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Alloces
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Alloces is a demon that appears in demonological grimoires such as the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and the Lesser Key of Solomon. He is described in the Lesser Key of Solomon (as the fifty-second spirit) and (as Allocer or Alocer) in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (as the sixty-third spirit) as a duke, taking the form of a fire-breathing, lion-headed soldier riding a horse. His purported duties include teaching astronomy, and liberal sciences, and granting familiars. He is claimed to have 36 legions of demons under his command.[1][2] In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, Alloces appears as Allogor or Algor,[note 1] again a duke, but otherwise with a completely different appearance and abilities -- a spear-toting knight who answers questions, provides advice for plans, and commands only 30 legions of demons.[3][4] In the duplicate entry, Alloces appears as Algor, ruled by the spirit "Orience" (Oriens), again as a knight who explains secrets, but with the additional power of garnering the favor of nobles.[5] According to Rudd, Alloces is opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Imamiah.[6]
In popular culture
[edit]Alloces is portrayed in the Japanese anime and manga series Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun as a lion-headed boy named Allocer Schneider.
Alloces in the video game Romancing SaGa 3 is one of the Four Sinistrals who rule the Abyss, with him being the lord of Earth.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ In Sloane MS 3853, a variant of the Office of spirits
References
[edit]- ^ Peterson, Joseph H., ed. (2001). Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis: The Lesser Key of Solomon, Detailing the Ceremonial Art of Commanding Spirits Both Good and Evil;. Maine: Weiser Books. pp. 30–32. ISBN 1-57863-220-X.
- ^ Weyer, Johann (1563). Peterson, Joseph H. (ed.). Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Liber officiorum spirituum). Twilit Grotto: Esoteric Archives (published 2000). par. 60-69.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ^ Porter, John (2011). Campbell, Colin D. (ed.). A Book of the Office of Spirits. Translated by Hockley, Frederick. Teitan Press. pp. 10–19. ISBN 0933429258.
- ^ Porter, John; Weston, John (2015). Harms, Daniel; Clark, James R.; Peterson, Joseph H. (eds.). The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook for Elizabethan Magic (first ed.). Llewellyn Publications. pp. 73–77. ISBN 978-0-7387-4334-9.
- ^ Porter 2011, pp. 20–29.
- ^ Rudd, Thomas (2007). Skinner, Stephen; Rankine, David (eds.). The Goetia of Dr Rudd. Golden Hoard Press. pp. 366–376. ISBN 073872355X.
Alloces
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Alloces, also known as Allocer, is a demon listed as the 52nd spirit in the Ars Goetia, the first section of the 17th-century grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon.[1] He holds the rank of a great and mighty duke in Hell, commanding thirty-six legions of spirits.[1] Alloces appears in the form of a soldier riding upon a great horse, possessing a lion's face that is very red with flaming eyes, and he speaks in a hoarse and very big voice.[1] His primary abilities include teaching the art of astronomy and all the liberal sciences, as well as providing good familiars to those who summon him.[1]
This depiction of Alloces draws from earlier demonological traditions, notably Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), where he is described similarly as a strong duke named Alocer who manifests as a red-faced lion-headed horseman and imparts knowledge of astronomy and liberal arts while ruling the same number of legions.[2] In both texts, Alloces is invoked through specific seals and rituals outlined in the grimoires, emphasizing his role in esoteric knowledge and infernal hierarchy.[1][2] As part of the broader Ars Goetia catalog of 72 demons, Alloces represents the fusion of medieval and Renaissance occultism, blending classical education with demonic evocation practices.[1]
Description
Rank and Hierarchy
In demonological grimoires, Alloces holds the rank of Great Duke within the infernal hierarchy. This title signifies a high position among the spirits, often associated with command over significant forces and specialized knowledge domains.[1] In the Ars Goetia section of the Lesser Key of Solomon, Alloces is enumerated as the 52nd spirit among the 72 infernal entities bound by King Solomon, commanding 36 legions of demons.[1] The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum by Johann Weyer similarly designates him as a Duke ruling 36 legions, though he occupies the 64th position in its catalog of 69 spirits.[2] A notable variation appears in the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, an earlier grimoire that influenced later texts, where Alloces is rendered as Allogor or Algor and serves as a Duke overseeing 30 legions of spirits.[3] This discrepancy in legion count highlights differences in the transmission of demonological traditions across manuscripts.Associated Entities
In demonological traditions, Alloces is primarily opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Imamiah, the 52nd of the 72 angels derived from Kabbalistic sources, who serves to counteract the demon's influences through invocation in protective rituals.[4] This opposition, detailed in the 17th-century manuscript compiled as the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, positions Imamiah as a governing force against Alloces' domains, particularly in magical practices aimed at warding off unwanted teachings or spiritual familiars. As a Duke within the Ars Goetia framework, Alloces is connected to the broader hierarchy of 72 infernal spirits, including fellow Dukes like Agares and Valefor, under the overarching command of hell's kings such as Bael and Paimon; however, classical sources specify no direct subordinates for Alloces beyond his independent rule over 36 legions of demons.[5]Appearance
In the Lesser Key of Solomon
In the Ars Goetia section of the Lesser Key of Solomon, the 52nd spirit, Alloces (also spelled Alocas or Allocer), manifests in the form of a soldier astride a great horse, embodying a martial and equestrian archetype typical of Goetic demons.[1] His face resembles that of a lion, rendered vividly red with eyes that flame intensely, conveying an aura of fierce, otherworldly authority.[6] This leonine visage, combined with his hoarse and booming speech, underscores the demon's commanding presence upon evocation.[7]In Other Grimoires
In pre-Lesser Key of Solomon grimoires, Alloces' depiction shifts toward a more austere, humanoid form compared to the elaborate hybrid soldier with a lion's face riding a great horse in later Goetic tradition. These earlier texts emphasize his martial essence without the animalistic or fiery attributes that characterize the standard evocation. In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, a 16th-century manuscript, Alloces—rendered as Allogor—is described as a duke who "appeareth like a fair knight and beareth in his hand a spear with a banner." This portrayal omits any equine mount, leonine features, or incendiary elements, presenting him solely as a straightforward armored warrior equipped for battle. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) by Johann Weyer offers a depiction closer to the Goetic archetype, portraying Alloces as "a strong duke and a great, he commeth foorth like a soldier, riding on a great horsse, he hath a lions face, verie red, and with flaming eies." Here, the emphasis remains on his soldierly habit and equestrian arrival, with the lionine visage and ocular flames marking an early inclusion of hybrid traits, though without a banner or other such elements in some variants.[2] This progression illustrates a broader trend in demonological literature: pre-Solomonic sources favor a purely anthropomorphic, knightly soldier figure symbolizing martial prowess, which gradually incorporates theriomorphic elements in compilations like Weyer's work, culminating in the more fantastical forms of 17th-century texts.[2]Powers and Abilities
Intellectual Gifts
In demonological tradition, Alloces is invoked to impart knowledge of astronomy, encompassing the study of celestial bodies, their motions, and configurations such as constellations.[8][9] This instruction includes practical aspects like designing astrological charts and understanding the mechanics of planetary and stellar movements as understood in Renaissance-era cosmology.[8] Upon successful evocation, he delivers these teachings directly to the summoner, enabling profound insights into the heavens.[9] Alloces further serves as a tutor in the liberal sciences, a medieval curriculum comprising the trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy).[10] These teachings foster a comprehensive grasp of foundational knowledge that underpins philosophical and scientific inquiry.[9]Provision of Familiars
In the grimoires attributed to King Solomon, Alloces is described as possessing the authority to provide the summoner with "good familiars," which are subordinate spirits or lesser demons capable of rendering various services. These familiars are portrayed as loyal entities that assist in practical tasks, such as errands, protection, and the execution of minor magical operations, thereby extending the summoner's influence without direct intervention from Alloces himself.[5][2] This provision stems from Alloces' rank as a great duke commanding 36 legions of spirits, enabling him to delegate lesser entities from his dominion to serve the conjurer faithfully. The familiars are emphasized as beneficial and reliable, distinguishing them from more malevolent spirits in other demonic hierarchies, and they are said to perform duties aligned with the summoner's needs, fostering a symbiotic relationship in occult practices.[5][2] Historical accounts in demonological texts underscore that these familiars enhance the summoner's capabilities by handling autonomous operations, such as gathering information or providing guardianship, while remaining under Alloces' overarching command. This ability reflects the structured infernal bureaucracy outlined in the sources, where dukes like Alloces act as intermediaries for such allocations.[5][2]Additional Powers
In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, a 16th-century grimoire, Alloces manifests under the variant names Allogor or Algor as a duke of spirits, possessing abilities distinct from those emphasized in other texts.[3] He is invoked to reveal all secrets, offering direct counsel on concealed matters that elude ordinary perception, thereby serving as a reliable advisor to the summoner in uncovering hidden truths.[3] This capacity extends to elucidating the intricacies of temporal events, providing explanations of secrets pertaining to the past, present, and future, which enables practitioners to navigate uncertainties with informed guidance.[3] Such revelations are delivered truthfully in response to the summoner's demands, emphasizing Alloces' role as a forthright intermediary between the mundane and the arcane.[3] In this text, Allogor commands 30 legions of spirits.[3]Historical Sources
Pseudomonarchia Daemonum
In Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), an appendix to his treatise De praestigiis daemonum, Alloces is cataloged as the 64th spirit among the hierarchy of demons, reflecting Weyer's skeptical examination of witchcraft as a product of delusion rather than genuine supernatural power.[2] This work draws from earlier necromantic traditions, including medieval grimoires like the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, to compile a structured list of infernal entities while critiquing the persecutions associated with sorcery.[2] Weyer's approach underscores the illusory nature of demonic pacts, positioning the catalog as a tool to expose the follies of credulity in demonic invocations.[2] Alloces is described as a strong and great duke who commands thirty-six legions of spirits.[2] He appears in the form of a soldier riding upon a great horse, bearing a lion's face that is very red with flaming eyes, and he speaks in a loud voice.[2] This depiction is notably sparse, focusing on martial and leonine imagery without the elaborate evocation rituals found in subsequent texts.[2] The spirit's attributed powers center on intellectual and auxiliary gifts: he renders a man proficient in astronomy and all liberal sciences, and he provides good familiars to serve the summoner.[2] Weyer emphasizes Alloces' truthful responses in discourse, aligning with the catalog's broader aim to delineate demonic capabilities while questioning their veracity in practice.[2] This entry later influenced adaptations, such as the repositioning of Alloces as the 52nd spirit in the Lesser Key of Solomon.[2]Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon, an anonymously compiled grimoire from the 17th century, serves as a foundational text in Goetic demonology, outlining rituals for summoning and binding spirits attributed to King Solomon's legendary control over demonic forces.[11] This work draws significant influence from earlier demonological catalogs, notably Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), adapting and expanding their descriptions with detailed evocation procedures that emphasize protective magic circles, consecrated tools, and personalized seals to constrain the spirits' actions.[11] The Ars Goetia, the first section of the Lesser Key, lists 72 spirits in hierarchical order, positioning Alloces as the 52nd, a duke whose invocation underscores the grimoire's focus on intellectual and practical utilities derived from infernal entities.[5] Alloces appears in the form of a soldier mounted on a great horse, his face resembling a lion—fiery red with flaming eyes—and clad in martial attire, speaking in a hoarse, resonant voice.[5] As a great, mighty, and strong duke, he commands 36 legions of spirits and specializes in imparting knowledge of astronomy alongside all liberal sciences, enabling summoners to gain profound insights into celestial mechanics and scholarly disciplines.[5] Additionally, Alloces provides good familiars—loyal spirit servants—to assist the conjurer in various endeavors, highlighting his role in facilitating both educational and supportive supernatural aid within the Solomonic framework.[5] Evocation of Alloces follows the Ars Goetia's standardized protocols, requiring the magician to inscribe and wear his specific seal as a lamen during the ritual to ensure compliance and visibility of the spirit.[5] The process demands a meticulously prepared magic circle for protection, incantations invoking divine authority, and precise timing aligned with astrological conditions to manifest the duke without peril, reinforcing the grimoire's tradition of binding spirits through Solomonic command rather than coercion alone.[11] This portrayal solidifies Alloces' place in Goetic lore as a bridge between martial ferocity and intellectual enlightenment.[5]Liber Officiorum Spirituum
In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, a 16th-century goetic grimoire, the spirit Alloces appears under the variant names Allogor or Algor, depicted as a duke commanding 30 legions of spirits—a variation from the 36 legions noted in subsequent texts.[12] This manuscript, focusing on the practical offices and invocatory functions of spirits, presents Allogor as a utilitarian entity suited for counsel and influence rather than elaborate esoteric knowledge.[3] Allogor manifests in the form of a fair knight, armed with a spear or lance, occasionally bearing a banner, emphasizing a martial yet noble bearing distinct from more animalistic portrayals in later grimoires.[12] His powers center on intellectual and social aid: he delivers true answers to inquiries, resolves doubts by demonstrating feasible paths to outcomes, reveals impending events, and elucidates hidden secrets.[13] Additionally, he facilitates favor and affection from nobility, including kings, princes, and lords, with minimal focus on scientific disciplines like liberal arts or astrology seen in derived works.[12] The grimoire's earliest known manuscripts date to around 1575, predating Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), which drew upon it as a primary source, and underscore a proto-Goetic tradition prioritizing spirit hierarchies and offices for pragmatic conjuration.[2] This depiction highlights Alloces' role within the eastern spirits under the king Oriens, aligning with the text's structured catalog of infernal and aerial entities.[3]Etymology and Names
Origin of the Name
The name Alloces first emerges in 16th-century demonological texts, marking its introduction into the structured catalogs of infernal spirits during the Renaissance revival of occult literature. It appears in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577 edition), where Alloces is listed as the 52nd spirit under the command of 36 legions, and in the roughly contemporaneous Liber Officiorum Spirituum, an English grimoire compiling necromantic rituals and spirit hierarchies. These works likely adapted the name from earlier, unprinted medieval necromantic lists circulating among practitioners, though precise precursors remain unidentified.[2][14] The etymology of Alloces remains uncertain, with no confirmed linguistic origins identified.Variant Spellings
Across demonological grimoires, the name of the demon Alloces exhibits several variant spellings, reflecting inconsistencies in transcription, translation, and scribal practices from the 16th and 17th centuries.[1] The most common alternatives include Allocer, Alocer, and Allocen, which appear interchangeably in various editions and secondary references to the Ars Goetia and related texts.[15] In Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), the demon is designated as Allocen, the 52nd spirit in the hierarchy, maintaining close phonetic and orthographic similarity to the standard form.[16] The Liber Officiorum Spirituum (ca. 1570s), a key source for Weyer's work, presents a related but distinct rendering as Allogor or Algor, a duke, though with differing attributes and description, while echoing the "Alloc-" root. In contemporary occult literature and practices, Alloces has emerged as the predominant standardization, particularly in English translations of the Lesser Key of Solomon, yet the fluidity persists in scholarly discussions and ritual adaptations where historical variants like Allocer are invoked for authenticity.[1]Depictions in Modern Media
Anime and Manga
In the manga and anime series Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun (also known as Mairimashita! Iruma-kun), Alloces is adapted as Allocer Schneider, a lion-headed demon boy serving as a second-year student at Babyls Demon School in the Misfit Class alongside protagonist Iruma Suzuki.[17] This portrayal draws on Alloces' traditional lion motif from demonological texts while emphasizing his intellectual prowess, depicting him as one of the smartest students in his grade and earning him the nickname "King of a Hundred Knowledges" for his academic excellence.[18] Allocer Schneider's character reflects themes of teaching and knowledge-sharing inherent to Alloces' lore, humanized through a youthful, comedic lens in the school's misfit environment where he navigates demonic education and friendships without overt menace.[19] This portrayal shifts focus to a non-threatening, student-like persona that highlights intellectual curiosity over infernal authority.[20]Video Games
In Romancing SaGa 3 (1995), a role-playing game developed by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Alloces serves as the Lord of Earth and one of the Four Sinistrals, the primary antagonists who rule the Abyss dimension.[21] As a boss encountered in the Earth Abyss Gate, Alloces commands earth-based attacks such as Earthquake, which inflicts area damage on the entire party, reflecting his elemental dominion and requiring players to employ strong physical defenses and field-altering magic to counter him effectively.[22] His labyrinthine palace, known for its complex navigation challenges, ties into Alloces' traditional demonic patronage of architecture, demanding strategic exploration akin to constructing or deciphering intricate designs.[23] Alloces is portrayed as a formidable antagonist, initially appearing in a deceptive false form as a giant monster before revealing his true form as a blond-haired human warrior clad in a cape and gauntlet, wielding powerful weapons.[24] In this true form, he unleashes devastating physical techniques like Screwdriver, which deals heavy damage particularly to female party members, while benefiting from earth-elemental healing on compatible terrain, emphasizing his resilience and tactical depth in combat.[25] The depiction of Alloces in Romancing SaGa 3 has influenced subsequent JRPGs featuring demon summons, notably in the Shin Megami Tensei series where Allocen (an alternate spelling of Alloces) appears as a recruitable Great Duke of Hell commanding 36 legions, with skills focused on fire and physical assaults that reward strategic party composition and negotiation mechanics.[26] This portrayal underscores Alloces' role in promoting battlefield strategy, drawing from his demonological expertise in sciences to inspire gameplay systems where summoning demons like him requires careful planning of affinities and counters for optimal outcomes.[27]References
- https://sagawiki.org/wiki/Alloces