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ASMODAI

(demon Asmodai from Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, 1863)


Concerning this demon, whose name is also spelled Asmoday, the Goetia reports: "He is a Great King, Strong, and Powerful. He appeareth with Three Heads, whereof the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram; he hath also the tail of a Serpent, and from his mouth issue Flames of Fire. His Feet are webbed like those of a Goose. He sitteth upon an Infernal Dragon, and beareth in his hand a Lance with a Banner. He is first and choicest under the Power of Amaymon, he goeth before all other.

"When the Exorcist hath a mind to call him, let it be abroad, and let him stand on his feet all the time of the action, with his Cap or Headdress off; for if it be on, Amaymon will deceive him and call all his actions to be bewrayed. But as soon as the Exorcist seeth Asmoday in the shape aforesaid, he shall call him by his Name, saying: 'Are thou Asmoday?' and he will not deny it, and by-and-by he will bow down unto the ground.

"He giveth the Ring of Virtues; he teacheth the Arts of Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and all handicrafts absolutely. He giveth true and full answers unto thy demands. He maketh one Invincible. He showeth the place where Treasures lie, and guardeth it. He, amongst the Legions of Amaymon governeth 72 Legions of Spirits Inferior."

Collin de Plancy and others have identified this demon with the more famous demon of lust Asmodeus, who appears in the apocryphal Book of Tobit as the demon-lover of Sara, who strangled each of her seven husbands in turn on his wedding night before the husband had a chance to deflower Sara (Tobit 3:8). Even though the names are similar, there is no indication in the description in the Goetia that Asmodai and Asmodeus are the same demon. Almost certainly the name Asmodeus served as the inspiration for the name Asmodai, but their characteristics diverged, and Asmodai became separate and distinct. This splitting off of a second demon from an existing demon or god is a common occurrence in demon folklore.
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