A medieval magician preparing for a summoning had to choose his spirit carefully. Call Sitri and you might find yourself stripped bare before a leopard’s gaze. Call Zepar and you might watch a woman walk through a wall to reach your circle. Both are princes of the Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon. Both govern love, lust, and the binding of human hearts. But they do so through radically different means, and confusing the two has ruined more than one operation.
Sitri (also spelled Sytry, Sithri, or Bitru) is a Great Prince of Hell who appears as a leopard with griffin wings, then transforms into a beautiful man. He governs sexual attraction, specifically the kind that makes men and women burn for each other. Zepar (also spelled Zephar or Separ) is a Great Duke who appears as a soldier in red armor. He causes women to love men and can make them appear naked before the summoner. The difference between them is the difference between lust and compulsion.
Where Do Sitri and Zepar Come From?
The earliest known list of these spirits appears in the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, compiled in the 17th century from earlier grimoire traditions. Manuscripts like Sloane 3824 (circa 1640) and Harley 6483 (circa 1670) preserve the ranks, seals, and invocations that define both spirits.
Sitri is listed as the 12th spirit, ruling over 60 legions of infernal spirits. Zepar is the 16th, commanding 26 legions. Both belong to the hierarchy of King Paimon, who rules the western quarter of Hell’s domains. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum by Johann Weyer (1577) includes both spirits in an earlier arrangement, though Weyer considered the entire Goetia a work of demonic deception rather than practical magic.
The Key of Solomon tradition, from which the Goetia draws, was attributed to King Solomon himself. The story claims Solomon bound these spirits into a bronze vessel and sealed them with his seal ring. Medieval magicians believed they could compel these same spirits through the correct use of divine names, pentacles, and ritual purity.
What Each Spirit Actually Does
The difference between Sitri and Zepar is not subtle. It is the difference between the fire that draws two people together and the chain that keeps them there.
Sitri causes “the love of men and women to burn together.” His power is mutual attraction. The texts specify that he makes both parties equally inflamed. This is not a one-sided obsession. It is a reciprocal fire. Sitri’s domain is the kind of desire that makes people abandon reason, position, and reputation. Medieval accounts describe him as particularly effective for reconciling estranged lovers or creating passion where none existed.
Zepar causes women to love men. The asymmetry is deliberate. He makes a specific woman desire a specific man. The grimoires add a darker detail: Zepar can make women appear naked before the summoner, either in vision or in physical form. This is not mutual attraction. It is a directed compulsion. Zepar’s power works on one target, toward one goal.
The practical difference matters. If you want two people to fall into each other, you call Sitri. If you want one person to want you, you call Zepar.
How You Spoke to Each
The summoning methods for Sitri and Zepar follow the standard Goetic procedure, but the timing and offerings differ.
Sitri is summoned during the hour of Venus, on a Friday, when the moon is waxing. The magician wears white or green. The seal of Sitri is drawn on virgin parchment in the blood of a pigeon or dove. Some texts recommend burning rose petals and cinnamon before the circle. The spirit arrives as a leopard with griffin wings. The magician must not show fear. If the leopard form disturbs you, command him to take human shape. Sitri speaks in a voice described as “sweet and persuasive.”
Zepar is summoned during the hour of Mars, on a Tuesday, when the moon is in the sign of the target woman’s birth. The magician wears red or black. The seal of Zepar is drawn on calfskin parchment. The spirit appears as a soldier in red armor. He does not transform. He speaks directly and without charm. Some manuscripts warn that Zepar will test the magician’s authority before obeying.
Both spirits require the standard Goetic circle, the brass vessel for the seal, and the use of the Shema and other divine names to compel obedience. Neither spirit is summoned lightly. The grimoires warn that both can turn their power against a careless magician.
The Symbolism of Leopard and Soldier
Sitri’s leopard form carries specific meaning. The leopard in medieval bestiaries represented ferocity, cunning, and sexual appetite. It was considered a hybrid animal, born of adultery between a lion and a pard. The griffin wings add a solar element. Sitri is earth and fire combined: the grounded lust of the beast and the soaring desire of the spirit.
Zepar’s soldier form is equally deliberate. The red armor signifies Mars, war, and the assertion of will. Zepar does not seduce. He conquers. His method is direct imposition of the magician’s desire onto the target. The soldier does not ask. He commands.
These symbols explain the spirits’ methods. Sitri works through the senses, through scent and sight and touch. Zepar works through the will, through command and compulsion.
Sitri and Zepar in the Broader Goetic Hierarchy
Both spirits serve under King Paimon, who rules the western quarter. Paimon is one of the four principal kings of the Goetia, and his subordinates include some of the most powerful spirits in the system.
Sitri’s rank as Prince places him above Zepar’s rank as Duke. In the Goetic hierarchy, Princes command more legions and answer directly to the Kings. Dukes command fewer legions and often serve under Princes or Kings. This does not mean Sitri is more effective for love workings. It means his authority is broader. Zepar’s narrower focus makes him more precise for single-target operations.
The Ars Goetia lists both spirits among the 72, but their seals and offices vary between manuscripts. Sloane 3824 gives Sitri a seal with three concentric circles and a central cross. Harley 6483 shows a different design with planetary symbols. Zepar’s seal is more consistent: a circle divided into four quadrants with Hebrew letters at each cardinal point.
Common Misconceptions
Sitri and Zepar are interchangeable. They are not. Sitri governs mutual desire. Zepar governs one-sided compulsion. Using the wrong spirit for the wrong situation will produce no result or an unwanted one.
Both spirits can be commanded without risk. The grimoires disagree. Sitri is described as “gentle” but Zepar as “deceptive.” Both can twist a poorly worded command. The magician must specify exactly what is desired, for how long, and with what consequences.
Zepar only works on women. The original texts specify women, but modern practitioners often adapt the operation for any target. The traditional method remains gendered.
Sitri is a love spirit in the romantic sense. He is not. Sitri governs lust, passion, and sexual attraction. He does not create friendship, companionship, or lasting affection. Those belong to other spirits.
FAQ
Can Sitri and Zepar be summoned together? Some practitioners combine them for complex operations, but the grimoires warn against mixing spirits of different ranks and natures without clear separation of tasks.
Which spirit is more dangerous? Zepar is considered more dangerous because his compulsion can create obsession and backlash. Sitri’s mutual attraction is safer but less predictable.
Do I need to be an experienced magician to summon either? The Goetia requires familiarity with ritual purification, circle construction, and the use of divine names. Neither spirit is recommended for beginners.
Can these spirits cause harm? Both can, especially if the summoner makes errors in the ritual or fails to dismiss the spirit properly. The grimoires include specific bans and constraints for this reason.
The Choice Between Fire and Chain
The difference between Sitri and Zepar is the difference between what you want to create and what you want to control. Sitri offers a fire that burns two people together. Zepar offers a chain that binds one person to another. Neither is moral or immoral. They are tools, and like all tools, they work best when the hand that wields them knows exactly what it intends.
For a deeper understanding of the Goetic system, explore our complete guide to demonology and the Goetia. You may also want to study the seals and sigils of the 72 spirits and the ritual structure of the Lesser Key of Solomon.