13. Beleth: 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.

Beleth is number 13 in the catalog of 72 spirits that opens the Lesser Key of Solomon.

His entry is the Goetia’s longest set of instructions for a single spirit, and it is a small manual of ceremonial etiquette. 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:

Beleth. The Thirteenth Spirit is called Beleth (or Bileth, or Bilet). He is a mighty King and terrible. He rideth on a pale horse with trumpets and other kinds of musical instruments playing before him. He is very furious at his first appearance, that is, while the Exorcist layeth his courage; for to do this he must hold a Hazel Wand in his hand, striking it out towards the South and East Quarters, make a triangle, without the Circle, and then command him into it by the Bonds and Charges of Spirits as hereafter followeth. And if he doth not enter into the triangle, at your threats, rehearse the Bonds and Charms before him, and then he will yield Obedience and come into it, and do what he is commanded by the Exorcist. Yet he must receive him courteously because he is a Great King, and do homage unto him, as the Kings and Princes do that attend upon him. And thou must have always a Silver Ring on the middle finger of the left hand held against thy face, as they do yet before Amaymon. This Great King Beleth causeth all the love that may be, both of Men and of Women, until the Master Exorcist hath had his desire fulfilled. He is of the Order of Powers, and he governeth 85 Legions of Spirits. His Noble Seal is this, which is to be worn before thee at working.

Beleth is “mighty” and “terrible”, rides a pale horse to music and is “very furious at his first appearance”. Most of the entry is procedure: a hazel wand pointed to the south and east, a triangle drawn outside the circle, the “Bonds and Charges of Spirits” read if he refuses, and a silver ring held on the left middle finger before the face “as they do yet before AMAYMON”. The text then tells the magician to receive him “courteously” and do him homage, an odd mix of command and respect. Mathers’s footnote explains the ring as protection “from the flaming breath of the enraged Spirit”. His single office is causing love “until the Master Exorcist hath had his desire fulfilled”.

Appearance

Historical Beleth is “a mighty King and terrible.” He “rideth on a pale horse with trumpets and other kinds of musical instruments playing before him.” He is “very furious at his first appearance.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Causes “all the love that may be, both of Men and of Women, until the Master Exorcist hath had his desire fulfilled.” Reported as history; not taught here.

He is “of the Order of Powers” and governs 85 legions.

The entry is mostly instructions. To calm him, the magician must hold a hazel wand, strike it toward the south and east, make a triangle outside the circle, and command him into it “by the Bonds and Charges of Spirits.” If he will not enter, the bonds are to be read again.

Yet the magician “must receive him courteously because he is a Great King, and do homage unto him.” The magician wears a silver ring on the middle finger of the left hand, held against the face, “as they do yet before Amaymon.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s Weyer, as “Bileth,” gives the same pale horse, trumpets, and fury, the hazel wand, the triangle, and the ring. Weyer says he appears rough and furious “to deceive” the magician. In the story of the brass vessel, Weyer names Bileth as first of the chiefs. Both give 85 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin is longer still. It says Beleth looks swollen with anger “ut decipiat”, in order to deceive, and offers a fallback when there is no room for the triangle: set out “vas vino plenum”, a vessel full of wine. It adds that he hopes to return to the seventh throne, “quod minus credibile”, which is hardly believable. The love office in the Latin is harsher: he holds men and women “in delirio”, in a frenzy. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer spells the name Byleth and Scot Bileth; the 1904 heading lists Beleth, Bileth and Bilet. No reliable etymology is known. Weyer’s appendix names Bileth first among the chiefs in the brass vessel.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Beleth’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 Le Breton’s 1863 plate (under the name Byleth) makes him a cat-faced figure blowing a horn, a playful nod to the music that goes before him.

Later tradition and modern practice

Modern Beleth’s entry is the Goetia’s most detailed account of handling an angry spirit, and modern writers often cite it to show that the old ritual combined command with courtesy. The phrase “do homage unto him” is sometimes used to justify devotional approaches.

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

Practical notes

Beleth is a king, said to be furious, and his only office is compelled love. Not a first-contact choice under the beginner criteria. I do not teach love compulsion.

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

Try this: one question to study

Number each step of Beleth’s procedure in the 1904 text, then mark which steps also appear in Weyer’s Latin.

What next

To compare Beleth with other spirits of his rank, read Paimon and Purson.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Beleth is the day spirit of the first decan of Leo, which belongs to the Five of Wands; the night spirit of the same decan is Crocell (spirit 49).