The concept of hell looms vividly in the minds of most. Lucifer reigning rather than serving, fire and brimstone, legions of demons and their evil minions, that sort of thing. But, amidst all the screams and bad skin, there was order of a sort.
You see, Satan in his fall installed a hierarchy, and the third of the angelic host that fell with him needed organizing. And therefore, it you are going to sort your new situation out, you need to get a few chains of command in place.
At least, that’s what the Ars Goetia, a 17th century manuscript also referred to as the Lesser Key of Solomon, outlines. Solomon is often associated with lists of demons, as medieval tradition has him binding demons to his will to build the first Temple on Jerusalem.
Infernal architects aside, the Ars Goetia gives us a comprehensive list of the movers and shakers downstairs. There are princes of Hell, dukes and marquises, earls, knights and presidents.
Some are very weird, Stolas for example simply being an owl with long legs and a crown. Some are surprisingly ordinary, such as Vual who is an Egyptian man (although, yes, sometimes he is a camel as well).
And, somewhere near the top, are the nine Kings of Hell. Here they are.
1. Baal
2. Paimon
3. Beleth
4. Purson
5. Asmodeus
6. Vine
7. Balam
8. Zagan
9. Belial
Top Image: Pandemonium, great city of Hell, has nine Kings under Lucifer. Source: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0.
By Joseph Green
References
