12. Sitri: a prince 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.

Sitri is spirit 12 of the 72 in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a prince ruling 60 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Sitri inflames men with women’s love, and women with men’s love.

His entry shows clearly how the Goetia, compared with Weyer, sometimes softens a text about desire and consent. 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:

Sitri. The Twelfth Spirit is Sitri. He is a Great Prince and appeareth at first with a Leopard’s head and the Wings of a Gryphon, but after the command of the Master of the Exorcism he putteth on Human shape, and that very beautiful. He enflameth men with Women’s love, and Women with Men’s love; and causeth them also to show themselves naked if it be desired. He governeth 60 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, to be worn as a Lamen before thee, etc.

Sitri first appears with a leopard’s head and griffin’s wings, then in a human form “very beautiful”. His offices are inflaming men and women with love for each other and causing them “to show themselves naked if it be desired”. The phrase “Master of the Exorcism” for the magician is another reminder that the Goetia borrows the language of church exorcism for its own purposes.

Appearance

Historical Sitri appears “at first with a Leopard’s head and the Wings of a Gryphon,” but after the command of the magician puts on human shape, “and that very beautiful.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

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

• Inflames men with women’s love, and women with men’s love. Reported as history; not taught here.
• Causes people to show themselves naked “if it be desired.” Reported as history; not taught here.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical In Scot’s English, Weyer gives “Sitri, alias Bitru,” “a great prince,” with a leopard’s face and griffin’s wings, very beautiful in human form. Weyer’s version is coarser: he reveals the secrets of women, “laughing at them and mocking them,” and makes them “luxuriouslie naked.” Scot’s margin calls him “a bawdie divell.” Both give 60 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin says he willingly reveals the secrets of women, “eas ridens ludificansque”, laughing at them and mocking them, so that they strip themselves wantonly. Scot translated “detegit” (uncovers) with the misleading “deteineth”. The Goetia leaves out the mockery and keeps only the nakedness. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Weyer gives Sytry alias Bitru. Neither name has a known meaning.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Sitri’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in tin, 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

Modern Modern writers often present Sitri as a spirit of attraction, beauty, and self-confidence, and some as a spirit of sexuality in a positive sense. These are modern reframings of an entry that, in its original, describes compelling desire and exposing people against their will.

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

Practical notes

Sitri’s offices center on compelled desire and exposure. I do not teach any practice to inflame another person’s love or desire, or to expose anyone. Both are violations of consent.

Not a choice for a first contact under the beginner criteria. If your interest is in your own confidence or self-image, those are worth exploring through ordinary means, including, when helpful, a counselor.

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

Try this: one question to study

Mark every point in Weyer’s entry where the person affected has no say, and compare how much of that the Goetia keeps.

What next

To compare Sitri with other spirits of his rank, read Vassago and Stolas.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Sitri is the day spirit of the third decan of Cancer, which belongs to the Four of Cups; the night spirit of the same decan is Haagenti (spirit 48).