Abas

Abas

Abas is a demon associated with lies, trickery, illusion, invisibility, subterranean power, and the hidden riches of the earth. His name appears in several grimoire traditions, though sometimes with slight variations in spelling.

In the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Abas is listed among spirits connected with deception and falsehood. He is described as a demon of lies and trickery, and may be called upon by the magician in matters involving illusion, concealment, and spells of invisibility.

Abas in the Abramelin Tradition

The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage presents a complex hierarchy of spirits, many of whom are assigned specific powers or magical functions. Within this system, Abas belongs to the category of spirits who deal with illusion, deception, and manipulation of perception.

His association with invisibility is especially significant. Invisibility in grimoires does not always mean literal disappearance. It may also refer to concealment, secrecy, misdirection, glamour, or the ability to pass unnoticed.

As a spirit of trickery, Abas belongs to the shadowy realm of appearances: what is seen, what is hidden, what is believed, and what is false.

Abas and the Clavicula Salomonis

Abas also appears in the Mathers translation of the Clavicula Salomonis, or Key of Solomon, with similar associations. In this text, his name is sometimes spelled Abac.

This variation in spelling is not unusual. Names of spirits often changed as manuscripts were copied, translated, adapted, and transmitted across languages. A single spirit may appear under slightly different names in different grimoires, especially when moving between Latin, Hebrew, Greek, French, German, and English sources.

In the Clavicula Salomonis, Abac retains the same essential character: a spirit linked to deception, concealment, illusion, and magical operations involving hiddenness.

Abas in the Sworn Book

According to Driscoll’s edition of the Sworn Book, Abas is described in far grander terms. He is said to be the king of the regions below the earth.

This gives him a very different aspect from the trickster-spirit of Abramelin. Here, Abas is not merely a demon of lies and illusion, but a ruler of the subterranean world. His domain includes the hidden wealth of the earth, especially costly metals such as silver and gold.

In this role, Abas is connected with buried treasure, mineral riches, underground forces, and the mysterious powers concealed beneath the surface of the world.

The Riches of the Earth

Abas is said to be able to locate and provide precious metals. These include gold, silver, and other valuable substances hidden within the earth.

This links him to a long magical tradition in which spirits are summoned to reveal buried treasure, mines, ores, and secret wealth. Many grimoires contain instructions for contacting spirits who can disclose hidden things, whether those things are physical treasures, secret knowledge, or occult powers.

Abas therefore stands at the crossroads of demonology, treasure magic, and subterranean spirit lore.

Earthquakes and Destruction

The Sworn Book also attributes destructive power to Abas. He is said to be able to pull down buildings and other structures, causing them to collapse or be destroyed.

This may suggest command over earthquakes, tremors, and the violent forces of the underworld. As king of the regions below the earth, Abas does not merely guard hidden riches. He can also disturb the foundations upon which human structures stand.

His power is therefore both generative and destructive. He reveals the treasures of the earth, but he may also shake the earth itself.

Abas and the Mixture of the Elements

Abas and his minions are also said to teach knowledge of the mixture of the elements.

This may be a reference to alchemy, although the text does not describe specific alchemical workings. In occult philosophy, the four elements — earth, air, fire, and water — are the foundation of creation. To understand their mixture is to understand transformation, manifestation, decay, generation, and the hidden structure of matter.

If interpreted alchemically, Abas may be connected with the mysteries of metals, minerals, transmutation, and the secret processes of nature.

The Magical Character of Abas

Abas is a complex spirit. In one tradition, he is a demon of lies, trickery, illusion, and invisibility. In another, he is a subterranean king who rules over metals, hidden wealth, earthquakes, and elemental knowledge.

These two aspects are not necessarily contradictory. What lies beneath the earth is hidden. Treasure must be discovered. Metals must be extracted. Earthquakes reveal the instability of what appears solid. Illusion and concealment are both part of the unseen world.

Abas governs what is hidden from sight: secret wealth, hidden knowledge, invisible forces, concealed motives, and the deceptive surface of reality.

Abas in Occult Study

For students of demonology, Abas is important because he shows how spirits can shift in function across different grimoires. He may appear as a lesser spirit of trickery in one source and as a powerful subterranean ruler in another.

This reminds us that grimoire spirits are not always fixed, simple, or uniform. Their identities are shaped by manuscript traditions, magical systems, translations, and the practical needs of the magician.

Abas, or Abac, belongs to the hidden places: the lie, the illusion, the unseen path, the buried metal, the deep region beneath the earth, and the secret knowledge that waits below the surface.

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