King Bael - [Demon]

• About this Demon: King Bael is the first principal spirit, Fallen Angel and the 1st of 72 spirits as listed in the Lemegeton. (Ars Goetia.) [and other such grimoires.] He reigns supreme in over the East cardinal direction of hell. - (sometimes said to be a high ranking advisor to Lucifer, or Beelzebub himself) Bael is said to be incredibly powerful and in command of anywhere between sixty-six and seventy infernal legions (each comprising 6,666 infernal soilders.) he has also been said to command at least two hundred and fifty spirits (or djinis) he commands the most out of any demons as as such he is most often the first demon listed in goetic texts & grimoirs. (however its worth note that the order is less important than the contents) - He appears With three heads; topping a many-legged insect or arachnid-like body. The First head is that of a billowing Toad, the second is a "hoarsely voiced" Old King (or solider.) and the third is that of a Sly Cat. - Baal can also choose to appear as a combination of the above, a man or in other "diverse shapes." (however he's most commonly depicted as a combination of all three simultaneously.)

•[ Summoning & Sealing. ]•

King Bael is classified as a "King" and as such his mark or Sigil [pictured below.] is best sealed using gold: it is advised to wear this symbol as a Lamen (a magical pendant or breastplate worn around the neck) before you call him forth, else he will not do you homage, nor any favours. - Bael's entries in Grimoirs usually promise that when summoned, He would grant the power to become Invisible or to shape-shift. He can also inspire (Make you "wise" to) knowledge of all kinds of science, including necromancy. He can also grant popularity or garner general favour within others. - He is often astrologically attributed to Aries, Taurus & Capricorn and is said to be most powerful in October; Astronomically is often attributed to the Sun & Fire. - Frankincense is most often the recommended incense for use in related spells & tributes.

• [Baels sigil in gold from the Lemegeton: Ars Goetia.)]

• History & early appearances: "King Bael" made his most famous illustrated appearance in the 1863 edition of the French Grimoire: "Dictionnaire Infernal" where in he is listed as the first of seventy-two demons in hells monarchy summoned and banished by King Solomon. - The book was originally written by Jacques Collin de Plancy and first published (without illustrations) in 1818. (De Plancy would have only been 25 at the time of writing] it has been said that De Plancy probably wrote said dictionary with 'toungue firmly in cheek'  with the capricious intent to reveal that the church was overly superstitious, (However: ironically, the man would grow to believe his own writings and later in life became an enthusiastic devout catholic. (much to the surprise & bemusement of his fans.)) -  Later in 1863, 69 fantastic Illustrations where added by french painter, Louis le Breton, their inclusion skyrocketed the book into popularity, and it become Plancy's most well known. Several Years later in Britan, Some of Breton's images were then added to a 1904 Reprint of The Goetia by occultist, Samuel L. Macgregor Mathers & Aliester Crowly - Amduscias along side his sigil was listed as the sixty-seventh of seventy-two demons in the infernal monarchy; (who where allegedly summoned & banished by the wise King Solomon) - Breton's depictions of the demons in these books; more or less cemented as to how these particular demons 'looked' in the general public's mind & today still ring true as an influence in modern popculture and related media today. - Bael is also listed as a demon in various Grimoires and Texts (as far back as the 1500's).

[Baels entry as it appears in 1863's Dictionary Infernal. - in which Clacy ponders that Bael might have originated as "Baal" - the various Agricultural and fertility deities of ancient Syria and Persia. -- "Several gods shared the name, which translates to “the lord.” - This guess seems to be correct as "Baal" is also directly mentioned directly in the King James version of the bible. - in a nutshell 'Baal' was a common title of respect for gods, kings and other powerful figures, which of course: at the time, The church would have considered others using 'the lords name' to describe their own seperate dietys as "heretical" or "blasphemous." - [Authors note: overall this is perhaps a bit of an over-dramatic-simplification of the subject matter - My goal is to keep this all digestible and to the point: I encourage my readers to do their own further research! :)] 

Bael is also sometimes said to be akin to, or another form of Baʿal Zebub -  (see also: Prince Beelzebub.) - [I'd reason that's likely why he was illustrated with the insect-like legs.] - however for the sake of clarity and difference, Beelzebub is best elaborated on separately as the lord of the flies is its own rabbit hole to go down, for the sake of difference and because they're classified seperately in dictionary infernal and other grimoirs, The two demons as individuals should probably not be overly conflated.