Agathodaemon

The Good Spirit

Agathodaemon is a benevolent spirit of healing, protection, luck, and good fortune who manifests as a snake. Veneration of Agathodaemon traveled from Egypt to Greece and Italy. He is a consistently benevolent spirit. In Egypt, he evolved into a Gnostic guardian angel.

Agathos means good; it is a title, not a personal name.

Agathodaemon is a companionable spirit: among the deities with whom he happily shares altar space are Serapis, Tyche, and Hermes. He may be fond of Sicily’s Saint Agatha who may or may not be an ancient serpent-goddess in disguise. Agathodaemon survives in modern Egypt, too, albeit undercover: each of Cairo’s quarters allegedly possesses its own snake-shaped guardian spirit, its own Agathodaemon.

ORIGIN:

Egypt

ALSO KNOWN AS:

AgathoDemon; Agatho Daimon

Manifestations:

Consistently serpentine: he may appear as an ordinary snake or a hovering, winged serpent.

Offering:

Wine

SEE ALSO:

• Agathos
• Hermes
• Serapis
• Tyche

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by Judika Illes

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