35. Marchosias: 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 35 of the Ars Goetia is Marchosias. 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: Marchosias is “a strong fighter.”

His entry ends with a line of hope that has made him one of the most discussed spirits in modern writing. 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:

Marchosias. The Thirty-fifth Spirit is Marchosias. He is a Great and Mighty Marquis, appearing at first in the Form of a Wolf having Gryphon’s Wings, and a Serpent’s Tail, and Vomiting Fire out of his mouth. But after a time, at the command of the Exorcist he putteth on the Shape of a Man. And he is a strong fighter. He was of the Order of Dominations. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits. He told his Chief, who was Solomon, that after 1,200 years he had hopes to return unto the Seventh Throne. And his Seal is this, to be made and worn as a Lamen, etc.

Marchosias first appears as “a Wolf having Gryphon’s Wings, and a Serpent’s Tail, and Vomiting Fire”, then in human shape on command. He is “a strong fighter”, once “of the Order of Dominations”, and told Solomon “that after 1,200 years he had hopes to return unto the Seventh Throne”. Mathers’s footnote says one badly written codex might read “Ox” for “Wolf”, and Crowley added: “For me he appeared always like an ox, and very dazed.”

Appearance

Historical Marchosias appears “at first in the Form of a Wolf having Gryphon’s Wings, and a Serpent’s Tail, and Vomiting Fire out of his mouth.” At the magician’s command he takes human shape.

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Is “a strong fighter.” Reported as history; not taught here.

He “was of the Order of Dominations” and governs 30 legions. He told Solomon “that after 1,200 years he had hopes to return unto the Seventh Throne.”

Mathers notes that one badly written codex might read “Ox” for “Wolf.” Crowley added: “For me he appeared always like an ox, and very dazed.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical In Scot’s English, Weyer gives “Marchosias” as “a great marquesse,” in the shape of “a cruell shee woolfe,” with griffin’s wings and a serpent’s tail, “spetting I cannot tell what out of his mouth.”

In man’s shape he is “an excellent fighter,” and he “answereth all questions trulie” and “is faithfull in all the conjurors businesse.” The Goetia drops the truthful answers and faithfulness. Weyer’s she-wolf becomes a wolf. Both give 30 legions and the hope of return.

Historical Weyer has “specie lupæ ferocissimæ”, a most fierce she-wolf, “ex ore nescio quid evomens”, vomiting I know not what. He answers truly and is “fidelis in cunctis exorcistæ mandatis”, faithful in all the exorcist’s commands. Weyer ends with a verdict the Goetia drops: “sed ea spe falsus est”, but in that hope he is deceived. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer spells the name Marchocias. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Marchosias’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 Le Breton’s 1863 plate, titled Marchocias, shows a winged wolf with a coiled serpent tail, breathing fire.

Later tradition and modern practice

Later tradition Crowley’s joke about the dazed ox is often quoted.

Modern The hope of return after 1,200 years has made Marchosias a sympathetic figure in modern writing, a spirit who hopes for redemption. Some devotional practitioners stress this.

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

Practical notes

Marchosias is a marquis whose only office in the Goetia is fighting. He does not fit the teaching criteria. Weyer’s more generous entry, with truthful answers and faithfulness, shows how much the Goetia sometimes cuts.

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

Try this: one question to study

Compare Weyer’s last sentence about the hope of return with the 1904 ending, and write down how dropping it changes the tone.

What next

To compare Marchosias with other spirits of his rank, read Phenex and Forneus.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Marchosias is the day spirit of the second decan of Pisces, which belongs to the Nine of Cups; the night spirit of the same decan is Dantalion (spirit 71).