Astaroth
Intention: Study a Goetic figure whose name echoes an older goddess
Offerings & Symbols
- A written study note
- A candle
- A reference comparing older and later sources
Culture: Western grimoire tradition (Ars Goetia); the name closely echoes the older Canaanite/Phoenician goddess Astarte Traditional rank: Duke
Astaroth's name closely parallels the ancient Canaanite and Phoenician goddess Astarte, another clear example of medieval Christian demonology recasting an older Near Eastern deity in a negative role; the Ars Goetia describes him riding a dragon and, notably, warns handlers in the old text to use a protective ring due to a foul odor he was said to carry, a distinctly folkloric, almost comedic detail.
Associations
Historical demonological catalogs, the older, unrelated goddess Astarte whose name was reused.
Ways people engage with this material (modern)
- Compare this entry directly with the separate goddess Astarte described elsewhere in this Grimoire
- Read the original Ars Goetia entry in scholarly translation
- Research the broader pattern of goddess-to-demon reassignment in medieval Christian texts
- Approach the material as historical and literary study
Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.
