Halphas appears in the corpus of Renaissance and early modern grimoire material cataloguing spirits for ritual magic (notably the Ars Goetia / Lesser Key of Solomon tradition and related demonological works). These texts record Halphas as an office within an infernal hierarchy — an earl who commands 26 legions — but they do not provide a mythic birth narrative or folkloric life‑story. Later demonological compilations (e.g., Weyer, Collin de Plancy) reproduce or variantly describe the figure; modern editions and commentators (e.g., Skinner & Rankine) annotate the entry with correspondences such as an opposing Shemhamphorasch angel.
Goetic manuscripts most commonly depict Halphas in avian form: "a hoarse‑voiced stock dove" in most manuscripts, while some authorities (Johann Weyer and Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal) describe him as a stork. Sources thus record two distinct avian images as manuscript variants. The vocal quality "hoarse‑voiced" is specifically noted in the Goetic descriptions.
Canonical Goetic attributes assign Halphas military and logistical functions: supplying weapons and ammunition for towers (rendered as "towns" or "villes" in some manuscript variants), sending men to war, and commanding 26 legions of spirits. Modern usages of the name in music, gaming and fiction draw on this martial/infernal resonance but do not contribute additional canonical powers in the provided sources. Skinner & Rankine record that the Shemhamphorasch angel Haamiah opposes Halphas in angelic correspondence systems.
Weaknesses
None recorded.
Wards
- otheropposing Shemhamphorasch angel Haamiah (not a documented ritual in provided sources)
57 Mnemosyne
57 Mnemosyne is a large main-belt asteroid (S-type) discovered in 1859 and named after the Greek Titaness Mnemosyne. It is a non-sentient astronomical body studied for its orbital and rotational properties and has been used in dynamical measurements related to Jupiter.
Aamon
Aamon (also Amon) is a named spirit in early modern Western grimoire tradition (Pseudomonarchia Daemonum; the Ars Goetia / Lesser Key of Solomon). He is presented as a high-ranking infernal officer (Marquis/Prince) who governs forty legions and is credited with knowledge of past and future and with affecting human relationships (reconciling or procuring feuds and favor).
Aaron
Aaron is a central human figure in Israelite sacred literature: the elder brother of Moses, the first high priest (progenitor of the Aaronide priesthood), and a spokesman/prophet who mediates between Israel and God in Exodus–Deuteronomy narratives. His role in the texts establishes hereditary priestly authority, ritual functions (sacrifices, blessing, use of Urim and Thummim), and institutional norms for Israelite cultic life.
Abaddon
In Hebrew scripture Abaddon is primarily a noun meaning 'destruction' or a section/condition of the underworld paired with Sheol; in the New Testament Book of Revelation Abaddon is personified as an angelic figure (Greek Apollyon) described as the king of an army of locusts released from the abyss during the apocalypse.
Abagtha
Abagtha (Hebrew: אבגתא, ’Ǎḇaḡṯā) is a named human court official in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Esther, listed among seven chamberlains who ministered before King Ahasuerus and were commanded to bring Queen Vashti before the king. He is attested only in Esther 1:10 and is presented as an institutional palace attendant rather than a supernatural being.
Abdiel
Abdiel (Hebrew עֲבְדִּיאֵל) is primarily a theophoric Hebrew personal name meaning "servant of El/servant of God," attested once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Chronicles 5:15). In later literature—most notably John Milton's Paradise Lost—Abdiel is reimagined as a faithful seraph who opposes Satan's revolt. The provided sources do not treat Abdiel as an autonomous folkloric spirit type or record rituals or wards associated with the name.
Abel
Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve in the Genesis narrative, a shepherd whose accepted offering and subsequent murder by his brother Cain form the biblical account of the first death. Later interpretive traditions expand his role, treating him as an archetypal righteous victim, a postmortem avenging or adjudicating figure, and in some systems (notably Mandaean) identifying him with an angelic lightbeing.
Abiathar
Abiathar (Hebrew: אֶבְיָתָר, ʾEḇyāṯār) is a named human priestly figure in the Hebrew Bible. He is presented as a survivor of the Nob massacre who fled to David with priestly regalia, served as a priest and counselor in David's court, and was later deposed and sent to Anathoth by Solomon for supporting Adonijah.
Abiel
Abiel is attested in the supplied sources only as a male given name — borne by several historical American individuals and listed as two minor biblical figures. The provided materials contain no evidence presenting Abiel as a supernatural, mythological, or folkloric entity.
Abigail
Abigail is a female figure in the Hebrew Bible portrayed in 1 Samuel 25 as the intelligent and beautiful wife of Nabal who intervenes to prevent David from committing violence; later tradition regards her as one of the Tanakh's seven female prophets and as a model of beauty and wisdom.
Abijah of Judah
Abijah (also Abijam or Abiah) is presented in the biblical and later interpretive traditions as a short-reigning human king of Judah from the Davidic line. He is portrayed as a dynastic successor whose military actions (notably the battle at Mount Zemaraim) and moral evaluation in rabbinic literature are interpreted theologically in relation to the Davidic covenant.
Abimelech
Abimelech is a Hebrew personal name and occasionally a regnal title attested in the Hebrew Bible and later traditions. It appears as the name/title of Philistine rulers in the patriarchal narratives (the "king of Gerar" who interacts with Abraham and Isaac) and as the personal name of Abimelech son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in Judges, a dynastic usurper whose brief rule ends in violent death.
Community Record
- [1]Halphas (Wikipedia). Wikipedia entry summarizing Goetic material on Halphas, noting rank as earl, 26 legions, avian appearance variants, military functions, and Skinner & Rankine's opposition by angel Haamiah.wiki
- [2]Wikidata: Malthus. Wikidata item listing variant name label 'Malthus'.other
- [3]SatanArt #1 (archive). Archive item showing modern cultural/artistic reuse of infernal iconography where Goetic names like Halphas appear in cultural artifacts.other
- [4]The Upstairs Room EP 376 King Pest (archive). Radio playlist item where 'Halphas - bones and dust' is listed, evidencing modern musical usage of the name.other
- [5]Metal Warehouse 03-11-2017 (archive). Set list entry 'Halphas - Call from the depths' showing modern metal music usage.other
- [6]The Wings of Halphas — Review / page. Album review/title using Halphas as an evocative motif in modern ambient/metal contexts.other
- [7]Angry Metal Guy — album review: Halphas: Dawn of a Crimson Empire. Modern musical use of the name Halphas in metal album titles and reviews.other
- [8]Destiny transcript — Proving Ground (Ishtar Collective). Uses the name 'Halphas' in fictional lore: 'This is the Halphas Electus, the digger of graves...'.literary
- [9]GGH-001 Halphas Gundam (Gundam fandom). Fandom page noting the Gundam named 'Halphas' and summarizing Goetic background ('also Malthus... is an Earl of Hell commanding 26 legions... often depicted as a stork').other