19. Sallos: 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.

Sallos is number 19 in the catalog of 72 spirits that opens the Lesser Key of Solomon. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a duke ruling 30 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Sallos causes the love of women to men, and of men to women.

His entry is one of the gentlest in the Goetia, and most of it is not in Weyer at all. 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:

Sallos. The Nineteenth Spirit is Sallos (or Saleos). He is a Great and Mighty Duke, and appeareth in the form of a gallant Soldier riding on a Crocodile, with a Ducal Crown on his head, but peaceably. He causeth the Love of Women to Men, and of Men to Women; and governeth 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, etc.

Sallos (or Saleos) appears as “a gallant Soldier riding on a Crocodile, with a Ducal Crown on his head, but peaceably”. “Gallant” here means fine-looking and well dressed. His one office is to cause love between women and men, and he governs 30 legions.

Appearance

Historical Sallos “appeareth in the form of a gallant Soldier riding on a Crocodile, with a Ducal Crown on his head, but peaceably.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Causes the love of women to men, and of men to women. Reported as history; not taught here.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s translation of Weyer gives “Saleos,” “a great earle,” a “gallant soldier, riding on a crocodile,” wearing “a dukes crowne, peaceable, &c.” The entry breaks off there with “&c.,” and no office or number of legions is given in Scot. The Goetia supplies the love office and 30 legions, and makes him a duke.

Historical Weyer’s entry stops after the image: “Zaleos magnus Comes … pacificus, &c.” It calls him an earl, not a duke, and gives neither office nor legions. The Goetia’s love office and legion count do not come from Weyer, and their source is unknown. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer spells the name Zaleos and Scot Saleos. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Sallos’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 Zaebos, shows a bearded soldier in a horned helmet, with spear and shield, riding a crocodile.

Later tradition and modern practice

Modern The word “peaceably” has made Sallos one of the spirits modern writers present as mild in temperament, though the text says only that he appears peaceably. Modern practitioners often approach him for harmony in relationships.

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

Practical notes

Sallos’s only office is causing love between particular people. He falls outside the beginner criteria, and I do not teach love work aimed at another person. His entry is a good example of how a catalog can grow: an unfinished line in Weyer becomes a full entry in the Goetia.

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

Try this: one question to study

Mark the words in the 1904 entry that are not in Weyer’s “&c.” entry, and ask where the compiler might have found them.

What next

To compare Sallos with other spirits of his rank, read Bathin and Zepar.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Sallos is the day spirit of the first decan of Libra, which belongs to the Two of Swords; the night spirit of the same decan is Orobas (spirit 55).