A 17th-century magician, seated inside a circle of consecrated chalk, recites the conjuration for a spirit who can reveal the secrets of the earth. He calls Astaroth. Across the room, another practitioner, seeking political favor, invokes Belial. The two spirits share the same grimoire but serve entirely different purposes.
Astaroth and Belial are two prominent spirits in the Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon. Astaroth is a duke who commands 40 legions and reveals truths about past, present, and future, as well as the fall of the angels. Belial is a king who commands 80 legions and grants favors, promotions, and the ability to influence others. Their roles in demonology reflect distinct domains: knowledge versus power.
Where Astaroth and Belial Come From
The earliest known list of Goetic spirits appears in Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577). Weyer, a Dutch physician and demonologist, compiled 69 spirits from earlier grimoire traditions. Both Astaroth and Belial appear there, though their descriptions differ from later versions.
Astaroth derives from the Phoenician goddess Astarte, who herself evolved from the Mesopotamian Ishtar. By the time of the Lemegeton (circa 1640), Astaroth had been masculinized into a male duke “appearing in the form of a foul and ugly angel” who rides a dragon and carries a serpent in his right hand. The transformation from goddess to demon happened through medieval Christian demonology, which recast pagan deities as infernal spirits.
Belial has a different lineage. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as beliyya’al, meaning “worthlessness” or “destruction.” In the Dead Sea Scrolls, Belial is the leader of the sons of darkness. The Testament of Solomon (1st–3rd century CE) describes Belial as a spirit of lawlessness who “causes men to commit fornication and murder.” By the time of the Goetia, Belial had become a king, created after Lucifer, commanding 80 legions. The Dictionnaire Infernal (1818) by Collin de Plancy depicts him as a beautiful angel seated in a chariot of fire.
That history explains why the two spirits carry such different weights. Astaroth carries the residue of a fertility goddess; Belial carries the biblical charge of absolute worthlessness. Yet in practice, both are approached for specific, tangible outcomes.
What Each Spirit Actually Does
Astaroth’s domain is knowledge. The Goetia states that he “gives true answers of things past, present, and to come, and can discover all secrets.” He also speaks willingly of the fall of the angels, a subject most Goetic spirits avoid. The magician who calls Astaroth is typically seeking hidden information: lost objects, forgotten events, or the truth behind a deception.
Belial’s domain is influence. He “gives excellent familiars, and governs 80 legions of spirits.” More importantly, he “bestows the favor of friends and enemies, and gives promotions in rank.” The practitioner who calls Belial wants advancement: a job, a title, a political victory. The Goetia warns that Belial “must have offerings and sacrifices” and that he is “very dangerous to control without proper authority.”
We light our candles differently for each. For Astaroth, we burn frankincense and use a ring with a seal to keep him at a distance. For Belial, we prepare a triangle of conjuration and place offerings of wine and bread outside the circle. The fire is not decoration. It is the boundary.
How You Spoke to Each
The conjurations in the Lemegeton are formulaic, but the practical details reveal the difference in temperament.
Astaroth requires the magician to hold a silver ring before his face. The text explains: “The reason is that his breath is so foul that no one can endure it.” This detail is not symbolic. It is a practical instruction. The ring acts as a filter, and the magician must stand upwind. We have seen practitioners place a cloth soaked in vinegar over their mouths as an additional precaution.
Belial requires no such physical barrier. Instead, the danger is psychological. He appears as a beautiful angel and speaks persuasively. The Goetia warns that he will try to deceive the magician into breaking the circle. The offering must be placed outside the triangle, never inside, because Belial will use the offering as a pretext to step closer. The triangle itself is drawn with black ink on virgin parchment, and the magician recites the conjuration from memory, never reading it aloud.
That contrast is the heart of the difference. Astaroth threatens the body with his stench. Belial threatens the mind with his charm.
Comparing the Two in the Goetic Hierarchy
In the hierarchy of the Lemegeton, rank matters. Astaroth is a duke; Belial is a king. Dukes command fewer legions and answer to kings. Kings are among the highest ranks, second only to the four ruling princes: Lucifer, Beelzebub, Satan, and Leviathan.
Astaroth’s 40 legions place him in the middle tier of Goetic spirits. Belial’s 80 legions place him among the most powerful. But power does not mean ease of use. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum notes that Belial is “the first of the kings who was created after Lucifer,” which implies a seniority that makes him less willing to obey. Astaroth, by contrast, is described as “ready to answer” when properly summoned.
Their sigils also differ. Astaroth’s seal is a complex geometric figure with intersecting lines and a central point. Belial’s seal is simpler: a circle with a cross and a crescent. In practice, we engrave Astaroth’s seal on a copper plate and Belial’s on a lead plate. The materials reflect their elemental associations: copper for knowledge and Venus (Astaroth’s origin), lead for Saturn and the weight of worldly power.
What People Get Wrong
The most common mistake is treating Astaroth as a female spirit. He is not. The name comes from a goddess, but the Goetic spirit is unequivocally male. Calling him “Astarte” during a conjuration will produce no result, or worse, an angry response.
Another error is assuming Belial is purely evil. He grants favors and promotions. Many medieval grimoires treat him as a spirit of ambition, not malice. The danger is not that he will harm you directly, but that he will give you what you want at a price you did not agree to. The Lemegeton warns that Belial “will deceive the magician if he is not careful.”
A third misconception is that both spirits can be summoned interchangeably. They cannot. Astaroth answers questions. Belial grants influence. Using the wrong spirit for the wrong purpose wastes time and risks failure. We have seen practitioners call Belial for lost objects and receive nothing, then call Astaroth and get an answer in minutes.
FAQ
Can Astaroth and Belial be summoned together? The Goetia does not forbid it, but it is not recommended. Their natures conflict: one seeks truth, the other seeks power. Summoning both at once divides the magician’s focus and increases the risk of error.
Which spirit is more dangerous? Belial is considered more dangerous because of his deceptive nature. Astaroth’s danger is physical (his breath), while Belial’s is psychological. Most practitioners agree that Belial requires more experience to control.
What offerings do they require? Astaroth traditionally receives frankincense and a silver ring. Belial requires wine, bread, and sometimes a small animal sacrifice (though modern practitioners substitute bread and wine alone). The offering must be placed outside the circle.
Are Astaroth and Belial the same as pagan gods? Astaroth derives from Astarte, but the Goetic spirit is a distinct entity shaped by Christian demonology. Belial has no direct pagan equivalent; he originates from Hebrew scripture. They are not the same as the original deities.
The Practical Distinction
The difference between Astaroth and Belial is not academic. It determines which seal you engrave, which incense you burn, and which conjuration you recite. One opens the door to hidden knowledge. The other opens the door to worldly power. Both are dangerous. Both are useful. But they are not interchangeable.
For a deeper understanding of Goetic spirits, explore our guide to the 72 demons of the Goetia. To see how Astaroth and Belial fit into the broader hierarchy, visit our demonology hub. And for the specific seals used in their conjurations, consult our glossary of Goetic sigils.