A student of the Ars Goetia sits at a desk, two seals drawn on separate parchment squares. One is the sigil of Bael, the first king of the 72 spirits. The other belongs to Kimaris, a marquis and knight who rides a black horse. The choice between them is not arbitrary. It depends entirely on what the practitioner intends to accomplish.
Bael and Kimaris are two Goetic spirits from the Lemegeton (17th century), but they serve different domains. Bael bestows invisibility, wisdom, and political power. Kimaris locates lost treasures, teaches the arts, and grants victory in war. Knowing which one answers your call requires understanding their distinct histories, symbols, and practical applications.
This article compares these two spirits point by point: their origins, their appearances, the powers they offer, and the misconceptions that surround them. We write from inside the tradition, as a library that both documents and practices the Goetia.
What the Lemegeton Actually Says About Bael and Kimaris
The earliest surviving manuscript of the Lemegeton dates to 1641, though the text draws on earlier grimoires like Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1563). Weyer lists Bael as the first spirit, and Kimaris (spelled Cimejes) as the sixty-sixth. The Lemegeton expands Weyer’s list to 72 spirits, each with a seal, a rank, and a set of powers.
Bael is the first king. He appears with three heads: a cat, a toad, and a man. He speaks with a hoarse voice and commands 66 legions. He can make a person invisible and grants wisdom in all matters. Kimaris is a mighty marquis who appears as a handsome warrior riding a black horse. He commands 26 legions (some sources say 30). He teaches the liberal arts, reveals the location of lost treasures, and gives counsel on war.
These are the primary facts. Everything else in the tradition is interpretation, elaboration, or personal experience.
Where These Spirits Came From: History and Roots
Bael’s name is almost certainly derived from the Canaanite deity Baal, a storm and fertility god whose worship appears throughout the Hebrew Bible. The Lemegeton’s Christian compilers demonized Baal and placed him at the head of the infernal hierarchy. The triple-headed form may be a medieval invention, but it echoes earlier depictions of Baal as a god with multiple aspects.
Kimaris has a more obscure lineage. Weyer spells the name Cimejes, and some scholars connect it to the Greek word kimein (to lie down) or to a Persian martial spirit. A 16th-century manuscript of the Steganographia by Trithemius mentions a spirit named Cimeries who teaches swift movement and eloquence. The Lemegeton merged these fragments into a single figure.
What matters for the practitioner is that both spirits were given Christian seals, ranks, and rituals. The Lemegeton is a product of its time, but the spirits it catalogs predate that text.
The Two Kings, Distinguished
Bael and Kimaris differ in rank, legions, and appearance, but the real difference is the kind of work they do.
Bael is a spirit of sovereignty and beginning. As the first king, he opens the path. His gift of invisibility is not just hiding the body. It is the ability to move unseen in political or social spheres. Practitioners call him when they need to influence powerful people, acquire authority, or gain clarity on complex decisions. His triple head suggests mastery over three worlds: the animal (cat), the chthonic (toad), and the human. That is a spirit who understands the full spectrum of existence.
Kimaris is a spirit of action and recovery. He is a knight, not a king. He rides a horse, moves through battle, finds what is lost. His domain is the arts: grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy. He can teach these things quickly. But his more practical use is locating hidden objects, whether physical treasure or forgotten knowledge. He also lends courage in conflict.
If you need to sit at a negotiation table and win, you call Bael. If you need to find a missing document or win a legal battle, you call Kimaris.
How You Spoke to Each: Evocation Practices
Medieval and Renaissance grimoires prescribe elaborate circles, triangles, and seals for evoking any Goetic spirit. The seals are the essential link. Bael’s seal is the first one drawn in the Lemegeton: a complex geometric figure with a central cross. Kimaris’s seal is a circle containing a pentagram with curved lines.
We do not give step-by-step instructions here. That is the work of a separate guide. But we can note what practitioners commonly do.
For Bael, the traditional time is the hour of Jupiter on a Sunday, when the expansive energy of that planet aligns with his kingly nature. Incense of frankincense or cedar. A black candle. The seal drawn on virgin parchment.
For Kimaris, the hour of Mars on a Tuesday is traditional. Red candles. Incense of dragon’s blood or benzoin. His seal on parchment or metal, carried as a talisman for victory.
The offering is simple: wine and bread, or a small portion of the incense. No blood. No animal sacrifice. The Lemegeton does not call for such things, and we do not add them.
Symbolism and Meaning: What the Heads and Horse Tell Us
Bael’s three heads are not random. The cat represents stealth, night vision, and independence. The toad represents earth, transformation, and the hidden wisdom of the ground. The man represents intellect, speech, and authority. Together they signify a spirit who can navigate any realm.
Kimaris’s horse is a symbol of controlled power. The horse carries the warrior into battle. It is not wild. It is trained. That is Kimaris’s nature: disciplined, martial, but not chaotic. His handsome appearance suggests that war is not always ugly. Sometimes it is elegant strategy.
The direction of the East is assigned to Bael in many systems. East is the place of sunrise, beginnings, and air. Kimaris is not given a fixed direction in the Lemegeton, but later occultists associate him with the South, the element of fire, and the martial planet Mars.
Bael and Kimaris Compared Side by Side
| Aspect | Bael | Kimaris |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | King | Marquis / Knight |
| Legions | 66 | 26 (or 30) |
| Appearance | Three heads (cat, toad, man) | Warrior on black horse |
| Powers | Invisibility, wisdom, political power | Teaches arts, finds lost things, victory in war |
| Element (later traditions) | Air | Fire |
| Planet (later traditions) | Jupiter or Sun | Mars |
| Sigil number | 1 | 66 |
The table is not exhaustive, but it captures the essential differences.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception 1: Bael is the same as the Canaanite Baal.
They share a name, but the Lemegeton’s Bael is a specific spirit with a specific seal and function. The original Baal was a god of fertility and storms, not a demon of invisibility. The Christian compilers repurposed the name.
Misconception 2: Kimaris is purely a war spirit.
He does grant victory in battle, but his primary listed powers are teaching the liberal arts and finding lost objects. Calling him only for conflict wastes his other abilities.
Misconception 3: You must summon spirits in order.
The Lemegeton lists them in sequence, but no Goetic practice requires that you evoke Bael before Kimaris. You can call any spirit whose seal you have properly prepared.
Misconception 4: Goetic spirits are evil.
The tradition treats them as neutral forces. They offer power in exchange for respect. The Lemegeton itself is a Christian text, but modern practitioners view them as spirits of nature or archetypes of the human psyche.
FAQ
Can Bael and Kimaris be summoned together?
Yes, but it is not recommended for beginners. Their energies differ significantly. Summoning them separately is safer and more effective.
What is the difference between a king and a marquis in the Goetia?
Kings rule over larger legions and have broader authority. Marquises are specialized, often focused on specific domains like war or learning.
Which spirit is better for finding lost items?
Kimaris. His primary function includes revealing the location of lost treasures. Bael is more suited to gaining wisdom or influence.
Are Bael and Kimaris dangerous to summon?
Any Goetic spirit requires preparation, respect, and a clear goal. Negligence is dangerous, but the spirits themselves are not malicious. Follow the traditional protections.
Closing
The choice between Bael and Kimaris is not about which is stronger. It is about which matches your need. Bael opens doors. Kimaris wins battles. Both are tools in the library of the Goetia, and both deserve careful study.
For a broader understanding of the 72 spirits, see our demonic hierarchy guide. For the exact meaning of the seals, visit the glossary of Goetic symbols. And for a step-by-step method of evocation, read our practical guide to summoning Goetic spirits.