The fire in the circle had burned low when the querent asked for the name. Not the usual ones — not Buer for healing, not Paimon for knowledge. They wanted Marchosias. Marchosias is a Great Marquis of Hell who governs thirty legions and appears as a wolf with griffin’s wings, a serpent’s tail, and human speech: the only Goetic spirit whose true form is explicitly bestial rather than human-shaped. That single fact shapes everything about how this demon operates and how it compares to its peers. No other spirit in the Ars Goetia begins its manifestation as a pure predator before shifting into a human shape — this inversion of the usual order sets Marchosias apart from the 71 other named spirits.
What Is Marchosias in the Goetic Hierarchy?
The Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon (compiled around the 17th century from earlier grimoire traditions), lists Marchosias as the 35th spirit. Its rank is Marquis or Marquess, a title shared with roughly a dozen other demons in the standard 72-spirit hierarchy. A Marquis in Goetic terms commands fewer legions than a Duke or King (dukes govern 26 to 36 legions; kings up to 66), but the Marquis often exercises authority in domains that overlap with those of higher ranks: combat, revelation of hidden truths, and the granting of loyal servants.
Marchosias governs exactly 30 legions of spirits. That number places it in the middle tier of the Goetic command structure. For comparison, the Duke Buer governs 50 legions, while the King Bael commands 66. The Marquis Sabnock governs 50; the Marquis Phenex governs 20. Marchosias sits comfortably in the average range for its rank.
The sigil of Marchosias appears in manuscript variants from the Lemegeton tradition, including Sloane MS 3825 (British Library, c. 17th century) and additional codices from the 18th and 19th centuries. Practitioners draw it in the same manner as other Goetic seals: on virgin parchment or metal, with the circle inscribed before any evocation begins. The sigil itself contains a central cross-like figure with four arms, each terminating in a hook or curl, surrounded by a border of dots. No planetary or zodiacal symbols are attached to it in the standard recensions.
The Ars Goetia assigns Marchosias to the hour of Mars for evocation, a detail found in the Lemegeton rubrics. Mars rules Tuesday, and the planetary hour of Mars is considered appropriate for spirits of war, vengeance, and confrontation. Marchosias’s association with combat and loyal servants aligns with this martial attribution.
Where Do the Primary Sources Place Marchosias?
The earliest known listing of Marchosias appears in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), compiled by Johann Weyer, a physician and demonologist who studied under the occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. Weyer’s work was later incorporated into the Lemegeton. Weyer described Marchosias as “a great marquess, appearing at first as a wolf with griffin’s wings and a serpent’s tail, but upon command, takes human shape.”
The Goetia itself adds a crucial detail: when Marchosias speaks, it does so with “a great and terrible voice.” That description matches the beast-form. A spirit that must transform to speak as a man implies a nature more feral than the courtly demons who never shed their human appearance. The voice is not conversational — it is a roar given language.
Later sources include the Dictionnaire Infernal (1818) by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy, which reproduces the Marchosias entry with an illustration showing a horned wolf creature, wings spread, tail coiled. The image remains one of the most reproduced Goetic depictions in modern grimoire reprints. De Plancy added a note that Marchosias “teaches the art of war and gives faithful servants,” a phrasing that echoes the earlier grimoires.
A third major source is the Lemegeton manuscript Harley MS 6483 (British Library, c. 1700s), which includes Marchosias with the same attributes but with a variant spelling: Marchosias or Marchocias. The spelling variations are common across manuscripts. The Lemegeton manuscript Sloane MS 2731 (c. 1690s) also contains the sigil and description.
The demonologist S.L. MacGregor Mathers translated the Goetia for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late 19th century, and his edition (later published by Aleister Crowley) cemented Marchosias’s place in modern occultism. Mathers retained the traditional description but added a note that Marchosias “is said to be of a good nature, and is very ready to perform any command.” That phrase, “of a good nature”, is unusual for a Goetic spirit and may reflect a specific tradition or a misinterpretation of the original text.
How Does Marchosias Compare to Other Wolf-Form Demons?
Marchosias is not the only Goetic demon associated with wolves. The comparison reveals the distinctions:
- Marchosias (35th spirit) appears as a wolf with griffin wings and serpent tail. Governs 30 legions. Teaches combat arts, reveals hidden matters, provides obedient familiars.
- Purson (20th spirit) appears as a man with a lion’s head, riding a bear and carrying a serpent. No wolf form. Reports hidden things and finds treasures.
- Furfur (34th spirit) appears as a stag with a fiery tail. No wolf form. Lies unless forced into a triangle. Governs 26 legions.
- Sabnock (43rd spirit) appears as an armed soldier with a lion’s head, riding a pale horse. No wolf form. Builds towers, fortifies camps, and afflicts wounds.
- Andromalius (72nd spirit) appears as a man holding a serpent. No wolf form. Recovers stolen goods and catches thieves.
- Leraje (14th spirit) appears as an archer in green and causes battles, but lacks any bestial trait.
- Valefor (6th spirit) appears as a lion with an ass’s head, but not a wolf.
The only other major wolf-associated figure in the Goetic corpus is perhaps Leraje, but Leraje never takes a wolf shape. The wolf as a symbol appears almost exclusively in Marchosias. In the broader demonological tradition outside the Goetia, the wolf is often associated with Baphomet or Lycanthropy spirits, but within the 72 spirits, Marchosias is unique.
Marchosias stands alone as the only spirit whose natural state is a predator of the wild combined with the emblems of sky and venom. The wolf alone would suggest pack hunting and raw instinct. The griffin wings add the king of birds. The serpent tail adds chthonic cunning. Together they form a triad of predation: earth, air, underworld.
What Makes Marchosias Unique Among the Marquis Spirits?
There are 14 Marquises in the standard Goetic list (depending on variant numbering). Marchosias differs from them in several key ways:
Bestial True Form: While many spirits appear in hybrid forms, Phenex as a phoenix, Furfur as a stag, Sabnock as a lion-headed soldier, Marchosias is the only one whose initial manifestation is a pure wolf. The transformation to human shape is a secondary act, not a default. This implies a nature closer to raw instinct than to human intellect.
Voice of Terror: The Goetia describes Marchosias’s voice as “great and terrible.” No other Marquis receives such a specific vocal description. This suggests that the spirit’s communication is inherently intimidating, not gentle or courtly.
Triple Predator Symbolism: No other Marquis combines three distinct predator motifs (wolf, griffin, serpent). The combination is unique in the entire 72-spirit list. It suggests a spirit that operates across the planes of land, air, and underground.
Combat and Loyalty Domain: Marchosias teaches “the art of war” and gives “faithful servants.” While other spirits like Andras (63rd spirit) also teach combat, Andras is a marquis who appears as an angel with a raven’s head and kills. Marchosias’s domain is more about teaching and providing loyal followers than outright destruction.
No Deception Reputation: Unlike Furfur (34th spirit) who lies unless forced into a triangle, or Vapula (60th spirit) who is described as “false,” Marchosias has no reputation for deceit. The Mathers note about “good nature” suggests a cooperative spirit.
Rank Specifics: Among the 14 Marquises, Marchosias’s 30 legions place it in the middle. The highest Marquis, Phenex, governs 20 legions but is also a poet. The lowest, Sabnock, governs 50, which is actually higher than Marchosias. The legions do not strictly correlate with rank.
How to Work with Marchosias in Practice
Practitioners who work with Marchosias typically follow the standard Goetic evocation procedures from the Ars Goetia: draw the circle, the triangle, and the spirit’s sigil. The ritual should be performed on a Tuesday (Mars day) during the planetary hour of Mars. The time of day is usually daytime for beneficent purposes, though some grimoires recommend night for martial spirits.
The practitioner begins by reciting the Conjuration of the Spirits from the Lemegeton, followed by the Conjuration of Marchosias specifically. The spirit is bound to appear in the triangle and answer questions. Offerings are not required in the classical text, but modern practitioners sometimes offer a small amount of wine or a symbolic weapon.
Marchosias is called upon for:
- Learning combat skills (physical or martial arts)
- Gaining loyal servants or allies in practical endeavors
- Revealing hidden matters (secrets, lost knowledge)
- Protection from enemies (especially physical threats)
- Understanding the nature of predation and survival (for shamanic or pathworking work)
The spirit’s beast-nature requires the practitioner to remain authoritative. The Goetia warns that spirits who appear in bestial form may be intimidating, but the magician must not show fear. The Lemegeton instructs: “If the spirit appears in a fierce or terrible shape, you must not be afraid, but speak to him with a bold and courageous spirit.”
Marchosias in Modern Occultism
In the 20th century, Marchosias was adopted by several occult orders. Aleister Crowley included Marchosias in his Goetia edition (1904), which remains the most widely used modern version. Crowley’s edition added the Enochian keys and the names of God from the Shem HaMephorash.
Kenneth Grant (1930–2011), a British occultist and disciple of Crowley, associated Marchosias with the “typhonian” current and the wolf-goddess Kali. Grant’s interpretation emphasized the chthonic and lunar aspects of the spirit.
The Dragon Rouge order (founded 1989 by Thomas Karlsson) uses Marchosias in its system of “dark magic” and pathworking. The spirit is linked to the rune Wunjo in some modern interpretations, though this is a later addition without historical basis.
Modern practitioners often report that Marchosias appears as a large grey wolf with glowing eyes, wings folded, and a serpent tail that moves independently. The voice is described as a deep growl that becomes speech. Some practitioners note that the spirit prefers to be called “Marquis” rather than “Marchosias” during evocation.
FAQ
Is Marchosias dangerous to evoke?
Marchosias is not considered one of the more dangerous Goetic spirits, but its beast-form and terrible voice can be intimidating. The Goetia does not warn of specific dangers beyond the general need for protective circles. As with all Goetic spirits, the practitioner must follow the ritual procedures exactly and maintain authority.
Can Marchosias help with modern combat skills like martial arts?
Yes, the Ars Goetia states that Marchosias teaches “the art of war.” Modern practitioners interpret this to include all forms of combat, including martial arts, tactical training, and self-defense. The spirit’s association with loyal servants can also extend to finding a good teacher or training partner.
What is the difference between Marchosias and Sabnock?
Both are Marquises, but Sabnock (43rd spirit) appears as an armed soldier with a lion’s head and specializes in building towers, fortifying camps, and afflicting wounds. Marchosias focuses on teaching combat and providing loyal servants, not on fortification. Sabnock’s form is humanoid; Marchosias’s is bestial.
Related Guides and Resources
For a deeper understanding of the Goetic hierarchy, explore the complete demonology and Goetia guide. Learn about the Ars Goetia and its manuscript tradition. For more on the Lesser Key of Solomon, see the Lemegeton glossary entry.
The distinction between Marchosias and other wolf-form demons is just one example of the nuanced taxonomy within the 72 spirits. Each spirit occupies a unique niche in the hierarchy, and understanding these differences is essential for effective practice.