Agares (also ''Agarat'', ''Agaros'', or ''Agarus'') is a

demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in Media (communication), media such as comics, video ...

described in demonological

grimoire A grimoire ( ) (also known as a "book of spells" or a "spellbook") is a textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, charms and divination, and ...

Description

Agares is described in grimoires such as the ''

Livre des Esperitz The ''Livre des Esperitz'' (or ''Book of Spirits'') is a 15th or 16th century French grimoire that inspired later works including Johann Weyer's '' Pseudomonarchia Daemonum'' and the ''Lesser Key of Solomon''."Les who's who démonologiques de l ...

'' (as Agarat), the '' Pseudomonarchia Daemonum'', the '' Lesser Key of Solomon'', and the ''

Dictionnaire Infernal The ''Dictionnaire infernal'' ( en, "Infernal Dictionary") is a book on demonology, describing demons organised in hierarchies. It was written by Jacques Collin de Plancy and first published in 1818. There were several editions of the book; perh ...

'' as a

duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are r ...

"under the power of the east," an "old man, riding upon a crocodile, and carrying a hawk on his fist,"Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Liber officiorum spirituum); Johann Weyer, ed. Joseph Peterson; 2000
"(2) Agares"
/ref>Peterson's critical edition of the Lemegeton, pages 7-8 reads "Old man riding upon a Crocodill, very mildly, carrying a goshawke on his fist" who teaches languages, stops and retrieves runaway persons, causes earthquakes, and grants noble titles.

Legions and standing

'' Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis'' and the ''Pseudomonarchia Daemonum'' both list him as the second spirit, and state that he commands 31 legions of demons, while the ''

'' (which describes him simply as an old man) gives him 36.''Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis: The Lesser Key of Solomon, Detailing the Ceremonial Art of Commanding Spirits Both Good and Evil''; ed. Joseph H. Peterson; Weiser Books, Maine; 2001. p.7-10 The '' Book of the Office of Spirits'' places him (as Agaros) second under Oriens and describes him as an old man riding a

cockatrice A cockatrice is a mythical beast, essentially a two-legged dragon, wyvern, or serpent-like creature with a rooster's head. Described by Laurence Breiner as "an ornament in the drama and poetry of the Elizabethans", it was featured prominently i ...

, without the hawk. '' The Grimoire of Pope Honorius'' (which refers to him as Agarus) is more brief, omitting the crocodile and hawk, and omitting his functions beyond languages and titles. The '' Grand Grimoire'' features him as a subordinate of

Lucifuge Rofocale ''The Grand Grimoire'' is a black magic grimoire. Different editions date the book to 1521, 1522 or 1421, but it was probably written during the early 19th century. Owen Davies suggests 1702 is when the first edition may have been created and a ...

. According to

Thomas Rudd Thomas Rudd (1583?–1656) was an English military engineer and mathematician. Life The eldest son of Thomas Rudd of Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, he was born in 1583 or 1584. He served during his earlier years as a military engineer i ...

, Agares is opposed by the

Shemhamphorasch ''Shem HaMephorash'' ( he, שֵׁם הַמְּפֹרָשׁ ''Šēm hamMəfōrāš'', also ''Shem ha-Mephorash''), meaning "the explicit name," is originally a Tannaitic term describing the Tetragrammaton. In Kabbalah, it may refer to a name of G ...

angel Jelial. Sloane MS 3824 mentions Agares throughout in invocations to summon spirits that guard treasure, and in the "Experiment of Agares," meant to draw him into a crystal.Ashmole, Rankine, p. 145-152

Notes

References

{{Demons in Pseudomonarchia Daemonum Goetic demons