Bael (demon)



Bael (Ba’al or Baal) is a demon described in demonological grimoires such as The Lesser Key of Solomon and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (where he is the first spirit mentioned) and also in the Dictionnaire Infernal. He is described as a hoarsely-voiced king with the power to make men invisible and ruling over sixty-six legions of demons. The Lesser Key of Solomon describes him as appearing in the form of a cat, toad, human, some combination thereof, or other "diverse shapes", while the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and the Dictionnaire Infernal state that he appears with the heads of a cat, toad, and human simultaneously.

Jacques Collin de Plancy wonders if Bael is the same as the Canaanite deity Baal, a reasonable assumption. In the Livre des Esperitz, Bael (as Beal) is described as a king ruled by Oriens (himself a demon overseeing the cardinal direction east, or the Orient), still possessing the power of invisibility, as well as the power to garner the favor of others, but ruling over only six (rather than sixty-six) legions of demons. The Liber Officiorum Spirituum features Baal, Baall, Boal, or Boall, again as a hoarsely-voiced king (or sometimes a soldier), with not only the powers of invisibility but also of the sciences and love. Sloane MS 3824 mentions Baal, in "Of the Demon Rulers", as a king ruled by Oriens, attributed with teaching science, (again) granting invisibility, and controlling 250 legions of spirits. Bael appears in later editions of The Grimoire of Pope Honorius, under Astaroth, as a prince whose powers include (again) invisibility and popularity. In the Grand Grimoire, Bael (as Baal) is listed as a subordinate of Lucifuge Rofocale. According to Thomas Rudd, Bael is opposed by the Shem HaMephorash angel Vehuiah.

In popular culture

 * Baal appears as a recurring antagonist in the long-running German dime novel series Geisterjäger John Sinclair. The novels and audio dramas by author Jason Dark depict Baal as one of the archdemons along with Astaroth, Eurynome and Amducias.
 * In the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, a prominent mobile suit is known as "ASW-G-01 Gundam Bael".
 * The former Electro Archon (Makoto) in Genshin Impact also goes by the name Baal. Now the current Electro Archon (Raiden Ei), or Beelzebul, uses the name "Baal" to disguise herself.
 * Bael is the demon that possesses Father Lucas Trevant (Played by Anthony Hopkins) in the film The Rite.
 * In the Inazuma Eleven cartoon, a Dark Team player is named Bael, referring to the demon of the same name.
 * Baal was the featured antagonist in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the 2001 expansion to Blizzard Entertainment's hit franchise "Diablo".