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Amduscias
Alternatively named
Amdusias, Amukias and Amdukias.
According to the German demonologist Johann Wier
in his 'Pseudomonarchia
Daemonum', he is a demon,
a powerful Grand Duke of Hell and
ruler of 29 infernal legions, having the form of a unicorn but, when
evoked, would appear in the form of a human being. He gave concerts at
the command of men, and his music was heard coming from many invisible
musical instruments. It was said that even the trees bend to his voice.
This is how he is described in the
Goetia,
one of the books of the manuscript grimoire known as the
Lemegeton or
Lesser Key of Solomon:
"He is a Duke Great and Strong, appearing at first like a
Unicorn, but at the request of the Exorcist he standeth before him in Human Shape, causing Trumpets, and all manner of Musical Instruments to be heard, but not soon or immediately. Also he can cause Trees to bend and incline according to the Exorcist's Will. He giveth Excellent
Familiars. He governeth 29 Legions of Spirits."
He is also mentioned by Reginald Scot in
The
Discoverie of Witchcraft. Amduscias is said to
provide very good familiars, and
he is one of the 72 spirits of Solomon.
In Collin de Plancy's illustration, shown
above, Amduscias is crowned to demonstrate that he is a duke of hell. He
was given a horse's head to go with his single horn, because unicorns are
typically represented in the form of a horse. Two trumpets lie on the ground, and a third trumpet is
thrown over his shoulders to illustrate his gift of music.
See
Heptameron,
Demonology,
Demonomancy,
Grimoires,
Casting Black Magic Spells,
Commanding Spirits,
The Tarot Store and
Divination & Scrying Tools and
Supplies.
Sources: (1) Masello, Robert,
Fallen Angels. . . and Spirits of the Dark,
The Berkley Publishing Group; (2) de Plancy, Colin, Dictionnaire Infernal,
Editions; (3) Spence, Lewis,
An Encyclopedia of
Occultism, Carol Publishing Group; (4)
Scot, Reginald, The
Discoverie of Witchcraft, Dover Publications; (5) Mathers, S. Liddell
MacGregor,
The Goetia, The Key of Solomon the
King, The Book Tree.
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