LVIII

58 - Bifrons - aka Bifrons, Bifrous, Bifrovs, Appears in Book of Incantations, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and The Lesser Key of Solomon

FROM THE LESSER KEY

BIFRONS. – The Forty-sixth Spirit is called Bifrons, or Bifrous, or Bifrovs. He is an Earl, and appeareth in the Form of a Monster; but after a while, at the Command of the Exorcist, he putteth on the shape of a Man. His Office is to make one knowing in Astrology, Geometry, and other Arts and Sciences. He teacheth the Virtues of Precious Stones and Woods. He changeth Dead Bodies, and putteth them in another place; also he lighteth seeming Candles upon the Graves of the Dead. He hath under his Command 6 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which he will own and submit unto, etc.

FROM PSEUDOMONARCHIA

Bifrons is seene in the similitude of a monster, when he taketh the image of a man, he maketh one woonderfull cunning in astrologie, absolutelie declaring the mansions of the planets, he dooth the like in geometrie, and other admesurements, he perfectlie understandeth the strength and vertue of hearbs, pretious stones, and woods, he changeth dead bodies from place to place, he seemeth to light candles upon the sepulchres of the dead, and hath under him six and twentie legions.

FROM THE DICTIONNAIRE INFERNAL

Original text: Bifrons, démon qui paraît avec la figure d'un monstre. Lorsqu'il prend forme humaine, il rend l'homme savant en astrologie, et lui enseigne à connaître les influences des planètes ; il excelle dans la géométrie; il connait les vertus des herbes, des pierres précieuses et des plantes; il transporte les cadavres d'un lieu à un autre. On l'a vu aussi allumer des flambeaux sur les tombeaux des morts. “Il a vingt-six légions à ses ordres.

Appearance: Simply “A monster” the implication being that his appearance is ever-shifting.

Subrace: Former Throne

Abilities: Astronomy, Geometry, Herbs and Stones, Liberal Sciences, Transport objects

Legions: 6

Rank: Count

Notes: Lots of interesting things to explore here.

First off, he seems to be another one of the demons that holds sway over the processing of the dead along with bifrons, murrmurr, bune, and vassago. His role seems to be akin to a gardener of the dead, selecting individual bodies through some grisly system of judgement, choosing the ones he deems worthy and spiriting them away for use, whatever that use may be.

His name, Bifrons, is latin for Two-Faced, and is a clear reference to Janus, the greek god of thresholds, transitions, beginnings, and doorways. This explains why the texts only refer to them as “a monster.” Bifrons would appear to be constantly shifting, always in the process of becoming something else.

Additionally, Bifrons only controls six legions of demons minorum. Given how the balances of power in hell appear stable, this would imply that their work requires a degree of rare expertise.

Brand of the Harvester - Death becomes nourishing. Rotten flesh becomes ambrosia, even small amounts will fill the belly and speed recovery from wounds and sickness. However, if over-relied upon, the effects can become intoxicating.