Astaroth
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Astaroth is a king of Hell, being Lucifer the Emperor and Satan a seducer of women; his main assistants are three demons called Aamon, Pruslas and Barbatos. In art, in the Dictionnaire Infernal, Astaroth is depicted as a nude man with dragon-like wings, hands and feet, a second pair of feathered wings after the main, wearing a crown, holding a serpent in one hand, and riding a wolf or dog. According to Sebastian Michaelis he is a demon of the First Hierarchy, who seduces by means of laziness and vanity, and his adversary is St. Bartholomew, who can protect against him for he has resisted Astaroth's temptations. To others, he teaches mathematical sciences and handicrafts, can make men invisible and lead them to hidden treasures, and answers every question formulated to him.
According to Francis Barrett, Astaroth is the prince of accusers and inquisitors. According to some demonologists of the 16th century, August is the month during which this demon's attacks against humans are stronger. His name seems to come from the goddess ‘Ashtart/Astarte which was rendered in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible as Astharthe (singular) and Astharoth (plural), that last form rendered in the King James Version of the Bible as Ashtaroth. It seems this plural form was taken either from the Latin or from some translation or other by those who did not know it was a plural form nor knew that it referred to a goddess, seeing it only as a name applied to some god other than God and therefore the name of a devil.
Other spellings
- Ashtaroth
- Astarot
- Asteroth
Modern cultural references
Astaroth is also the name of one of the three "Shadowlords" in the role playing computer game Ultima V - Warriors of Destiny.
Astaroth is also the name of a character in the fighting game series Soul Calibur.
Astaroth is also the name of a monster featured in Final Fantasy II.
Astaroth was one of the three gods of destruction in Shadow Hearts: Covenant. The malice of Astaroth later takes over the soul of Nicolai.
Astaroth is the name of the prince of demons and enemy Kushulai'n in Omikron: The Nomad Soul.
Astaroth was a daemon who appeared briefly in the Warhammer 40,000 comic Daemonifuge.