 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Asmoday gives “the Ring of Virtues.”

He is one of the most famous names in the catalog, with roots far older than the Goetia. 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:

Asmoday. The Thirty-second Spirit is Asmoday, or Asmodai. He is a Great King, Strong, and Powerful. He appeareth with Three Heads, whereof the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram; he hath also the tail of a Serpent, and from his mouth issue Flames of Fire. His Feet are webbed like those of a Goose. He sitteth upon an Infernal Dragon, and beareth in his hand a Lance with a Banner. He is first and choicest under the Power of Amaymon, he goeth before all other. When the Exorcist hath a mind to call him, let it be abroad, and let him stand on his feet all the time of action, with his Cap or Headdress off; for if it be on, Amaymon will deceive him and call all his actions to be bewrayed. But as soon as the Exorcist seeth Asmoday in the shape aforesaid, he shall call him by his Name, saying: “Art thou Asmoday?” and he will not deny it, and by-and-by he will bow down unto the ground. He giveth the Ring of Virtues; he teacheth the Arts of Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and all handicrafts absolutely. He giveth true and full answers unto thy demands. He maketh one Invincible. He showeth the place where Treasures lie, and guardeth it. He, amongst the Legions of Amaymon governeth 72 Legions of Spirits Inferior. His Seal is this which thou must wear as a Lamen upon thy breast, etc.

Asmoday has three heads, a bull, a man and a ram, a serpent’s tail, flames from his mouth and goose feet, and rides an infernal dragon with a lance and banner. The entry gives unusual rules: call him “abroad”, that is, outdoors, standing, with the cap off, or Amaymon “will deceive him”. The magician must ask “Art thou Asmoday?”, and he will bow to the ground. He gives “the Ring of Virtues”, teaches arithmetic, astronomy, geometry and “all handicrafts”, answers fully, makes one “Invincible” and shows and guards treasure.

Appearance

Historical Asmoday “appeareth with Three Heads, whereof the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram.”

He has a serpent’s tail, flames issue from his mouth, his feet are “webbed like those of a Goose,” and he “sitteth upon an Infernal Dragon, and beareth in his hand a Lance with a Banner.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Gives “the Ring of Virtues.”
• Teaches arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and “all handicrafts absolutely.”
• Gives true and full answers.
• Makes one invincible.
• Shows where treasures lie, and guards them.

He is “first and choicest under the Power of Amaymon” and governs 72 legions. He must be called outdoors, “abroad,” with the magician standing and bareheaded, “for if it be on, Amaymon will deceive him.” The magician asks, “Art thou Asmoday?” and he “will not deny it.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s Weyer gives “Sidonay, alias Asmoday,” “a great king, strong and mightie,” with the same three heads, serpent’s tail, flames, goose feet, dragon, lance, and flag. The offices match. In the brass vessel story, Weyer names Asmoday as third of the chiefs.

Historical Weyer has “Sydonay, aliàs Asmoday”. The Latin says the exorcist must be “fortis, cautus et in pedibus stans”, strong, cautious and standing. The Latin about being covered is hard to construe, and Scot’s English, with “abroad” and the cap, is one reading of it that the Goetia then followed. Where the 1904 text says “Invincible”, the Latin reads “invisibilem”, invisible. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Asmoday is a form of Asmodeus, discussed under later tradition below. Sydonay has no known meaning.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Asmoday’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in gold, 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 Asmoday is the Goetic form of Asmodeus, the demon of the book of Tobit, who kills seven husbands of Sarah until the angel Raphael binds him. In the Talmud, as Ashmedai, he is king of demons and Solomon’s captive.

In the Testament of Solomon, Asmodeus appears and tells Solomon his kingdom will be divided. Asmoday thus has the deepest roots of any Goetic spirit in ancient Jewish literature. The Goetic entry, however, is late and quite different from those earlier stories.

Collin de Plancy shows Asmodeus with three heads, riding a dragon.

Modern Little modern practice centers on this spirit beyond the offices above.

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

Practical notes

Asmoday is a king with special requirements and is said to be guarded by deception. His teaching offices are broad, but he does not match the teaching part of the beginner criteria. His history, from Tobit to the Goetia, is a rewarding subject for study.

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

Try this: one question to study

Find “Invincible” in the 1904 entry and “invisibilem” in Weyer, and compare Mathers’s footnote to Foras.

What next

To compare Asmoday with other spirits of his rank, read Purson and Vine.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Asmoday is the day spirit of the second decan of Aquarius, which belongs to the Six of Swords; the night spirit of the same decan is Belial (spirit 68).