Barbatos: The Demon of Hidden Knowledge, Animal Speech and Reconciliation
Barbatos is a Fallen Angel and the eighth of the seventy-two Spirits of Solomon. In the grimoire tradition, he is described as a powerful spirit who holds several ranks at once: count, earl, and duke of Hell. He is said to rule over thirty legions of demons, making him one of the more significant figures in the Goetic hierarchy.
Before his fall, Barbatos was believed to have belonged to the Angelic Order of Virtues, a detail that gives him a fascinating position between celestial memory and infernal command. Like many spirits in the Solomonic tradition, he is not presented as a simple figure of evil, but as a complex intelligence connected with wisdom, hidden knowledge, nature, language, and influence.
When the Sun is in Sagittarius, Barbatos is said to appear with four kings and three companies of troops. This solar and astrological timing connects him with expansion, truth-seeking, learning, and the pursuit of wisdom. His appearance with royal and military attendants also reflects his authority, rank, and power within the infernal hierarchy.
Barbatos and the Language of Animals
One of the most remarkable powers attributed to Barbatos is his ability to understand the languages of animals. He is especially associated with the singing of birds, the barking of dogs, and the lowing of bullocks.
This power makes Barbatos deeply connected with the natural world. In older magical traditions, animals were often seen as messengers, omens, carriers of instinctive wisdom, and voices of the hidden forces moving through creation. To understand animals was not merely to translate sounds; it was to understand the symbolic and spiritual language of nature itself.
The singing of birds may suggest prophecy, messages, and subtle signs. The barking of dogs can be linked with guardianship, warning, loyalty, and the threshold between the living and the spirit world. The lowing of bullocks may point toward strength, sacrifice, fertility, labour, and earthly power.
Through Barbatos, the natural world becomes a living book of signs.
Revealer of Hidden Treasures
Barbatos is also said to reveal treasures hidden by magic. This does not only suggest material wealth, though that is certainly part of the old grimoire tradition. Hidden treasure can also be understood symbolically as concealed knowledge, buried power, forgotten inheritance, or secrets protected by spiritual force.
In many magical texts, treasure is rarely just gold. It may represent wisdom that has been sealed away, ancestral knowledge, occult teachings, or spiritual gifts that must be uncovered through discipline and contact with the unseen.
Barbatos therefore belongs to the tradition of demons who reveal what has been hidden, concealed, enchanted, or forgotten.
Reconciliation and Influence
Another important power of Barbatos is his ability to reconcile friends and people in power. This gives him a role connected with diplomacy, restored alliances, influence, and the healing of broken bonds.
This aspect makes Barbatos especially interesting because it contrasts with the more destructive image often associated with demons. He is not only a spirit of secrets and hidden treasure, but also one who can bring people back into connection. His power touches friendship, authority, social bonds, political relationships, and the delicate art of repairing trust.
For occult students, this shows how varied the Goetic spirits truly are. Some are connected with conflict, domination, or temptation, while others are linked with knowledge, healing, teaching, reconciliation, and revelation.
Teacher of Sciences and Knower of Time
Barbatos is said to teach all sciences and to know all things of the past and future. In the older magical worldview, “science” did not always mean what it means today. It referred to systems of knowledge, hidden laws, natural philosophy, astrology, medicine, mathematics, metaphysics, and the study of divine and spiritual order.
Barbatos is therefore a spirit of learning and deep perception. His knowledge of the past and future places him among those demons associated with divination, memory, prophecy, and the unfolding pattern of fate.
To study Barbatos is to study a spirit who stands at the meeting point of nature, language, hidden treasure, reconciliation, science, and time.
The Significance of Barbatos
Barbatos is one of the most compelling spirits of the Goetia because he reveals how rich and layered demonology can be. He is not merely an infernal ruler with legions beneath him. He is a former angelic power, a teacher of sciences, a revealer of secrets, a translator of animal voices, and a reconciler of divided people.
His connection with Sagittarius adds another symbolic layer, linking him with expansion, wisdom, exploration, and the search for higher truth. His appearance with kings and troops reminds us of his command, while his understanding of birds, dogs, and bullocks shows his connection with the living language of nature.
Barbatos teaches that the old grimoires are not simply catalogues of frightening spirits. They are maps of hidden intelligence, symbolic power, magical timing, and spiritual hierarchy.
From “The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King” (1904) Written by S.L. MacGregor Mathers
Barbatos. — The Eighth Spirit is Barbatos. He is a Great Duke, and appeareth when the Sun is in Sagittary, with four noble Kings and their companies of great troops. He giveth understanding of the singing of Birds, and of the Voices of other creatures, such as the barking of Dogs.
He brealieth the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians. He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still ; and he knoweth all things Past, and to come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal of Obedience is this, the which wear before thee aforesaid.
From the “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum” ( 1583 ) Written by Johann Weyer (Johann Wier)
Barbatos, a great countie or earle, and also a duke, he appeareth in Signo sagittarii sylvestris,1 with foure kings, which bring companies and great troopes. He understandeth the singing of birds, the barking of dogs, the lowings of bullocks, and the voice of all living creatures. He detecteth treasures hidden by magicians and inchanters, and is of the order of vertues, which in part beare rule: he knoweth all things past, and to come, and reconcileth freends and powers; and governeth thirtie legions of divels by his authoritie.
Original Text : Barbatos magnus Comes & Dux, apparet in signo Sagittarii silvestris cum quatuor regibus tubas ferentibus. Intelligit cantus avium, canum latratus, mugitus boum & cunctorum animalium: thesauros item à magis & incantatoribus reconditos, detegit: Et est ex ordine Virtutum, partim Dominationum. Triginta præsidet legionibus. Novit præterita & futura: tam amicorum quam inimicorum animos conciliat.
From the “Dictionnaire Infernal” (edition of 1863 ) Written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy
Original Text :Barbatos, grand et puissant démon, comte-duc aux enfers, type de Robin des Bois ; il se montre sous la figure d’un archer ou d’un chasseur ; on le rencontre dans les forêts. Quatre rois sonnent du cor devant lui. Il apprend à deviner par le chant des oiseaux, le mugissement des taureaux, les aboiements des chiens et les cris des divers animaux. Il connaît les trésors enfouis par les magiciens. Il réconcilie les amis brouillés. Ce démon, qui était autrefois de l’ordre des vertus des cieux ou de celui des dominations, est réduit aujourd’hui à commander trente légions infernales. Il connaît le passé et le futur .
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