The Demon Baal (Bael, Baell) is an agricultural and fertility deity of Canaan turned into a Fallen Angel and a Demon. Many minor deities of ancient Syria and Persia carried the name Baal, which means “the lord.”
The greatest Baal was the son of El, the High God of Canaan. He was the lord of life and ruled the death-rebirth cycle. He engaged in a battle with Mot (death) and was slain and sent to the underworld. The crops withered, until Baal’s sister, Anath, the maiden goddess of love, found his body and gave it proper burial. The Canaanites worshipped Baal by sacrificing children by burning.
According to the Zohar, Baal is equal in rank to the archangel Raphael.
Baal is the first of the 72 Spirits of Solomon. He is a king ruling in the east and governs 66 legions of Demons.
He is triple-headed, with a cat’s head and a toad’s head on each side of his human head.
From “The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King” (1904) Written by Mathers, Samuel MacGregor Liddell :
The First Principal Spirit is a King ruling in the East, called Bael. He maketh thee to go Invisible. He ruleth over 66 Legions of Infernal Spirits. He appeareth in divers shapes, sometimes like a Cat, sometimes like a Toad, and sometimes like a Man, and sometimes all these forms at once. He speaketh hoarsely. This is his character which is used to be worn as a Lamen before him who calleth him forth, or else he will not do thee homage.
From the Luciferian Goetia ( 2007 ) – Written by Michael Ford
“Bael is a spirit of shape shifting – by the cat (stealth and instinct), by toad (the form of Ahriman, the gateway of self-initiation of the Devil or Anglican Witchcraft Lore). When one summons Bael it should be done so in the evocation circle – absorb the essence within this circle – focus the mind to be aligned and shadowed with the spirits anthropomorphic identification, until “he” becomes you. You will then work on your ability to shape shift in dreams. The 66 legions of spirit familiars may be commanded by will to produce some results of what you seek in the obtainment of knowledge. Bael is a powerful familiar spirit who may bring one much instinctual impulses in relation to animals and dream shape shifting.”
From the “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum” ( 1583 ) Written by Johann Weyer ( Johann Wier )
Their first king (which is of the power of the east) is called Baëll who when he is conjured up, appeareth with three heads; the first, like a tode; the second, like a man; the third, like a cat. He speaketh with a hoarse voice, he maketh a man go invisible [and wise], he hath under his obedience and rule sixtie and six legions of divels.
Original Text:
Primus Rex, qui est de potestate Orientis, dicitur Baël, apparens tribus capitibus, quorum unum assimilatur bufoni alterum homini, tertium feli. Rauca loquitur voce, formator morum and insignis certator, reddit hominem invisibilem and sapientem. Huic obediunt sexagintasex legiones.
From the “Dictionnaire Infernal” (edition of 1863 ) Written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy
According to the “le Grand Grimoire”, Bael is the head of the infernal powers. He is also the first Demon listed in Wierus’ Pseudomonarchia daemonum. According to Wierus, Bael is first king of hell with estates in the East. He has three heads: a toad, a man, and a cat. He also speaks in a raucous, but well formed voice, and commands 66 legions. Bael teaches the art of invisibility, and may be the equivalent of Baal.
Original Text:
Baël, démon cité; dans le Grand Grimoire, en tête des puissances infernales; C’est aussi par lui que Wierus commencé l’inventaire, de sa fameuse Pseudomonarchia doemonum.Il appelle Baël le premier roi de l’enfer ; ses États sont dans la partie orientale. Il se montre avec trois têtes, dont Tune a la figure d’un crapaud, l’autre celle d’un homme, la troisième celle d’un chat.
Sa voix est rauque; mais il se bat très bien. Il rend ceux qui l’invoquent fins et rusés, et leur apprend le moyen d’être invisibles au besoin.Soixante-six légions lui obéissent. — Est-ce le même que Baal ?
English Translation:
Baël, a demon mentioned in the Grand Grimoire, stands at the head of the infernal powers. It is also with him that Wierus begins the inventory in his famous Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. He calls Baël the first king of Hell; his dominions are in the eastern part.
He appears with three heads: one has the form of a toad, another that of a man, and the third that of a cat.
His voice is hoarse, but he fights very well. He makes those who invoke him clever and cunning, and teaches them the means of becoming invisible when needed. Sixty-six legions obey him. Is he the same as Baal?
Ba’al
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Bael; Bel; Baël
ORIGIN:
Medieval Europe
CLASSIFICATION:
Demon
The Demonologists’ Ba’al is no longer a spirit of fertility and rain. He is a King of Hell, attended by seventy legions of Demons (alternatively he only has sixty-six). He has the power to bestow wisdom and invisibility.
Manifestations:
As a creature with three heads: cat, man, and toad. His portrait in Collin De Plancy’s Dictionnaire Infernale depicts him with what may be spider’s legs.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
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