Angels, Demons and Dieties
Welcome to one of the most comprehensive collections of spirits found in ancient grimoires, magical papyri, and esoteric manuscripts. This encyclopedia explores the angels, demons, deities, divine names, and other supernatural beings recorded throughout the history of Western occultism.
The Afterlife Sage and all the other related series include fictional characters based on real angels and demons, so I thought it might be fun to provide you with information about as many as I can find, including the most obscure of them that you don’t often hear about.
These figures come from a wide range of historical sources, including the Lesser Key of Solomon (Ars Goetia), the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM), the Magical Treatise of Solomon, the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, the Heptameron, the Ars Almadel, the Ars Notoria, and many other medieval and ancient texts. Some are well-known, such as Michael, Gabriel, Agares, and Astaroth, while others survive only as obscure names preserved in a single manuscript.
Our goal is to present these beings in their proper historical context. Rather than promoting modern myths or unsupported legends, each article is based on the earliest available sources and clearly distinguishes between documented history, later traditions, and modern interpretations. Where information is limited, we say so. Where manuscripts disagree, we explain the differences.
Each entry includes historical background, the spirit’s role within its source text, known descriptions or iconography, symbols or seals when applicable, linguistic origins of the name, related traditions, and references to the primary manuscripts in which the figure appears. Many articles also feature original illustrations and historically inspired reconstructions to help bring these fascinating texts to life.
Whether you are researching ceremonial magic, angelology, demonology, comparative religion, ancient mythology, or the history of Western esotericism, this collection is designed to serve as a reliable reference. Browse the alphabetical list below to explore the remarkable beings that have appeared in magical traditions for more than two thousand years.