LXIV - MORAX

64 - Morax aka Marax, Foraii - Appears in The Discoverie of Witchcraft, The Grand Grimoire, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and The Lesser Key of Solomon.

FROM THE LESSER KEY

MARAX. – The Twenty-first Spirit is Marax. He is a Great Earl and President. He appeareth like a great Bull with a Man’s face. His office is to make Men very knowing in Astronomy, and all other Liberal Sciences; also he can give good Familiars, and wise, knowing the virtues of Herbs and Stones which be precious. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, which must be made and worn as aforesaid, etc.

FROM PSEUDOMONARCHIA

Morax, alias Foraii, a great earle and a president, he is seene like a bull, and if he take unto him a mans face, he maketh men wonderfull cunning in astronomie, and in all the liberall sciences: he giveth good familiars and wise, knowing the power and vertue of hearbs and stones which are pretious, and ruleth thirtie six legions.

Original Text: Morax, alias Foraii, magnus Comes and Præses: Similis tauro visitur: Et si quando humanam faciem assumit, admirabilem in Astronomia and in omnibus artibus liberalibus reddit hominem: parit etiam famulos non malos and sapientes: novit and herbarum and pretiosorum lapidum potentiam. Imperat triginta sex legionibus.

FROM THE DICTIONNAIRE INFERNAL

Morax or Forai, Captain, Count and President of several infernal crews ; he shows himself in the shape of a bull. When he takes human form, he instructs man in astronomy and all the liberal arts. He is the prince of animal familiars spirits which are gentle and wise. He has thirty-six legions under his command.

Original Text: Morax ou Forai, capitaine, comte et président de plusieurs bandes infernales; il se fait voir sous la forme d'un taureau. Lorsqu'il prend la figure humaine, il instruit l'homme dans l'astronomie et dans tous les arts libéraux. Il est le prince des esprits familiers qui sont doux et sages. Il a sous ses ordres trente-six légions

Appearance: A great bull, with a man's face.

Subrace: unknown

Abilities: Knowledge of Astronomy, Herbs and Stones, Liberal Sciences

Legions: 30

Rank: President

Notes:

The first thing that jumps out is that Morax is only the second demon to be given the title of Captain. The first being Kimaris. However, the words used to describe those under his command don’t translate well to that of the crew of a ship, more referring to a crew as in a gang. What’s more interesting are the word choices around the familiars he creates, which seem central to his role within the infernal hierarchy.

The original latin describes the familiars as non malos and sapientes meaning “not-evil and wise.” They’re not good, they're just not evil. Additionally, doux et sages could be translated as “soft and well-behaved.” While perhaps less-accurate, this shows how Morax’s familiars are specifically that of a passive and gentle sort.

I read him a sort of infernal ecologist. Perhaps the one responsible for keeping hells biosphere in check?

Brand - Unkown