View source for Astaroth

{{Short description|Great duke of Hell in demonology}}
{{other uses|Astaroth: Book of Angels Volume 1|Astaroth (Soulcalibur)}}
{{distinguish|Ashteroth Karnaim|Ataroth}}

[[File:Astaroth.jpg|right|thumb|Astaroth illustration from the ''[[Dictionnaire Infernal]]'' (1818) by [[Louis Le Breton]].<ref name="EdSimon" />]]

'''Astaroth''' (also '''Ashtaroth''', '''Astarot''' and '''Astetoth''') is a biblical arch-demon. In [[demonology]], he is considered to be the Great Duke of [[Hell]].<ref name="IS">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-05 |title=El demonio Astaroth ‣ Iglesia de Satán |url=https://iglesiadesatan.com/el-demonio-astaroth/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |language=es}}</ref>

Astaroth was theorized as an [[alter ego]] of various goddesses in ancient mythologies across different cultures which were demonized later by the Biblical demonology system.<ref name="JasonPhilipRosenblatt" /><ref name="Baskins" /><ref name="Goetia" /><ref name="GonzalesWipper" /><ref name="KevinGardner" /><ref name="HeinrichCorneliusAgrippa"/>

Astaroth also features as an [[archdemon]] associated with the ''[[qlippoth]]'' (adverse forces).<ref name="ThomasKarlsson">{{cite book
| author1 = Thomas Karlsson
| author1-link = Thomas Karlsson
| title = Kabbala, Qliphoth und die Goetische Magie
| publisher = Edition Roter Drache
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=8j5UBAAAQBAJ
| isbn =9783944180083
| date=10 September 2013}}
</ref>

== Demonization origin ==
{{see also|Astarte}}

The name ''Astaroth'' was ultimately derived from that of 2nd millennium BC [[Phoenicia]]n goddess Astarte,<ref name="Goetia">Lon Milo DuQuette and Christopher S. Hyatt. ''Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia'' (1992). New Falcon: Temple, AZ, USA, p. 52.</ref><ref name="Baskins">
{{cite book
| author1 = Wade Baskin
| title = Dictionary Of Satanism
| place = London 
| publisher = Peter Own Ltd.
| url =https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.276382/mode/1up
| date=29 May 1978 
| pages= 40–41}}
</ref><ref name="GonzalesWipper">
{{cite book
| author1 = Migene González-Wippler
| author-link1 = Migene González-Wippler
| title =The Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies, and Magic
| isbn = 9780875422862 
| publisher = Llewellyn Publications
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rRUTkulWOAYC
| year=1988 
| pages= 20}}
</ref> who was known in ancient Hebrew and Semitic tribes as [[Asherah]],<ref name="KevinGardner">{{cite book
| author1 = Kevin M. Gardner
| title = A Handbook for Wiccan Clergy
| isbn = 9781467863018 
| publisher =AuthorHouse
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xw34gp1_q-gC
| year =  2007
| page = 129}} 
</ref> an equivalent of the Babylonian [[Ishtar]], 
<ref name="HeinrichCorneliusAgrippa">
{{cite book
| author1 = Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim
| author-link1 = Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
| editor = Donald Tyson
| translator = James Freake
| title = Three Books of Occult Philosophy
| isbn = 9780875428321 
| publisher = Llewellyn
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5YjXnoAaYowC
| year =  1993
| page = 514
| quote = 27. Astarath-Astaroth עשרת ASTRT In Greek, Astarte, a form of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar...}} Wikipedia page = [[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]
</ref> and the earlier Sumerian [[Inanna]],<ref name="Goetia"/> and the later Greek [[Aphrodite]] (Roman [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]).<ref name="JasonPhilipRosenblatt">
{{cite book
| author1 = Jason Philip Rosenblatt
| title = Renaissance England's Chief Rabbi: John Selden
| isbn = 9780191536694 
| publisher = OUP Oxford
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5BFREAAAQBAJ
| date =  19 January 2006
| page = 283
| quote =  ...Venus out of Syria,... she was worshipt in the Palestine Dagon, or Astaroth,..}}
</ref>

[[File:Astarte - 7th cent AD - Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla-2.jpg|thumb|240px|Statue of goddess Astarte from Museum of [[Sevilla]]]]

In this context, [[D. P. Agrawal]] has grouped those goddesses as the ''Ishtar group'', which consisted the names of Ishtar, Astarte, Astaroth, and [[Atargatis]], among others.<ref name="DPAgrawal">{{cite book
| author1 = Dharma Pal Agrawal
| author1-link = D. P. Agrawal
| title = The Indus Civilization: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
| isbn = 9788173053108 
| publisher = Aryan Books International
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmoMAQAAMAAJ
| year =  2007
| page = 217}} 
</ref>

The name of Astarte was mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]] in the forms ''Ashtoreth'' (singular) and ''Ashtaroth'' (plural, in reference to multiple statues of it). This latter form was directly transliterated in the early Greek and Latin versions of the Bible, where it was less apparent that it had been a plural feminine in Hebrew. Apparently, the parallel between goddess Astarte, which also idenified as Venus by [[Reginald Scot]] with Astaroth as demon was made in response to the act of [[Solomon]], who once performed worship to an idol of Astarte from [[Sidon]].<ref name="ReginaldScot" />

The name of Ashtoreth was also known as one of the island in Erythia. [[Samuel Bochart]] then deduce the etymology of "Astaroth" must be "Asta Erythes" (the city of Erytha).<ref name="LevesonVernonHarcourt">{{cite book
| author1 = Leveson Francis Vernon-Harcourt
| author1-link = Leveson Francis Vernon-Harcourt
| title = The Doctrine of the Deluge, Vindicating the Scriptural Account from the Doubts which Have Recently Been Cast Upon it by Geological Speculations: Volume 1
| publisher = Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans
| location = London
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=R-56-G8zMCYC
| year = 1838
| chapter = Chap. VII: Astarte
| pages = 155–156}}
</ref>

According to [[Jeffrey Burton Russell]], the [[Islam]]ic belief system implies that female deities such as [[Al-Lat]] are manifestations of [[Shaitan]] deception, based on classical interpretations. Russell refers to the epigraphic evidence from Palmyra and Taif presented by [[Ignaz Goldziher]] to identify al-Lat with Astarte.<ref>{{Cite book  
|last=Russell  
|first=Jeffrey Burton  
|title=The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity  
|year=1987  
|publisher=Cornell University Press  
|location=Ithaca, NY  
|isbn=978-0-8014-9409-3  
|pages=174–178  
|url=https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801494093/the-devil/  
|access-date=September 14, 2025  
}}</ref>

=== Zoroastrianism demonology ===
Scholarly sources, including ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1906), A.V. Williams Jackson’s ''Zoroastrianism and the Resemblances between It and Christianity'' (1906), and Mark S. Smith’s ''The Origins of Biblical Monotheism'' (2000), indicate that Zoroastrian dualism, with its contrast between [[Ahura Mazda]] and [[Angra Mainyu]], alongside the monotheistic shift in ancient Israel, provided a theological framework for demonizing pagan deities, enabling the transformation of the Canaanite goddess Astarte into the demonic Astaroth in Christian demonology.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia
|title=Zoroastrianism
|encyclopedia=The Jewish Encyclopedia
|editor=Cyrus Adler, Isidore Singer
|volume=12
|year=1906
|publisher=Funk & Wagnalls
|location=New York
|pages=862–868
|url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15283-zoroastrianism
|access-date=September 6, 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
|last=Jackson
|first=A.V. Williams
|title=Zoroastrianism and the Resemblances between It and Christianity
|journal=The Biblical World
|volume=27
|issue=5
|year=1906
|publisher=University of Chicago Press
|pages=332–343
|doi=10.1086/473769
|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/473769
|access-date=September 6, 2025
|url-access=subscription
}}</ref>

[[Ferdinand Justi]] also attributed [[Zoroastrianism]] religion as the first ones to denounce the [[Aryan]] pagan worship towards Astaroth and [[Baal]], implying their contribution to the demonization of those deities.<ref name="Edgar Reuterskiöld">
{{cite book
| author1= ((Edgar Reuterskiöld))
| title = Zarathustras religionshistoriska ställning
| publisher = Almqvist & Wiksell
| language = Swedish
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=PFdeO-77RJkC
| year=1914 
| pages= 132–133}}
</ref>

''Concordantiae Caritatis'', a chart written by {{ill|Ulrich von Lilienfeld|de}}, depicted Astaroth as one of the seven archdevils representing [[Seven deadly sins]]. In this chart, Astaroth represents [[Sloth (deadly sin)|sloth]], with a symbolic form of [[donkey]]. Ulrich was borrowing the iconography from Zoroastrianism.<ref name="CyrusGordon">{{cite journal
|author = Cyrus Hertz Gordon
|author-link = Cyrus H. Gordon
|title = review of "Figurative language in the ancient near eadt by M.Mindlin, M.J.Geller, J.E.Wansbrough"
| journal= Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 
| volume = 52
| issue = 1
| url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/617922
| year= 1989
| page = 122
|jstor = 617922
}}</ref>

=== Bible demonization ===

The interpretation of [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]] verse 10:20 in Christian theology, which equates pagan sacrifices with offerings to demons, contributed to the broader demonization of deities like Astarte (biblical Ashtoreth), later transformed into the demon Astaroth. Scholarly sources suggest that Paul’s statement provided a theological framework for viewing Gentile worship, including that of Astarte, as demonic, though no direct reference to her appears in the verse. Commentaries, such as Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible and Coffman’s Commentaries, argue that Paul’s demonology implicitly includes deities like Astarte, particularly in Corinth’s Hellenistic context, where her worship resembled that of Aphrodite. ''The World History Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures'' note that Astarte’s transformation into Astaroth, a male demon, occurred in medieval demonology, influenced by this New Testament perspective. By the early 11th century, Ælfric of Eynsham’s sermon explicitly depicts Astaroth as a demon, reflecting the culmination of this demonizing trend rooted in earlier Christian thought.<ref name="Barnes">{{cite book |last=Barnes |first=Albert |title=Notes on the Whole Bible |year=1870 |publisher=Blackie & Son |location=London |chapter=1 Corinthians 10 |url=https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/1-corinthians-10.html}}</ref><ref name="Coffman">{{cite book |last=Coffman |first=James Burton |title=Coffman Commentaries on the Bible |year=1983 |publisher=ACU Press |location=Abilene, TX |chapter=1 Corinthians 10 |url=https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/1-corinthians-10.html}}</ref><ref name="WHE">{{cite web |title=Astarte |website=World History Encyclopedia |date=2021-04-14 |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Astarte/ |access-date=2025-09-07}}</ref><ref name="Bane">{{cite book |last=Bane |first=Theresa |title=Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures |year=2012 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=978-0-7864-6360-2 |pages=64–65}}</ref>

=== Tale of Saint Bartholomew ===
{{see also|Bartholomew the Apostle}}

The name Astaroth appeared during a sermon by [[Ælfric of Eynsham]](d.1010 ce). Ælfric describes the demon named Astaroth as "immense Ethiop, with sharp visage and ample beard" (''micel Æþiop, mid scarpum andsaca and mycelum berd''<ref>{{cite book |last=Godden |first=Malcolm R. |title=Ælfric's Catholic Homilies: Introduction, Commentary, and Glossary |series=Early English Text Society Supplementary Series |volume=18 |year=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-722419-9 |pages=244, 220–225 |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/aelfrics-catholic-homilies-introduction-commentary-and-glossary-9780197224199}}</ref>), Which Benjamin Thorpe interpret as "black-faced devil".<ref>{{cite book
| author1 = Mark Bradshaw Busbee
| editor1 = Antonia Navarro Tejero
| title = India in the World
| publisher = Cambridge Scholars Publishing
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5LXkDwAAQBAJ
| isbn = 9781527551183
| date = 2020
| chapter = The Idea of India in Early Medieval England
| page = 7
| quote = Thorpe, Benjamin, ed. "The Passion of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle." In The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church, edited by Benjamin Thorpe, 1844, 461, 467}}</ref> 

[[File:Bartholomew the Apostle. Detail of the mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale. Ravena, Italy.jpg|thumb|Bartholomew the Apostle, detail of the mosaic in the [[Basilica of San Vitale]], [[Ravenna]], 6th century|204x204px]]

Ælfric mentioned a Latin translation of "''Martyrdom of [[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]]''", which relates to the account of Bartholomew's voyage to India to help the people there from Astaroth's deception. The devil tricked them into adoring him by inflicting diseases on them and promising to cure them only if they made offerings to him. This narrative continues with the conflict between Bartholomew and Astaroth, which ends with the former's victory and frees the people from the shackles of worshipping Astaroth. However, the narrative conclude with Bartholomew being murdered by a local king who becomes upset about the religious change perpetrated by Bartholomew.<ref>{{cite book
| author1 = Brandon Hawk
| title = Preaching Apocrypha in Anglo-Saxon England
| publisher = University of Toronto Press
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=kGXelGEMdWgC
| isbn = 9781487503055
| date = 2018
| chapter = Ælfric and Correct Doctrine
| page = 115}}
</ref> 

Similarly, In the apocryphal ''Passion of Bartholomew'' and Jacobus de Voragine’s ''Golden Legend'' (1275), Astaroth is depicted as a deceptive demon masquerading as a healing deity in a temple, manipulating worshippers by inflicting diseases and offering false cures. Scholarly analyses, such as J.K. Elliott’s ''The Apocryphal New Testament'' (1993) and William Granger Ryan’s commentary in ''The Golden Legend: Readings on the Saints'' (1993), highlight that Astaroth’s role reflects the Christian demonization of pagan gods like Astarte, portraying the demon as a symbol of idolatry defeated by Bartholomew’s missionary efforts.<ref>{{Cite book
|last=Elliott
|first=J.K.
|title=The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation
|year=1993
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|location=Oxford
|isbn=978-0-19-826182-7
|pages=660–664
|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-apocryphal-new-testament-9780198261827
|access-date=September 6, 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
|last=de Voragine
|first=Jacobus
|title=The Golden Legend: Readings on the Saints
|translator=Ryan, William Granger
|year=1993
|publisher=Princeton University Press
|location=Princeton, NJ
|isbn=978-0-691-00153-1
|volume=2
|pages=118–122
|url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691001531/the-golden-legend
|access-date=September 6, 2025
}}</ref>

The modern commentary from [[Medieval Institute]] of [[Jacobus de Voragine]]'s work titled "''Life of Saint Bartholomew''" about the location where Bartholomew fought Astaroth was actually [[Medieval Armenia]], as Armenia during that time was known as ''third India''.<ref name="SusannaFeinn">
{{cite book
| editor1 = Susanna Fein
| translator1 = David Raybin
| translator2 = Jan Ziolkowski
| translator3 = Susanna Fein
| title = The Complete Harley 2253 Manuscript, Volume 1
| isbn = 9781580442367 
| publisher = [[Medieval Institute]]
| url = https://dokumen.pub/pandemonium-the-illustrated-history-of-demonology-1419756389-9781419756382.html
| year=2022 
| chapter= Art. 6. De Seint Bartholomeu
| page = 455
}}</ref> This clarity about the location also was attested by the commentary from [[François Guizot]] of [[Orderic Vitalis]]'s work. In this context, the antiquities term of "India" divided into several regions, where the first was meant for region which extends to modern [[Ethiopia]]; the second India was [[Medes]]; while the last India, where the worship of Astaroth took place, and was visited by Bartholomew, is a region "bounded on one side by the region of darkness, on the other by the ocean.".<ref>{{cite book
| author1 = François Guizot
| author1-link = François Guizot
| translator1 = Thomas Forester
| title = The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy: Books 1-3
| publisher = H.G. Bohn
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HNO1nwSGf_wC
| location = [[London]]
| year = 1853
| chapter = The Idea of India in Early Medieval England
| pages= 265–266}}</ref>

One of the most clear mention about the [[Catholic]] demonification of Astaroth the goddess was found in "''Las cadenas del demonio''" (The Devil's Fetters) in 1636 written by [[Pedro Calderón de la Barca]] (1600-1681), which told the origin of the spread of christianity in Armenia by Bartholomew in response of the Armenian people worship towards Astaroth in a slightly different premise. The narrative tells about the origin of the demon's worship was initiated by princess Irene, a daughter of a king, who was imprisoned was denied by his father as he was told by his court [[astrologists]] that Irene will bring ruin to his kingdom. Faced with such condition, Irene prayed to the gods of her pagan religion. In response to her prayer, a figure of a young man who she believes as the physical manifestation of the god Astaroth appeared to grant her wish. The narration of de la Barca stated the man who appeared before Irene is actually a demon, not the pagan deity's manifestation.<ref name="RobertLima">
{{cite book
| author1 = Robert Lima 
| title = Dark Prisms: Occultism in Hispanic Drama 
| publisher = University Press of [[Kentucky]]
| url =https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/232564379.pdf
| year=1995
| location= Pennsylvania State University
| chapter= chapter 3: The Demonic Pact and the Quest for Esoteric Knowledge
| pages= 40–41}}
</ref>

Further depiction about the rivalry between Astaroth and Saint Bartholomew also mentioned by {{ill|Francisco de Sobrecasas|es}}(d.1698). Sobrecasas wrote in '''Ideas varias de orar evangélicamente''", that Astaroth is a monstrous force which causing ruin to the community.<ref name="AndrewMBeresford">
{{cite book
| author1 = Andrew M. Beresford
| title = Sacred Skin: The Legend of St. Bartholomew in Spanish Art and Literature
| isbn = 9789004419384 
| publisher = Brill
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HxfUDwAAQBAJ
| date= 2 March 2020 
| chapter= Hagiographic Tradition and the Transformation of Identity
| page = 31
}}</ref>

=== Kabbalah and Occultism ===

[[File:Heads of evil demons powers of evil francis barrett the magus.jpg|thumb|A diagram of the demon's head from [[Francis Barrett (occultist)|Francis Barrett]]'s ''Magus''. Astaroth is at the top center.]]

In the Kabbalah system, Astarte's demonization is explained as the process of transformation from a pagan goddess into a male demon, in which Astarte (as Ashtaroth or Astaroth) becomes the negative manifestation of the Sephirah Chesed ((the fourth Sephirah, representing mercy, generosity, and the expansive flow of the divine).<ref>{{Cite book
|last=Karlsson
|first=Thomas
|title=Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic
|year=2004
|publisher=Ajna Publishing
|location=San Francisco, CA
|isbn=978-0-9721820-6-5
|pages=185
|url=https://www.amazon.com/Qabalah-Qliphoth-Goetic-Thomas-Karlsson/dp/0972182063
|access-date=September 14, 2025
}}</ref>

Furthermore, Astaroth also featured as an [[archdemon]] according to later [[Kabbalistic]] texts, who rules over the qlippa of Jupiter, known as [[Gha'agsheblah]].<ref name="ThomasKarlsson" />

[[French people|French]] occultist [[Jacques Collin de Plancy]] wrote an entry of Astaroth in his work, [[Dictionnaire Infernal]]. The artistic depiction of the demon, which was illustrated by Louis Le Breton, was described as a nude man with reptilian claws punctuating long hands and feet, feathered wings, wearing a crown, holding a serpent in one hand, and riding a lupine demon with dragon-like wings and a serpent-like tail. Collin de Plancy himself described the demon as "a very ugly angel," his bushy hair kept under the crown of "a very powerful grand-duke.".<ref name="EdSimon">
{{cite book
| author1 = Ed Simon
| title = Pandemonium: The Illustrated History of Demonology
| isbn = 9780875422862 
| publisher = Abrams
| url = https://dokumen.pub/pandemonium-the-illustrated-history-of-demonology-1419756389-9781419756382.html
| year=2022 
| chapter= The Greatest Trick Ever Pulled... on Romantic and Victorian Demonology
}}</ref>

In 20th century, Astaroth is mentioned in various literatures, often with very small details. [[Arthur Edward Waite]] mentioned in his work, "''The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts''", that before Astaroth fell from heaven, he was a prince of the order of thrones. In another quote from Waite's other work, "''The Lemegeton''",  Astaroth was referred as a great duke in the infernal regions. Meanwhile, [[Lewis Spence]] also mentioned Astaroth in his work, "'':An Encyclopedia of Occultism''". According to Spence, Astaroth was from the order of seraphim.<ref name="JamesLewis"/>

[[Francis Barrett (occultist)|Francis Barrett]] ({{circa| 1801}}) has mentioned Astaroth in his work, ''[[The Magus (Barrett book)|The Magus]]'', as one of the nine princes of hell.<ref name="TB" /> Barrett placed him as the eighth prince of the group. Furthermore, Barrett also mentioned him as the prince of accusers and inquisitors.<ref>{{cite book
| author1 = Francis Barrett
| author1-link= Francis Barrett (occultist)
| title = The Magus Book 2: A Complete System of Occult Philosophy
| publisher = Book Tree
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=U5pkt4rsntUC
| isbn = 9781585090327
| date = 1998
| chapter = Part 1: Ceremonial Magic
| page = 47}}</ref> Barrett also stated that Astaroth is called Diabolus in the Greek language. Furthermore, Barrett also maintained that the demon has set up residence in America.<ref name="JamesLewis">{{cite book
| author1 = James R. Lewis
| editor1 = Antonia Navarro Tejero
| title = Encyclopedia of Satanism
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MTqnoAEACAAJ
| isbn = 9781500208530
| date = 2014
| page = 7
| publisher = CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
}}
</ref>

The idolatry of Astaroth was also somehow related to the root of modern [[Wicca]] [[occultism]]. [[Gerald Gardner]], a 19-20th century English occultist, participated in excavations of a temple devoted to Astaroth in [[Palestine]]. After Gardner returned to England later on, he was reportedly claimed himself to be able to recall memories of his former lives.<ref name="EdHindson">
{{cite book
| author1 = Ed Hindson
| author2 = Ergun Caner
| title = The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics: Surveying the Evidence for the Truth of Christianity
| publisher = Harvest House Publishers
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=yipXIHcteRsC
| isbn = 9780736936354
| date = 2008
| chapter = Paganism
| page = 381}}
</ref>

However, [[Lon Milo DuQuette]] and [[Christopher Hyatt]] opined that the male demon ''Astaroth'' is entirely unrelated to the benevolent goddess ''Ashtoreth''.<ref name="Goetia"/>{{Dubious|reason=the authors of this book are not Academic expect and Peter are viewed scholars|date=August 2025}}

== Appearance in other literatures ==
Astaroth was appeared in ''[[The Book of Abramelin]]'', purportedly written in [[Hebrew]] {{circa|1458}}, and recurred in most [[occult]] [[grimoires]] of the following centuries.<ref name="IS"/>

[[File:Astaroth Seal.svg|thumb|Seal of Astaroth, as depicted in ''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]'']]

[[Byzantine]] history expert Richard P. H. Greenfield noted that Astaroth also appeared in [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] tradition of demonology.<ref name="RichardPHGreenfield">{{cite book
| author1 = Richard P. H. Greenfield
| title = Traditions of Belief in Late Byzantine Demonology
| isbn = 9789025609627 
| publisher = Adolf M. Hakkert
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=neJ9AAAAMAAJ
| year= 1988 
| pages = 226, 227, 230, 232, 243, 267
}}</ref>

In 1469, [[Johann Georg Faust]] mentioned Astaroth as one of the rulers of infernal kingdom in his work, "''Faust’s Miraculous Art and Book of Marvels, or the Black Raven''”.<ref name="FaustBayardTaylor">
{{cite book
| author1 = Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
| author1-link = Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
| translator1 = Bayard Taylor
| translator1-link = Bayard Taylor
| title = Faust
| location = [[Boston]] 
| publisher = Houghton Mifflin
| url = https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Faust-bayard-taylor-1912.djvu/282
| year= 1913 
| chapter= IV. Dead of Night
| page = 282
}}</ref>

Astaroth also mentioned as one of co-signatories of a Diabolical pact between various demons with [[Urban Grandier]].<ref name="IS"/> 

[[File:UrbainPact2.jpg|thumb|240px|The copy of alleged diabolical Pact between some of demon lords, including Astaroth, with Urban Grandier. The pact was written in Backwards Latin]]

Astaroth was mentioned in Grandier's satanic pact and during the exorcism of a nun named Ursuline. [[Aldous Huxley]] refers to a court transcript in which Astaroth is described as a seraphim demon who spoke through the abbess Jeanne des Anges, whom the demon possessed.<ref>{{Cite book
|author=Aldous Huxley
|author-link=Aldous Huxley
|title=The Devils of Loudun
|year=1952
|publisher=Harper & Brothers
|location=New York
|isbn=978-0-06-091401-9
|pages=120–125, 150–155
|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-devils-of-loudun-aldous-huxley
|access-date=September 18, 2025
}}</ref>

Dutch demonologist [[Johann Weyer]] mentioned Astaroth in his work, ''[[Pseudomonarchia Daemonum]]'' (1577), whom he stated as the great duke of hell with a shape of foul angel, who sat upon a hellish dragon creature, and carrying a snake on his left hand(Right hand, according to Reginald Scot.
<ref name="ReginaldScot">{{cite book
| author1 = Reginald Scot
| author1-link= Reginald Scot
| author2= Chirstopher Irvine
| editor1= John Madziarczyk
| title = Magitians Discovered Volume 2, The Core Texts
| publisher = Topaz House Publications
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=njDRfG6YVb8C
| isbn =9780990668251
| date =2016
| pages = 39, 112, 157, 158}}
</ref>)" 
Astaroth could be summoned with a specific magical ring. Weyer also further described that there are around 40 legions which commanded by Astaroth.<ref name="Peterson">
{{cite web
|author=Joseph H. Peterson
|url=http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/weyer.htm 
|title=Introduction by Joseph Peterson to Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum
|publisher=Twilit Grotto Esoteric Archives
|year=2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/weyer.htm#par28|title=Johann Weyer, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum|work=esotericarchives.com}}</ref>

According to some [[demonology|demonologists]] of the 16th century, August is sometimes cited as the month when the demon Astaroth's influence and attacks on humans are considered strongest. This belief stems from 16th-century demonologists, such as Sebastien Michaelis, who designated August as a peak time for Astaroth's temptations, particularly through promoting laziness, vanity, and rationalized philosophies.<ref name="TB">{{cite book
| author1 = Theresa Bane
| title = Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures
| publisher = McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=njDRfG6YVb8C
| isbn =9780786488940
| date=10 January 2014
| pages = 7, 57–58
| quote = Sources for Astaroth; ''Chambers, Book of Days, 722; Collin de Plancy, Dictionary of Witchcraft, 18; Conway, De-monology and Devil-Lore, 299; De Laurence, Lesser Key of Solomon, Goetia, 30-1; Hyatt, Book of Demons, 74; McLean, Treatise of Angel Magic, 51; Scott, London Magazine, Vol. 5, 378.''...Sources for Astarte; ''Cornelius, The Many Faces of the Goddess, 93; Melton, Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, 315; Pinch, Egyptian Mythology, 108-9; Willis, World Mythology, 51''}}
</ref>

Astaroth was similarly referred to in the 17th-century work ''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

Astaroth also makes an appearance in the book of ''[[Grimorium Verum]]'' (''True Grimoire''), as the infernal principality which rules the Americas.<ref>{{cite book
| author1 = Gustav Davidson
| author1-link= Gustav Davidson
| editor1= Gustav Davidson
| title = Dictionary of Angels
| publisher = Free Press
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=kGXelGEMdWgC
| isbn = 9780029070529
| date = 1994
| page = 59}}
</ref>

== Depiction in popular culture ==
{{Main|Astaroth in popular culture}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2025}}
Ashtaroth is one of three demons summoned by Faustus to attack Benvolio in ''[[Doctor Faustus (play)|Doctor Faustus]]''.

The "Star of Astoroth" features prominently in the 1971 Disney film ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'', where it takes the form of a magical medallion.

Astaroth is named in the 1976 Hammer horror film ''[[To the Devil a Daughter]]''.

In the 1920 silent horror film ''[[The Golem: How He Came into the World]]'', [[Judah Loew ben Bezalel|Rabbi Loew]] and his assistant summon Astaroth to animate the [[Golem]] resulting in deadly and destructive results.

Astaroth also appears in the 2007 television series ''[[Blood Ties (TV series)|Blood Ties]]'', with his symbol displayed in the first few episodes.

The Solomonic seal of Astaroth makes an appearance in the 2017 film ''[[Pyewacket (film)|Pyewacket]]''.

Astaroth symbolism is also prevalent in the 2018 film ''[[Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made]]'', and a symbol of Astaroth appears in the movie over 170 times.

Astaroth is the title character in "Astaroth"/"Astaroth Female Demon", a film by the Brazilian director Larissa Anzoategui. The name of the company that made the film is also "Astaroth Produções"

Astaroth appears as the main antagonist of the 2022 movie ''[[R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned]]''.

==See also==
{{Portal|Religion}}
* [[Asherah]]
* [[Atargatis]]

== Appendix ==
=== References ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* [[Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]], A. Crowley, ''[[The Goetia|The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King]]'' (1904). 1995 reprint: {{ISBN|0-87728-847-X}}.
* {{Cite book
|title=Passion of Bartholomew
|editor=Burke, Tony
|year=2022
|publisher=e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha
|url=https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/passion-of-bartholomew/
|access-date=September 6, 2025
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=de Voragine
|first=Jacobus
|title=The Golden Legend
|year=1275
|editor=Ryan, William Granger
|publisher=Princeton University Press
|location=Princeton, NJ
|isbn=978-0-691-00153-1
|volume=2
|pages=118–122
|url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691001531/the-golden-legend
|access-date=September 6, 2025
}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline}}
* {{Wiktionary inline|Astaroth}}

{{Demons in the Ars Goetia}}
{{Demons in Pseudomonarchia Daemonum}}

[[Category:Astarte]]
[[Category:Deities in the Hebrew Bible]]
[[Category:Goetic demons]]
[[Category:Qlippoth]]