Public Domain Super Heroes
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Astaroth

Other Names

Ashtaroth, Astarot and Asteroth

First Appearance

The Book of Abramelin (1458)

Origin[]

Astaroth in demonology, is known to be the Great Duke of Hell in the first hierarchy with Beelzebub and Lucifer; he is part of the evil trinity. He is known to be a male figure, most likely named after the unrelated Near Eastern goddess Astarte.

The name Astaroth was ultimately derived from that of 2nd millennium BC Phoenician goddess Astarte, an equivalent of the Babylonian Ishtar, and the earlier Sumerian Inanna. She is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in the forms Ashtoreth (singular) and Ashtaroth (plural, in reference to multiple statues of it). This latter form was directly transliterated in the early Greek and Latin versions of the Bible, where it was less apparent that it had been a plural feminine in Hebrew. Otherwise, the male demon Astaroth is entirely unrelated to the benevolent goddess Ashtoreth.

The name "Astaroth" as a male demon is first seen in The Book of Abramelin, purportedly written in Hebrew c. 1458, and recurred in most occult grimoires of the following centuries. Astaroth also features as an archdemon associated with the qlippoth (adverse forces) according to later Kabbalistic texts, as he rules over the qlippa of Jupiter, known as Gha'agsheblah.

Astaroth1920

Astaroth as he appears in 1920's The Golem: How He Came into the World.

Dutch demonologist Johann Weyer also described Astaroth in his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) thus: "Astaroth is a great and a strong duke, coming forth in the shape of a foul angel, sitting upon an infernal dragon, and carrying on his left hand a viper", who also claimed to rule 40 legions. Additionally, he had to be approached by the conjurer with a magical ring on account. He is similarly referred to in the 17th-century work The Lesser Key of Solomon. He also makes an appearance in the notorious Grimorium Verum (True Grimoire), as the infernal principality which rules the Americas.

ccording to some demonologists of the 16th century, August is the month during which this demon's attacks against man are stronger. According to Sebastien Michaelis, he is a demon of the First Hierarchy, who seduces by means of laziness, self-doubt, and rationalized philosophies. His adversary is St. Bartholomew, who can protect against him for he has resisted Astaroth's "temptations". To others, he teaches mathematical sciences and handicrafts, can make men invisible and lead them to hidden treasures, and answers every question formulated to him. He was also said to give to mortal beings the power over serpents.

In art, in the Dictionnaire Infernal (1818), Astaroth is depicted as a nude man with feathered wings, wearing a crown, holding a serpent in one hand, and riding a beast with dragon-like wings and a serpent-like tail.

Public Domain Appearances[]

All published appearances of Astaroth from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.

Some notable appearances are listed below:

Public Domain Literary Appearances[]

  • The Book of Abramelin (1458)
  • Grimorium Verum (1517)
  • Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577)
  • The Lesser Key of Solomon (17th Century)
  • Paradise Lost (1667)
  • Dictionnaire Infernal (1818)

Public Domain Film Appearances[]

  • The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920)

Public Domain Comic Appearances[]

  • Ibis the Invincible #5

Notes[]

  • Astaroth appeared in DC Comics as a Archfiend of Hell who is involved with the Gentleman Ghost's becoming a ghost in the first place.
  • Astamon is a demon Digimon based on Astaroth. In line with Astaroth being associated with Sloth, his digivolved form is Belphemon (based on Belphegor), the Demon Lord of Sloth and one of the (Seven) Great Demon Lords.

See Also[]

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