Paimon

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Paimon as depicted in Jacques Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, 1863 edition

The sigil of Paimon

Paimon is a spirit named in early grimoires. These include The Lesser Key of Solomon (in the Ars Goetia),Template:Sfn Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum,Template:Sfn Jacques Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal,Template:Sfn the Livre des Esperitz (as "Poymon"),Template:Sfn the Liber Officiorum Spirituum (as Paimon),Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Book of Abramelin,Template:Sfn and certain French editions of The Grimoire of Pope Honorius (as Bayemon);Template:Sfn Template:Sfn as well as British Library, Sloane MS 3824.Template:Sfn

Status and rankEdit

The Goetia, Liber Officiorum Spirituum, and Weyer begin entries on King Paimon noting that he is quite obedient to Lucifer.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

King Paimon appears as the ninth spirit in the Ars Goetia,Template:Sfn the 22nd spirit in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum,Template:Sfn and in the Dictionnaire Infernal.Template:Sfn In the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, he is first listed as the sixth spiritTemplate:Sfn Template:Sfn and later as the third king.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

The Goetia, Weyer, de Plancy, Liber Officiorum Spirituum, and Sloane MS 3824 rank Paimon as a king.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Excessive citations inline While the Livre des Esperitz does not explicitly rank Paimon as a king, it does, however, identify him to be one of the four principal cardinal direction spirits where he rules the west, as well as that the one compelling him should face towards the west. Template:Sfn Sloane MS 3824 and the Grimoire of Pope Honorius specify that King Paimon is king of the west.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn In the Book of Abramelin (where his appearance is given no description), he is instead one of the eight dukes. It is said that he has no power over the lord above and would be demolished in any battle.Template:Sfn

Relationship to hierarchyEdit

The Goetia, Weyer, and de Plancy warn that if King Paimon appears alone, a sacrifice must be made to summon Lebal (sometimes called Bebal),Template:Sfn the most devoted to Lucifer, and Abalam, two kings who serve under him but do not always accompany him. These three sources state that he rules 200 legions of spirits, some of which are of the order of Angels and the rest being Powers.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Livre des Esperitz, on the other hand, credits him with just 25 legions of spirits.Template:Sfn Sloane MS 3824 mentions him as employing a "bishop" named Sperion, among other spirits.Template:Sfn

Critical editions of the Lesser Key of Solomon list him as a former Dominion.Template:Sfn Weyer notes a confusion over whether he was a former Dominion or Cherub.Template:Sfn According to Thomas Rudd, King Paimon is opposed by the Shem HaMephorash angel Haziel.Template:Sfn

AppearanceEdit

In the Goetia, Weyer, de Plancy, Livre des Esperitz, Liber Officiorum Spirituum, he is described as a man riding a dromedary, preceded by men playing loud music (particularly trumpets), as well as cymbals.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Sloane MS 3824 describes the camel as crowned,Template:Sfn while the rest describe King Paimon himself as crowned.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Goetia itself makes no mention of King Paimon's face,Template:Sfn while the rest describe him as having a beautiful face but still refer to him as male.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

PossessionEdit

Sloane MS 3824 and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum describe him as having a "Hoarse Voice",Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn and those works, Weyer, and the Goetia note that he must be commanded to speak, Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn with the Liber Officiorum Spirituum specifying that King Paimon will speak in his native language until commanded to converse in the summoner's own language.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

PowersEdit

The Goetia, Weyer, Livre des Esperitz, and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum all describe him as teaching science and answering other questions.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Goetia and Weyer specify that his knowledge includes all arts and "secret things"Template:Sic, such as knowledge regarding the Earth, its waters, and the winds.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Livre des Esperitz and the Liber Officiorum Spirituum broaden this to truthfully answering all questions asked of him,Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn with the former source also claiming that he can reveal hidden treasuresTemplate:Sfn and the latter highlighting that he knows all the affairs of the world.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Goetia, Weyer, and the Livre des Esperitz also claim he has the ability to bestow dignities and lordships.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Goetia and Weyer credited him with granting familiars (who are likewise good at teaching).Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Liber Officiorum Spirituum uniquely gives him command over fish.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Sloane MS 3824 mentions Paimon in "An Experiment to Cause a Thief to Return".Template:Sfn

In Abramelin, King Paimo(n)'s powers includeTemplate:Sfn knowledge of past and future events, clearing up doubts, making spirits appear, creating visions, acquiring and dismissing servant spirits, reanimating the dead for several years, flight, remaining underwater indefinitely, and general abilities to "make all kinds of things" (and) "all sorts of people and armor appear" at the behest of the magician.Template:Sfn

In popular cultureEdit

King Paimon is the primary antagonist in Ari Aster's 2018 film, Hereditary.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A version of the Sigil of Paimon can be seen multiple times within the film, along with many other signs indicating his presence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Paimon appears in the Helluva Boss episode "The Circus". He is depicted as Stolas' father, but is neglectful, not even remembering Stolas' name because he has so many other children.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

In Genshin Impact, Paimon appears as the traveler's guide for the main character throughout the game.

ReferencesEdit

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BibliographyEdit

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Template:Demons in the Ars Goetia Template:Demons in Pseudomonarchia Daemonum