XLVI - MARCHOSIAS

46 - Marchosias - Appears in Book of Incantations, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, The Book of Spirits, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, and The Lesser Key of Solomon

FROM DISCOVERIE OF WITCHCRAFT / PSEUDOMONARCHIA

Marchosias [Marchocias] is a great marquesse, he sheweth himselfe in the shape of a cruell shee woolfe, with a griphens wings, with a serpents taile, and spetting I cannot tell what out of his mouth. When he is in a mans shape, he is an excellent fighter, he answereth all questions trulie, he is faithfull in all the conjurors businesse [commands], he was of the order of dominations, under him are thirtie legions: he hopeth after 1200. yeares to returne to the seventh throne, but he is deceived in that hope.

FROM THE LESSER KEY

MARCHOSIAS. – The Thirty-fifth Spirit is Marchosias. He is a Great and Mighty Marquis, appearing at first in the Form of a Wolf having Gryphon’s Wings, and a Serpent’s Tail, and Vomiting Fire out of his mouth. But after a time, at the command of the Exorcist he putteth on the Shape of a Man. And he is a strong fighter. He was of the Order of Dominations. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits. He told his Chief, who was Solomon, that after 1,200 years he had hopes to return unto the Seventh Throne. And his Seal is this, to be made and worn as a Lamen, etc.In one Codex of the seventeenth century, very badly written, it might be read “Ox” instead of “Wolf.” – TRANS. [For me he appeared always like an ox, and very dazed.-ED.]

DICTIONAIRE INFERNALE

Marchocias, great Marquis of Hell. He shows himself in the shape of a fierce female wolf with griffin wings and a snake's tail; under this graceful aspect, the Marquis spits fire. When he takes human form, one might think they see a great/tall soldier; He obeys to exorcists, is of the order of Dominations and commands 30 legions.

Marchocias, grand marquis des enfers. Il se montre sous la figure d’une louve féroce avec des ailes de griffon et une queue de serpent; sous ce gracieux aspect le marquis vomit des flammes.Lorsqu’il prend la figure humaine, on croit voir un grand soldat.; Il obéit aux -exorcistes’, est de l’ordre des Dominations et commande trente légions.

Appearance: A wolf with gryphons wings, a serpents tail, breathes fire

Subrace: Fallen dominion.

Abilities: Combat.

Legions: 30

Rank: Marquis

Notes: The name Marchosias likely comes from the late latin “marchio” meaning marquis. Other than that the only notable thing about this demon is how he is described as desiring to return to heaven. On the topic of the reference in the crowley/mathers translation of the lesser key, the only demonological grimoire published in the 17th century was the original Lesser Key of Solomon in 1641. The latin for wolf: lupus, would be difficult to confuse for the latin for ox: bovi. Additionally, the phrase “For me he appeared always like an ox, and very dazed.-ED” only appears in productions of the goetia published after the crowley/mathers edition. To sum up, I think crowley is lying about the whole Ox thing, but my lack of access to the original pre Robert Turner text is keeping me from following through.

Speculation time: The only other demon in the entire goetia explicitly stated to be a former dominion is Paimon, this ties Marchosias to Paimon, and thus the infernal armed forces. This lines up with how marchosias’s only stated ability has to do with combat. Many extraneous pieces media takes Marchosias’s lupine appearance to associate him with the idea of hellhounds and thus Aamon, who is described with a similar chimerian appearance. Another connection to paimon is how Marchosias’s physical appearance is described as feminine, yet the text refers to them as male.

If hell has a military, it would make sense that hell has an officer corps. Perhaps Marchosias fits into that?

Brand - ?? At the moment I have no idea what to give to Marchosias, his powers are far too vague.