The seal of Ipos shows a lion-headed angel, but the grimoire tells us his feet are webbed like a goose and his tail belongs to a hare. The contradiction is the point. Ipos is a Goetic Earl who appears as an angel with a lion’s head, goose feet, and a hare’s tail. He grants knowledge of the past and future and makes men witty and bold. Compared to other demonological figures, Ipos stands out for his dual nature and his focus on time-bound knowledge rather than material gain.
Compare Ipos, the Goetic Earl of past and future, to other demonological figures like Buer, Paimon, and Vassago. Discover what makes him unique.
What is Ipos in the Goetic Hierarchy?
Ipos is an Earl of Hell, commanding thirty-six legions of spirits. He appears in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon (compiled in the mid-17th century from earlier grimoires). His name sometimes appears as Ipes or Ayperos. Johann Weyer listed him in his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583) as “Ipos, an earl, who appears in the shape of an angel with a lion’s head, goose’s feet, and a hare’s tail.” Weyer added that Ipos knows all things past and future and “makes men witty and bold.”
The hybrid form is deliberate. The lion head signals courage and royal authority. The goose feet suggest travel and adaptability: geese migrate across continents. The hare tail implies speed but also timidity, a reminder that even a powerful spirit has its limits. Ipos carries a serpent in some depictions, or a staff, reinforcing his role as a revealer of hidden knowledge.
Where Does Ipos Come From? The Textual History
Ipos first appears in the grimoire tradition of the Renaissance. Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583) is the earliest surviving list that includes him. Weyer was a student of Agrippa and a critic of witch-hunts; his book catalogued demons to expose the absurdity of demonological claims. Yet the list itself became a source for later magicians.
The Ars Goetia (circa 1650s) copied Weyer’s entry almost verbatim but added the number of legions: thirty-six. The Lemegeton manuscripts that contain the Ars Goetia also include seals for each spirit. Ipos’s seal is a complex geometric design, used in evocation to constrain and command the spirit.
Later occultists like S.L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley edited and published versions of the Goetia in the early 20th century. Crowley’s edition (1904) includes Ipos with the same attributes. The Goetia remains the primary source for modern ceremonial magicians.
What Does Ipos Symbolize? The Hybrid Body
The lion head is the most obvious symbol. In demonology, the lion represents strength, kingship, and the solar principle. But Ipos is not a king; he is an Earl, a rank below Duke or King. The lion head may indicate his authority over a specific domain: time.
The goose feet ground him. Geese are creatures of earth and water, migratory and watchful. In folklore, geese were sacred to the goddess Juno and were kept on the Capitoline Hill as sentinels. The goose feet on Ipos suggest a spirit that moves between worlds, alert to change.
The hare tail is the strangest detail. Hares were associated with witches in European folklore, and with the moon. A hare’s tail is small and white, a mark of vulnerability. Ipos’s hare tail may hint that his knowledge comes at a cost: the magician must be bold enough to receive it.
Together, these parts create a being that is angelic, bestial, and human. Ipos is not a pure fallen angel like Lucifer. He is a composite, a liminal figure who straddles categories. That liminality is what makes him valuable for divination.
How Practitioners Work with Ipos
In ceremonial magic, Ipos is invoked for knowledge of the past and future, and for personal qualities: wit, boldness, eloquence. The magician draws his seal on virgin parchment or engraves it on a metal plate. The evocation is performed inside a consecrated circle, with Ipos’s seal placed in a triangle of art outside the circle.
The timing matters. Ipos is often summoned during the planetary hour of Mercury (for communication and intellect) or the Moon (for hidden knowledge). Some grimoires specify that he appears more readily when the moon is waxing.
The magician calls Ipos by name, using the conjurations from the Ars Goetia. When Ipos appears, the magician asks for revelation. The spirit may speak in a clear voice or show visions. The magician must remain bold: Ipos is said to test the summoner’s courage.
We do not recommend this practice lightly. Evocation requires preparation, purification, and a clear intent. Ipos is not a spirit to call for entertainment.
Ipos vs. Other Knowledge-Granting Spirits
Ipos is one of several Goetic spirits who offer knowledge. Comparing them reveals his niche.
Buer (President, 50 legions) teaches natural and moral philosophy, and heals all infirmities. Buer appears as a star-shaped figure with five legs. He is a teacher of systems, not of time. Ipos is more specific: past and future events, not general philosophy.
Paimon (King, 200 legions) rules all arts and sciences. He appears as a crowned man on a dromedary. Paimon is a master of everything, but he demands a sacrifice and is difficult to control. Ipos is more approachable, an Earl rather than a King, and his domain is narrower.
Bune (Duke, 30 legions) grants wealth, eloquence, and wisdom. Bune appears as a three-headed dragon. His focus is material and rhetorical. Ipos does not grant wealth; he grants wit and boldness, which can lead to wealth but are not the same.
Vassago (Prince, 26 legions) knows past and future and discovers hidden things. Vassago appears as a handsome man on a camel. He is Ipos’s closest parallel. The difference is temperament: Vassago is described as “good of disposition,” while Ipos is more neutral. Vassago also lacks the hybrid animal features.
Astaroth (Duke, 40 legions) knows past, present, and future, and can reveal secrets. Astaroth appears as a foul angel riding a dragon. He is more malevolent and requires the magician to wear a metal ring to protect against his stench. Ipos is cleaner, less dangerous.
Ipos’s unique value is his combination of time-knowledge with personal transformation: he makes men witty and bold. No other Goetic spirit is credited with that specific effect.
Ipos vs. Non-Goetic Demonological Figures
Outside the Goetia, Ipos is often confused with figures like Lucifer or Satan. Lucifer is a fallen archangel, a ruler of Hell, not a subordinate spirit. Ipos is a demon in the sense of a Goetic spirit, but he is not a fallen angel in the Christian narrative. He is a created entity within the grimoire tradition.
Compared to Asmodeus (a king of demons in the Testament of Solomon and later lore), Ipos is far less destructive. Asmodeus is associated with lust and wrath. Ipos is associated with intellect and courage.
Compared to Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies, a prince of demons), Ipos is minor. Beelzebub is a major figure in demonology, often second only to Satan. Ipos commands thirty-six legions; Beelzebub commands more and holds a higher rank.
The comparison shows that Ipos is a specialist, not a general. He is not a figure of cosmic evil. He is a tool for a specific kind of work.
Common Misconceptions About Ipos
Misconception: Ipos is a fallen angel. The Goetic spirits are not necessarily fallen angels. They are spirits bound by Solomon. Their origins are ambiguous. Ipos’s angelic appearance may mislead, but he is not Lucifer.
Misconception: Ipos is evil. The Ars Goetia does not classify spirits as good or evil. They are neutral, capable of harm if mishandled. Ipos’s effects are beneficial: knowledge, wit, boldness.
Misconception: Ipos can only be summoned at midnight. Timing varies. Planetary hours are more important than time of day.
Misconception: Ipos’s appearance is purely angelic. The grimoire explicitly gives him animal features. Ignoring them misses the point.
FAQ
Is Ipos a demon or an angel? He is a Goetic spirit, classified as a demon in the hierarchy of Hell, but his appearance is angelic. He is an Earl, not a fallen angel.
What does Ipos look like? He appears as an angel with a lion’s head, goose feet, and a hare’s tail. Some sources add a serpent or staff.
What can Ipos teach? He reveals knowledge of the past and future, and grants wit, boldness, and eloquence.
How is Ipos different from Paimon? Paimon rules all arts and sciences and requires a sacrifice. Ipos focuses on temporal knowledge and personal qualities, and is easier to control.
Ipos is not a monster. He is a keeper of time’s secrets, a spirit that asks the summoner to be bold enough to look both backward and forward. For more on the Goetic hierarchy, explore our demonology and Goetia hub. Study the seals of the Goetic spirits to understand their geometry. And if you are ready to work with these spirits, read our guide on how to summon a Goetic spirit with the proper precautions.