The 29th spirit given in the Goetia. He is described there as a mighty & strong duke, with the appearance of an ugly angel riding on an infernal spirit similar to a dragon. In his right hand is a viper. He will answer questions about the past, present and future. It adds that he will help you discover all secrets and help you with knowledge in all of the liberal sciences.
It seems rather clear that “he” is actually derived from the Phoenician goddessAstarte, herself derived from the Assyrian/Babylonian goddess Ishtar, an example of how the deities of one culture become the demons of cultures that follow.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...