The grimoire lies open on the desk. Two entries, side by side: Halphas, the 38th spirit, and Malphas, the 39th. One builds towers, the other destroys them. The difference is not only in their actions but in the nature of their power.
Halphas and Malphas are two spirits from the 17th-century grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon, specifically the Ars Goetia. Halphas is an Earl who commands 26 legions of infernal spirits, known for building towers and arming soldiers with war weapons. Malphas is a President who commands 40 legions, known for building houses and towers, but also for destroying the towers of enemies and providing good familiars. Though they appear in sequence, their roles are complementary and often confused by modern practitioners.
Where Do Halphas and Malphas Come From?
Both spirits appear in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lemegeton compiled around the mid-17th century. The manuscript tradition, however, is older. Halphas and Malphas appear in earlier lists of infernal spirits from the 16th century, such as the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583) by Johann Weyer, where they are called “Halphas” and “Malphas” with slightly different sigils and descriptions. Weyer derived his material from medieval grimoires like the Liber Officiorum Spirituum and the Steganographia of Johannes Trithemius.
The key difference in rank dates to the Ars Goetia: Halphas holds the title of Earl, Malphas the title of President. In the hierarchy of the Goetia, Earls are subordinate to Dukes and Kings, while Presidents serve directly under Kings. Malphas commands 40 legions, Halphas 26. The number of legions is not a measure of power alone but of the spirit’s jurisdiction and the scope of its influence. A President oversees a broader domain than an Earl, which explains why Malphas can both build and destroy, while Halphas is confined to building and fortifying.
What Each Spirit Actually Does
Halphas appears in the form of a stock dove, a pigeon-like bird, and speaks in a hoarse voice. He builds towers full of munitions and armaments, and he fills them with soldiers. He also “doth carry away the enemies of the exorcist to destruction,” according to the Ars Goetia. The image is military: a bird that oversees construction, then deployment. The tower is a fortress, a storehouse, a vantage point. Halphas does not destroy; he prepares for war.
Malphas appears first as a crow, then changes into a human form with a hoarse voice. He builds houses, high towers, and strongholds; he can make enemies’ towers and buildings fall; he also provides good familiars and accepts sacrifices willingly. The crow is a scavenger, a bird of omens, but also a builder of nests. The duality is deliberate: Malphas creates and destroys. He is not a war architect but a strategist of the built environment. He can give you a house, then bring down your neighbor’s.
The difference in their offerings matters. Malphas “offereth a sacrifice, and will deceive the exorcist” if the exorcist does not handle the ritual correctly. Halphas does not deceive; he simply does what he is commanded. The risk of trickery is higher with Malphas, which is why many grimoires warn to keep him confined to a triangle of art.
How You Spoke to Each
In the traditional evocation system of the Goetia, the magician draws a circle, a triangle of art, and uses the spirit’s seal. Both spirits are summoned at planetary hours appropriate to their rank: Earls are often associated with the Sun or Mars, Presidents with Jupiter or Mercury. But the actual practice, as recorded in the Lemegeton and later by the Golden Dawn, varies.
For Halphas, the focus is on fortification. The magician might already have a goal: protection of a property, strengthening of a business, or arming oneself against legal or social attacks. The offering is simple — incense, a name, a triangle. Halphas is obedient but requires clearly stated commands. The hoarse voice of the dove is a warning: he will not repeat himself.
For Malphas, the ritual is more complex. The Ars Goetia states that Malphas “will deceive the exorcist” if the exorcist does not perform the sacrifice correctly. Many modern practitioners interpret this as a requirement for a tangible offering: a liquid, a grain, a small animal (though animal sacrifice is rare in contemporary practice). The crow form is a test. The magician must maintain authority, refuse to accept any gift that is not explicitly requested, and keep the spirit within the triangle until the familiar is delivered.
The familiar is a key difference. Halphas does not offer familiars. Malphas provides “good familiars” — spirits that can be sent to perform tasks, spy, or protect. Obtaining a familiar from Malphas requires a second contract, sometimes written on virgin parchment and sealed with the spirit’s sigil.
What the Tower Symbolizes
The tower is the central symbol for both. In medieval allegory, the tower represents ambition, protection, and isolation. Halphas builds towers to store weapons — the tower as arsenal. Malphas builds towers to live in, then tears down others’ towers, the tower as territory. The difference is between defense and expansion.
In the context of spirit-work, the tower also represents the self. The magician who calls Halphas is building a wall around their own life. The magician who calls Malphas is reshaping the landscape. One is a mason, the other is a conqueror. The grimoires do not explicitly say this, but the pattern is consistent across the Ars Goetia: spirits of the same rank often share a theme, and Halphas and Malphas share the theme of construction and destruction.
Common Misconceptions
The most frequent error is treating them as interchangeable. A practitioner looking for “tower magic” might call Malphas to build a tower, then wonder why he also offers to destroy it. The answer is that Malphas does both, but he is a President, not a personal assistant. His presence is broader, his demands higher. Halphas is safer for a single goal.
Another misconception: that Malphas is evil because he destroys. The Goetia is not a moral system. Destruction is a tool, not a verdict. Malphas can destroy a legal opponent’s case, an enemy’s business, or a rival’s reputation. The magician’s intention determines the ethics.
A third: that the legions are literal armies. The spirits are not commanding human soldiers. The legions are infernal hierarchies, each spirit a governor of a province. The number of legions indicates the scope of the spirit’s domain, not the number of ghostly troops.
A fourth: that the offering to Malphas must be blood. The Ars Goetia says “he offereth a sacrifice”, meaning he himself offers a sacrifice to the magician, not that the magician must sacrifice to him. The deception lies in the spirit offering a gift that binds the magician. The magician must refuse all gifts until the task is done.
FAQ
Can I call both Halphas and Malphas in the same session?
Yes, but it is risky. They are of different ranks and domains. It is better to call one, complete the work, then dismiss before summoning the other.
Which spirit is better for protection?
Halphas. He builds towers and arms soldiers. Malphas can also protect, but his destruction ability is a double-edged sword.
Do Halphas and Malphas accept modern offerings?
Incense, water, and bread are traditional. Some practitioners use a small model tower or a key. The key is to offer something that symbolizes the request.
Are they dangerous?
No more than any Goetic spirit, if you follow the ritual correctly. Both require a triangle, a circle, and a clear command. Malphas requires extra caution because of his deceptive nature.
The Practitioner’s Choice
The choice between Halphas and Malphas is not a choice between good and evil. It is a choice between a builder and a changer. If you need a fortress, call the Earl. If you need to clear ground for something new, call the President. Both know the tower from roof to foundation. The difference is which side of the wall you stand on.
For further reading, explore our guide to the Goetia for a full list of the 72 spirits. The glossary entry on the Lesser Key of Solomon explains the manuscript history. And if you are preparing a ritual, our guide on summoning Goetic spirits covers the circle, triangle, and seals.