Agares

Agares is a demon described in the Ars Goetia, the first section of The Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire compiled in the 17th century. In Goetic tradition, Agares is a Duke of Hell who governs 31 legions. He is typically depicted as an elderly man riding a crocodile and often shown with a staff or banner.

Agares is attributed with several abilities and powers. He is said to speak and teach all languages, and to instruct those who study with him. He can cause and end earthquakes, fetch back people who have fled or been taken away, and reconcile friends and enemies. He can reveal past, present, and future events and disclose hidden things.

In ceremonial magic, Agares is invoked or conjured to obtain knowledge, language skills, and the return of lost items or people. The figure appears in occult literature as part of the broader demonological system of the Goetia, alongside other demons listed in the Lesser Key of Solomon.

The name Agares, like many Goetic names, has uncertain etymology and various interpretive attributions. The demon’s portrayal blends medieval and Renaissance grimoires with later occult tradition, and it has persisted in modern popular culture and occult practice as a representative figure of demonology.