The incense is sandalwood, not sulfur. The incantation is recited in a low voice, almost a whisper. No threats, no demanding circles of wrath. The practitioner is not seeking wealth, destruction, or hidden knowledge. They are calling Sallos, and the difference in tone is the first clue: not all Goetic demons come to fight.
Sallos (also Saleos, Zaleos) is the 19th spirit of the Ars Goetia, a Great Duke who commands 30 legions of spirits. His primary office is reconciliation: he pacifies quarreling lovers, settles disputes, and restores affection between estranged partners. Where most Goetic demons govern war, divination, or material gain, Sallos governs peace. That single fact sets him apart from the majority of the 72.
Where Does Sallos Appear in the Grimoires?
Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583) lists him first as Saleos, a Great Duke who appears as a gallant soldier riding a crocodile and wearing a ducal crown. Weyer remarks that Saleos “maketh peace between those that are at variance, and conciliates the love of men and women.” This description passes nearly verbatim into the Lesser Key of Solomon, compiled in the 17th century from earlier manuscripts. In that text, Sallos is the 19th spirit, and his sigil is a glyph of curved lines and loops — no sharp angles, unlike the sigils of war demons such as Balam or Aim.
The name itself is obscure. Some etymologists link it to the Hebrew shalosh (three) or to salah (to be quiet at rest). Neither is certain, but both point toward tranquility rather than aggression. The spelling varies: Saleos, Sallos, Zaleos. In the Dictionnaire Infernal (Collin de Plancy, 1863), his entry is brief, but the illustration shows a knight with a placid expression, spear lowered — not raised.
What the Crocodile Rider Symbolizes
The crocodile is central to understanding Sallos. In Egyptian and classical symbolism, the crocodile represents the primeval mud, patience, and the boundary between land and water. It does not charge. It waits. Sallos rides it, which means he has mastered that patient, earthy power. He is not a spirit of sudden lust or violent conquest. He works slowly, through reconciliation and emotional rebalancing.
The ducal crown and soldier’s armor are marks of authority, but his weapon is often depicted as sheathed or pointed downward. Unlike Sitri, who appears as a leopard with a woman’s face and carries a torch, or Zepar, who appears in a red garment and inspires immediate sexual attraction, Sallos’s regalia signals rank without compulsion. He does not force affection; he restores what was lost.
His sigil reinforces this. Drawn with no sharp points, it suggests flow, negotiation, and the closing of gaps. Practitioners who work with the sigil often describe a sensation of warmth or softening during meditation, not the pressure common with more combative spirits.
How You Invoke a Peacemaker
The ritual for Sallos differs from most Goetic evocations in tone and timing. Practitioners light incense in the hour of Venus, not of Mars. The altar is dressed with rose quartz or jade, not iron or flint. The incense is rose, sandalwood, or benzoin — not frankincense and myrrh (which belong to spirits of purification and judgment). The circle is drawn with a calm hand; the Triangle of Manifestation is oriented toward the North, not the East, because Sallos is an earth-aligned spirit.
The call itself is spoken as a request, not a threat. The Lesser Key gives no special binding words for Sallos beyond the standard Lamen and conjurations, but experienced evokers shorten the preamble. They state the petitioner’s name and the nature of the rift. They do not demand. They ask for the crocodile rider to “look upon these two hearts and find the path they have lost.”
Offerings are simple: a cup of red wine, a piece of bread, and a white candle left to burn out. No blood. No animal sacrifice. Sallos is one of the few Goetic spirits who accepts offerings of peace; milk and honey are sometimes substituted. For more on Goetic ritual structure, see our overview of the Lesser Key of Solomon.
Why Practitioners Prefer Sallos over Sitri for Reconciliation
Sitri (the 12th spirit) also reconciles lovers, but his method is coercion. He “causeth women to love men, and causes them to show themselves naked.” Sitri works through lust, not affection. His sigil features a sharp pentagram-like star. His presence is aggressive. He is useful when attraction must be sparked from scratch but dangerous when used carelessly, he can breed obsession.
Zepar (the 16th spirit) makes women love men “in the form of a mate” but also “deceives in love.” His domain is infatuation and illusion. Bune (the 26th spirit) grants riches and wisdom but can also bring reconciliation, yet Bune is a Duchess of the night, and her method is slower, more concerned with financial stability than emotional healing.
Sallos is the only Goetic spirit whose primary office is pure reconciliation without coercion, deception, or material bribery. That makes him the first choice for therapists, clergy, and family mediators who work with the Goetia. He does not break bonds to create new ones. He repairs them. For a full comparison of Goetic spirits and their specialties, visit our demonology and Goetia hub.
Common Errors When Calling Sallos
The most frequent mistake is treating Sallos like a love magic demon. He is not. He will not make a specific person fall in love with you. He will not break up a relationship for your gain. If you call him for selfish lust, he will refuse, or, according to some practitioners, he may enforce the existing bond so strongly that the petitioner feels rejected.
Another error is using aggressive seals and names. Some practitioners bind all Goetic spirits with the same iron tools and sulfurous curses. Sallos responds poorly to force. He is not a spirit to be threatened. The Goetia itself records that Sallos “appeareth in a fair form” and that he “willingly obeyeth.” The keyword is willingly. Approach him as a Duke, not an enemy.
Some also confuse his name with Sallos of the Dukante hierarchy mentioned in non-Goetic texts. That is a different entity. Stick to the Lesser Key description.
Sallos’s Sigil and Its Symbolism
The sigil of Sallos, as recorded in the Lesser Key of Solomon, consists of interlocking curves and loops without any straight lines or sharp angles. This is unusual among Goetic sigils. Compare it to the sigil of Andras (the 63rd spirit), which features jagged spikes suggesting violence, or the sigil of Balam (the 51st spirit), which incorporates triangular points. Sallos’s sigil appears almost organic, resembling a knot or a closed circuit.
Practitioners who study sigil magic note that curved sigils tend to correspond with receptive, binding, or healing energies. The lack of sharp terminations means the energy does not “cut” outward, it circulates inward, toward the problem. When drawn on paper, the sigil is often traced clockwise, never counterclockwise, to reinforce the theme of restoration. For a deeper study of Goetic symbols, see our glossary of sigils.
FAQ
Is Sallos dangerous?
No more than any spirit. He is considered one of the gentler Goetic demons, but no Goetic spirit should be called without proper preparation, banishing, and respect.
Can Sallos be invoked for revenge?
No. His office is reconciliation, not vengeance. For revenge, spirits such as Andras or Flauros are more appropriate.
Does Sallos require offerings every time?
Yes, an offering is expected. A simple glass of red wine and a white candle are sufficient. Some evokers also offer bread and honey.
Sallos is a reminder that the Goetia is not only a catalog of destruction. Within its 72 spirits are powers of peace, repair, and emotional balance. For those seeking to heal a rift rather than break a bond, the crocodile rider is the safest and most effective choice.
To explore other spirits with similar functions, see our guide on love and reconciliation in demonology. For deeper understanding of Goetic symbols and seals, visit our glossary of sigils. And for the full context of the 72 spirits, read our overview of the Lesser Key of Solomon.