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Botis, sometimes Otis, is a demon described in the Lesser Key of Solomon (as the seventeenth spirit) and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (as the ninth spirit) as a President and an Earl who initially appears as a viper before changing into a sword-toting, fanged, and horned human who discusses matters past, present, and future; brings favor from allies and enemies, and rules 60 legions of demons.[1][2] In the Munich Manual of Demonic Magic, Botis appears as Otius, and is mostly identical except that he is a preses and Count, appears in the more humanoid form to begin with, and rules only 36 legions of demons.[3][4][5] In the Grand Grimoire, Botis appears as a subordinate of Agaliarept.[6] According to Rudd, Botis is opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Lauviah.[7]

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ Peterson, Joseph H., ed. (May 2001). Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis: The Lesser Key of Solomon, Detailing the Ceremonial Art of Commanding Spirits Both Good and Evil;. Maine: Weiser Books (published 2001). p. 14. ISBN 1-57863-220-X.
  2. ^ Weyer, Johann (1563). Peterson, Joseph H. (ed.). Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Liber officiorum spirituum). Twilit Grotto: Esoteric Archives (published 2000). par. 9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  3. ^ Kieckhefer, Richard (1998). Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century. University Park, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press (published 1997). pp. 161, 165–166, 291. ISBN 0-271-01750-3.
  4. ^ Rudd, Thomas (2010). Skinner, Stephen; Rankine, David (eds.). The Goetia of Dr Rudd. Golden Hoard Press (published 2007). p. 34. ISBN 978-0738723556.
  5. ^ Weyer 1563, Introduction by Peterson.
  6. ^ Waite, Arthur Edward (1913). "Part II, Chapter III: 'Concerning the Descending Hierarchy,' Section 1: 'The Names and Offices of Evil Spirits'". The Book of Ceremonial Magic. Internet Sacred Text Archive (published 2002). pp. 184–193.
  7. ^ Rudd 2010, pp. 368–369.
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Botis

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Botis is a in the Ars Goetia section of the Lesser Key of , listed as the seventeenth spirit among the seventy-two infernal beings summoned by King , and also appears as the ninth spirit in Johann Weyer's . Known by the alternate name Otis, Botis holds the dual rank of Great President and within the infernal hierarchy. He commands sixty legions of spirits and is invoked for his divinatory and reconciliatory abilities. Upon summoning, Botis first manifests in the form of an ugly or terrible viper, but at the magician's command, he assumes a shape featuring large teeth, two horns, and a bright, sharp held in his hand. His primary powers include providing true answers about past, present, and future events, as well as hidden matters, and reconciling friends and foes at the conjurer's request. For successful , the magician must wear Botis's seal, a specific depicted in the grimoires, and address him in a clear voice to ensure obedience. These descriptions stem from Renaissance-era demonological texts, which draw on earlier medieval traditions of , emphasizing Botis's role in practices aimed at gaining knowledge and resolving conflicts through infernal means.

Description in grimoires

Lesser Key of Solomon

In the Ars Goetia, the first book of the 17th-century grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon, Botis is listed as the seventeenth spirit among the 72 demons attributed to King 's control. He is classified as a Great President and an of , commanding 60 legions of spirits. Botis initially appears in the form of an ugly viper, requiring the magician's command to assume a shape while bearing a bright and sharp in his hand. His powers include revealing all things past and to come, as well as reconciling friends and foes. The notes that his seal must be worn during summoning to ensure compliance.

In Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, published as an appendix to his 1577 treatise De praestigiis daemonum et necromanticis, Botis is enumerated as the ninth spirit in a catalog of 69 demons, emphasizing Weyer's satirical portrayal of infernal hierarchies as pretenders to thrones rather than genuine powers. This earlier positioning distinguishes Botis from his later depiction as the seventeenth spirit in the Ars Goetia section of the Lesser Key of Solomon. Weyer describes Botis as a magnus Præses & Comes—a great President and Earl—initially manifesting in the form of a viperæ specie deterrima, or most terrible viper, underscoring the alarming and intimidating nature of his summoning. Upon command, Botis transforms into human shape, revealing a form with dentes magnos & cornua duo—great teeth and two horns—while carrying a gladium acutum, or , in his hand; this vivid imagery highlights his dual nature as both serpentine terror and armed warrior. The text provides an alternative name for the spirit as Otis (alibi Otis), a detail that reinforces Weyer's compilation of variant demonological traditions from earlier sources like the Red Dragon grimoire. Unlike subsequent texts that expand on specifics, Weyer's account focuses on the spirit's inherent noisome and fearsome initial presence, advising conjurors to compel the change to ensure truthful discourse. Botis's abilities center on divination and mediation: he dat perfectè responsa vera de præsentibus, præteritis, futuris & abstrusis, delivering perfect and true answers about present events, the past, the future, and hidden matters, while also capable of tam amicos quam hostes conciliat, reconciling both friends and foes. He commands sexaginta legionibus—sixty legions of devils—positioning him as a mid-tier infernal authority in Weyer's hierarchy. These attributes, though echoed in later grimoires, are phrased here with a clinical brevity that aligns with Weyer's skeptical tone toward demonic pacts, without the elaborate evocation instructions found elsewhere.

Munich Manual of Demonic Magic

The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic, a fifteenth-century Latin manuscript designated Clm 849 and housed in the , offers one of the earliest documented references to the demon Botis (appearing as Otius) within a comprehensive guide to necromantic practices. Likely compiled in around 1400–1450, the text predates Johann Weyer's (1577) by more than a century and serves as a foundational influence on later demonological works, including the seventeenth-century . It embodies the clerical underworld of late medieval magic, where rituals blended Christian liturgical forms with invocations of infernal spirits for practical ends. Within the manual's catalog of spirits (fols. 65v–65r bis), Botis is enumerated as a great president and count who commands 36 legions of demons—a reduced figure compared to the 60 legions ascribed to him in Renaissance-era grimoires such as the Ars Goetia. This discrepancy illustrates the evolving and non-standardized nature of demonic hierarchies in pre-Reformation sources, where numerical attributions varied based on regional scribal traditions. The manual integrates Botis into evocation rituals designed to extract esoteric knowledge, emphasizing his utility in revealing truths about past, present, and future matters through compelled responses during conjurations. Botis's invocatory role also encompasses , where he is summoned to restore amity between friends and resolve enmities, aligning with the grimoire's pragmatic orientation toward social and interpersonal outcomes. Distinct from more theoretical demonologies, the Munich Manual prioritizes operational details for such evocations, including the use of protective circles, incantatory formulas, and preparatory purifications to safely bind Botis and harness his divinatory faculties. This hands-on approach underscores the text's focus on accessible, ritualistic magic for educated practitioners seeking tangible results from infernal consultation. His viper-associated form echoes motifs in later texts like the Ars Goetia, suggesting early continuity in demonic .

Appearance and attributes

Viper form

In demonological grimoires, Botis consistently manifests initially in the form of a viper, emphasizing the creature's menacing and primal nature during summoning rituals. The Lesser Key of Solomon describes this appearance as an "ugly Viper," highlighting its repulsive and threatening aspect upon first conjuration. This serpentine guise underscores the demon's infernal essence, requiring the magician's direct command to alter its form. Similarly, Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum portrays Botis, also known as Otis, as emerging first as a "terrible viper," a manifestation that evokes immediate caution and authority in the ritual process. The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic, an earlier 15th-century text, lists the entity as Otius but describes it appearing directly in a humanoid form without an initial serpentine presentation, diverging from the transformation tradition in later sources. (Richard Kieckhefer's "Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century" provides scholarly translation and context for the manual's demon listings.) The viper form carries profound symbolic weight in medieval and , often representing deceit, , and origins tied to the infernal realm. Drawing from biblical precedents like the serpent in the , which embodies cunning and the acquisition of illicit , the viper signifies treachery and the of divine order. Medieval bestiaries further elaborate on the viper's venomous bite as a for moral corruption and opposition to Christian virtues, portraying it as a creature born from unnatural means—such as the female viper rupturing her own womb to birth offspring—symbolizing chaotic and hellish generation. In the context of demonic summoning, this form implies Botis's deceptive allure, where the summoner must exert control to unveil deeper truths, aligning with broader motifs of serpents as guardians of hidden infernal secrets in grimoires. Upon command, the viper transforms into a more communicative shape, but its initial state serves as a test of the conjurer's dominance.

Human form

In the Lesser Key of Solomon, Botis assumes a humanoid form at the magician's command, appearing as a figure with great teeth and two horns, while bearing a bright and sharp in his hand. This transformation follows an initial manifestation as an ugly viper, highlighting the demon's ability to shift shapes under . The serves as a prominent accoutrement, symbolizing his authoritative presence within the infernal hierarchy. The provides a closely aligned , describing Botis in human shape as possessing great teeth and two horns, equipped with a sharp sword. Here, the emphasis on these fierce facial features and weaponry underscores his status as a great president and , evoking a formidable warrior-like demeanor. Both texts portray the human form as a deliberate alteration from guise, accentuating traits that denote power and readiness. Variations between the sources are minimal, with the Lesser Key specifying the sword's brightness to denote its potency, while the Pseudomonarchia stresses its sharpness for implication. These consistent elements—horns, prominent teeth, and the sword—collectively illustrate Botis's elevated rank among demonic entities, distinguishing him through iconographic markers of infernal . The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic aligns with this humanoid depiction for Otius, presenting it without the preceding viper stage.

Associated symbols

The traditional sigil of Botis, as presented in the Ars Goetia section of the Lesser Key of Solomon, consists of a complex geometric seal comprising intersecting lines, curves, and angular forms that evoke containment and invocation. This seal is intended for use in rituals, where it is worn as a lamen by the magician to facilitate contact with the spirit. In contemporary occult practices influenced by systems like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Botis is associated with the color orange, which corresponds to planetary influences of Mercury for intellectual clarity and Mars for fiery assertion. Grimoires such as the Ars Goetia feature viper motifs as emblematic of Botis's initial manifestation, underscoring themes of transformation and hidden wisdom in demonic . Complementing this, the sword appears as a recurring heraldic device in textual depictions, symbolizing the enforced reconciliation of conflicts through decisive authority.

Powers and roles

Divinatory abilities

In demonological grimoires, Botis is renowned for his capacity to reveal knowledge across temporal dimensions, positioning him as a potent spirit for prophetic inquiry. According to Johann Weyer's (1577), Botis "giveth answers of things present, past, and to come," delivering truthful responses on concealed or obscure matters when evoked. This divinatory prowess is echoed in the Ars Goetia, the first section of the Lesser Key of Solomon (17th century), where Botis is said to give true answers about things past, present, and to come. Within the ritual frameworks of these texts, Botis's abilities find practical application during evocations, where magicians compel the spirit to answer specific questions about secrets, past occurrences, or impending events. For instance, practitioners might invoke him to elucidate forgotten historical details, expose concealed intentions, or forecast outcomes in personal or worldly affairs, all through verbal commands issued in a controlled ceremonial setting. Such interactions underscore Botis's utility as a direct , requiring the use of his to ensure compliance and accuracy. These attributes of Botis align with broader medieval and early modern interests in oracles and , where demonic intermediaries offered a forbidden counterpart to sanctioned angelic or divine visions, often critiqued by authorities as illicit but enduring in clandestine magical traditions. In this context, Botis exemplifies how grimoires adapted classical and biblical motifs of seership into a Christian demonological , blending with infernal risk.

Reconciliatory powers

Botis possesses the unique ability to reconcile friends and foes, transforming enemies into allies upon the command of the summoner. This power is explicitly described in the Ars Goetia of the Lesser Key of Solomon, where he is said to "reconcileth Friends and Foes." The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum echoes this attribute, stating that Botis "reconcileth friends, and foes." In both grimoires, Botis appears in human form bearing a sharp in his hand. During the , practitioners of evoked Botis to resolve feuds, gain diplomatic advantages, or settle personal disputes, leveraging his powers within structured rituals to restore harmony among adversaries. Such invocations aligned with the broader Solomonic tradition of commanding spirits for practical worldly outcomes.

Rank and legions

In the Lesser Key of Solomon, Botis is titled a Great President and an , governing 60 legions of spirits. These titles position him as an advisory figure in infernal affairs due to his revelatory and reconciliatory functions, while the rank of underscores his noble standing within the demonic order. Similarly, Weyer's describes Botis as a Great President and who rules sixty legions. The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic () presents Botis under the name Otius as a great preses and comes (President and ), commanding 36 legions; Otius provides true responses about present, future, and hidden matters, and grants favor among friends and enemies. Across these texts, the legions represent subordinate spirits under Botis's command, enabling amplified authority and efficacy in evocations by drawing upon their collective infernal forces.

Hierarchy and relations

Subordination in other texts

In the Grand Grimoire, a 19th-century text on infernal pacts and evocations, Botis is explicitly subordinated to , serving as one of the principal spirits under this demon's command within the second legion. , portrayed as a general empowered to uncover hidden secrets and mysteries across earthly realms, directly oversees Botis alongside other subordinates such as Buer and Gusoyn, forming part of an structured infernal legion. This integrates Botis into a Luciferian chain of command, where supreme entities like , , and delegate authority to six superior spirits—including Agaliarept—who each govern eighteen subordinate demons to execute broader demonic operations. The Grand Grimoire's framework emphasizes collaborative infernal governance through these layered dependencies, positioning Botis in a lieutenant-like role that supports the directives of higher authorities rather than independent rule. Unlike his self-contained presidency over sixty legions in the Ars Goetia, this depiction underscores Botis's integration into an expanded system of collective demonic administration.

Opposing forces

In Thomas Rudd's 17th-century manuscript variant of the Lesser Key of Solomon, the Botis is specifically opposed by the shemhamphorasch Lauviah as part of a structured pairing between the 72 Goetic demons and corresponding Kabbalistic angels. This opposition assigns each demon an angelic counterpart to maintain equilibrium in , with Lauviah designated to counter Botis's influence. The purpose of invoking Lauviah during Botis's evocation is to provide protection against potential harm and to facilitate banishment if necessary, embodying a symbolic assertion of divine authority over infernal sources of knowledge. This practice underscores the need for celestial to safely harness Botis's divinatory powers, preventing or malevolent interference by ensuring the ritualist's alignment with higher spiritual forces. This angelic-demon pairing in Rudd's system reflects the broader synthesis of Kabbalistic traditions with Goetic demonology, aiming to create a balanced framework for that integrates and . By incorporating the shemhamphorasch angels—derived from Kabbalistic interpretations of divine names—practitioners sought to temper the risks of demonic conjuration with protective angelic oversight, a hallmark of 17th-century English scholarship influenced by figures like and .

Depictions in modern media

Video games

Botis appears as a summonable in the franchise developed by , drawing from his Goetic origins in the Ars Goetia as a basis for his abilities in foreknowledge and reconciliation. In the Shin Megami Tensei series, he is classified under the Fallen race and typically aligns as Neutral-Chaotic, embodying a duality that allows players to recruit him through fusion or mechanics. His portrayals emphasize strategic gameplay, where he provides elemental magic and supportive skills that reflect his mythological role in predicting events and fostering alliances among party members. In and its expansion (2013–2016), Botis is a high-level (level 83 in ) recruitable in late-game areas, specializing in electricity-based attacks like Maziodyne and defensive buffs such as Shield All to enhance ally resilience. His design adapts the Goetic viper form into a serpentine humanoid with horns and a sword, summoned via the game's compendium system that incorporates demon sigils for fusion rituals. This visual hybrid underscores his status, commanding legions in lore integrated into the post-apocalyptic narrative, where he aids protagonists in chaotic alignments by revealing temporal insights through skill descriptions. Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (1997, remastered 2012) features Botis as an early recruitable entity in the setting, with skills including Ziodyne for electric damage and prediction-themed passives that boost evasion, aligning with his reconciliatory powers through party-wide buffs. The game's summoning mechanics use digital interfaces evoking Goetic seals, portraying Botis as a neutral ally in devil auctions and fusions. His lore ties into the series' demon compendium, positioning him as a chaotic force that reconciles human-demon pacts amid urban intrigue. In Shin : Devil Survivor 2 (2011) and its adaptation, Botis serves as an minion under the Anguished One, characters like Fumi Kanno before becoming an optional boss at level 72, wielding Elec Repel and multi-target Ziodyne attacks. Post-battle, he can be fused and summoned, with designs retaining the viper-human hybrid for tactical grid-based combat, emphasizing foresight via time-manipulation skills that predict enemy moves. This integration highlights his Goetic duality as a chaotic entity capable of turning foes into allies through , a staple in titles since the 1990s.

Occult literature and art

In modern occult literature, Botis features prominently in 20th-century adaptations of the Ars Goetia, where evocation practices are reframed for personal psychological insight rather than literal summoning. Aleister Crowley's 1904 edition of The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King describes Botis as a president and earl who appears initially as a viper before assuming a human form with teeth, horns, and a sword, capable of revealing past and future events while reconciling conflicts, emphasizing the spirit's role in stimulating specific portions of the human brain through ceremonial invocation to unlock hidden knowledge. Crowley's introductory commentary interprets such evocations as internal processes that alter brain function via sensory rituals, promoting self-discovery and resolution of personal enmities over supernatural dominance. Lon Milo DuQuette's Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia (1992) expands on this by providing illustrated seals and practical guidance for contemporary practitioners, portraying Botis's evocation as a tool for gaining intuitive foresight and mending relational discord through meditative focus on the sigil, aligning with modern Thelemic views of spirits as archetypal forces for individual empowerment. DuQuette's annotations highlight Botis's transformative viper-to-human form as symbolic of shedding illusions for truthful insight, encouraging evokers to journal experiences for therapeutic reflection on subconscious motivations. Artistic representations of Botis in circles often center on his , a complex geometric emblem derived from the Ars Goetia, which is engraved on talismans for ritual use to invoke his reconciliatory and divinatory powers. These -based talismans, typically crafted in metals like brass or silver, are worn or placed on altars to facilitate focused and energy alignment during evocations. Contemporary figurative art depicts Botis in his dual viper-sword form, blending serpentine menace with armed , as seen in paintings and digital illustrations that emphasize his as a mediator of truths; for instance, pieces on platforms like ArtStation portray him as a horned figure wielding a gleaming amid coiled serpents, symbolizing the balance of deception and revelation. In encyclopedias and journals, Botis is culturally employed for symbolic and psychological interpretations, viewing his attributes as metaphors for resolution and foresight. Theresa Bane's Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures (2012) catalogs Botis as a and servitor of Agaliarept, commanding 60 legions and manifesting as a viper or toothed, horned human with a sword, who discerns hidden matters and fosters harmony, framing him within broader symbolic lore for modern esoteric study. journals dedicated to Goetic spirits, such as those formatted around Botis's , guide users in recording visionary encounters to explore psychological themes like betrayal detection and relational healing, treating the demon as an inner for therapeutic self-examination rather than a literal entity.
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