A practitioner once told us that the hardest part of working with the Goetia is not the summoning but the sorting. Each of the 72 spirits has a distinct seal, a specific rank, a temperament that must be matched to the magician’s intent. Among them, Eligos stands out. Eligos is a Duke of Hell who appears as a knight bearing a lance, a banner, and a serpent, commanding 60 legions and governing the outcome of battles, the discovery of hidden things, and the favor of lords. But how does he compare to other spirits like Bael, Paimon, or Vassago? The differences are not trivial. They determine which spirit you call for what purpose and how you approach the circle.
Where Eligos Appears in the Goetic Record
The earliest known list of Goetic spirits appears in the 15th-century manuscript The Sworn Book of Honorius, but the familiar 72 come from the 17th-century Lemegeton (The Lesser Key of Solomon). Eligos appears as the 15th spirit. His name may derive from the Greek eligos (a type of serpent) or from the Hebrew Eligos (perhaps a corruption of “Eligor” or “Abigor”). In the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) by Johann Weyer, he is listed as “Eligor” and described as a great duke who appears as a goodly knight. The Ars Goetia compiled by S.L. MacGregor Mathers in 1904 (published by Aleister Crowley) standardized the seals and invocations. Eligos’s seal is a hexagram within a circle, with a central point, inscribed on virgin parchment or engraved on a metal lamina.
That history matters because the seal is not a decoration. It is the spirit’s signature, the geometric anchor that the magician uses to compel presence. Without the correct seal, the evocation is incomplete. Eligos’s seal is one of the simpler ones: a single hexagram with a dot at its center, no nested circles or complex characters. This simplicity may reflect his reputation as a direct and cooperative spirit.
What the Knight, the Lance, and the Serpent Mean
The knight with a lance and banner symbolizes martial authority and the power to command armies. The serpent coiled around his arm or at his feet represents hidden knowledge, the serpent as revealer of secrets. In alchemical terms, the serpent is the prima materia, the raw material of transformation. Eligos carries both the weapon of war and the symbol of wisdom. That pairing is rare among Goetic spirits. Most are either warriors or teachers. Eligos is both.
His rank as Duke places him in the middle tier of Goetic hierarchy: above presidents and counts, below kings and princes. Dukes like Eligos are said to be more tractable than kings but less powerful than princes. They are often called upon for matters of war, honor, and revelation of hidden treasures. The Ars Goetia states that Eligos “discovers hidden things and knows the outcome of battles.” He also “procures the love of lords and great persons.” That last function is often overlooked. Eligos is not a spirit of romantic love but of political favor, the kind of influence that wins promotions and alliances.
How You Actually Call Eligos
In traditional Goetic evocation, Eligos is summoned during the hour of Mars on a Tuesday, using his seal placed within a triangle of art. The magician wears a crown and a white linen robe, holds a wand of hazel or birch. The spirit is invoked with the conjurations from the Ars Goetia, often with the constraint that he must appear in a gentle form. Practitioners report that Eligos is one of the more cooperative spirits, rarely deceptive, but he may test the magician’s resolve by appearing as a terrifying knight before assuming a more pleasant aspect. He is also associated with the planet Mars and the element of Fire.
The fire is not symbolic. In the evocation chamber, a brazier of coals is lit, and frankincense or sandalwood is burned. The smoke carries the conjuration upward. The magician stands within the circle, the seal of Eligos at his feet or on his breast. The triangle of art is placed outside the circle, and the spirit is commanded to appear within it. If Eligos comes as a knight on horseback, the magician must not flinch. The Ars Goetia warns that spirits may test the magician’s courage before they obey.
Eligos Compared to Other Goetic Spirits
Bael (First Spirit, King)
Bael is the first spirit of the Goetia, a king who appears with three heads (a toad, a man, a cat) and commands 66 legions. He teaches invisibility and wisdom. Bael is far more powerful than Eligos but also more dangerous. He is a king, meaning he must be approached with greater ceremony and offered a sacrifice (often a burnt offering). Eligos is a duke, which means he can be summoned with less formality. Where Bael is for grand transformations, Eligos is for specific tactical outcomes.
Paimon (Ninth Spirit, King)
Paimon is a king who commands 200 legions and must be offered a sacrifice before he will speak. He teaches arts, sciences, and binds men to the magician’s will. Paimon is for those seeking mastery over knowledge and crowds. Eligos is for those seeking victory in a specific conflict or the revelation of a single hidden fact. Paimon’s summoning is elaborate; Eligos’s is comparatively straightforward.
Vassago (Third Spirit, Prince)
Vassago is a prince who commands 26 legions and knows past, present, and future. He discovers hidden things and is described as “of a good nature.” Vassago is passive, a revealer of information. Eligos is active, a mover of events. If you need to know what will happen, call Vassago. If you need to make it happen, call Eligos.
Beleth (Thirteenth Spirit, King)
Beleth is a king who commands 85 legions and appears with a trumpet, causing love but with terror. He requires a silver ring and a hazel wand to calm him. Eligos does not require such precautions. Beleth is for love and attraction; Eligos is for war and favor. The difference in temperament is stark: Beleth is volatile, Eligos is steady.
Asmoday (Thirty-Second Spirit, King)
Asmoday is a king who commands 72 legions, gives a ring of virtues, and teaches geometry and crafts. He is associated with construction and the building of things. Eligos is associated with destruction and revelation. Asmoday builds; Eligos uncovers.
What People Get Wrong About Eligos
One misconception is that all Goetic spirits are evil or demonic in the Christian sense. The Ars Goetia itself presents them as fallen angels who can be compelled to serve a righteous magician. Eligos is not a tempter. He is a revealer of secrets and a commander of armies. The medieval grimoires treat him as a neutral force, bound by the name of God and the seals of Solomon.
Another misconception is that the seals must be drawn in blood. Traditional instructions specify virgin parchment or metal, not blood. The Ars Goetia says to engrave the seal on a plate of copper or silver, or to draw it on clean parchment. Blood is a later romantic addition, not part of the source texts.
Another is that Eligos only appears to warriors. He is called by scholars seeking hidden knowledge as well. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum notes that he “maketh men to be beloved of lords and knights,” which is a social function, not a martial one.
FAQ
Can Eligos be summoned for love?
No, he is not associated with romantic love. Call Beleth or Sallos for that purpose.
How many legions does Eligos command?
Sixty legions, each consisting of 49 spirits, for a total of 2,940 spirits under his authority.
Is Eligos dangerous?
He can be intimidating but is considered one of the more cooperative dukes if approached with respect and the correct seal.
What is the best time to summon Eligos?
Tuesday, the hour of Mars, or during a waxing moon. Some practitioners also call him during the planetary hour of the Sun for favor of lords.
Eligos occupies a specific niche in the Goetic pantheon: the spirit of strategic warfare and hidden knowledge. Understanding where he fits among the 72 is essential for any practitioner who wants to call the right spirit for the right work. For a deeper look at the hierarchy of the Goetia, see our guide to demonology and the Goetia. For the symbols used in evocation, visit our glossary of Goetic seals. And for a step-by-step ritual framework, read our guide to summoning Goetic spirits.