Halphas is the thirty-eighth spirit in the Ars Goetia, an earl commanding twenty-six legions. His appearance is a bird and his voice is hoarse. The offices attributed to him concern fortifications, weapons, and the movement of military personnel.[1][2]
Towers or towns#
Historical witnesses differ in the word used for what Halphas builds. Peterson's notes compare readings of towers and towns, while the printed 1904 account uses towers. The variation is small on the page but changes the scale of the described office.[1]
His supply of arms and dispatch of soldiers place the entry firmly in a military setting. Sabnock also concerns fortifications, while Eligos offers knowledge about armies and their encounters. Halphas's office is especially concerned with building and provision.[2]
Halphas and Malphas#
The names Halphas and Malphas are close, and the two entries stand next to each other. Both involve birds and building. They nevertheless receive different ranks, legion totals, and descriptions. Malphas's entry adds familiars and a warning about deception; Halphas's concentrates on military works.
The bird term itself has variant readings, including a stork-like interpretation in the older transmission. Reproducing one edition's description with a source attribution is more reliable than presenting a modern illustration as the appearance universally supplied by the tradition. Each spirit also has his own seal.
See also#
References
- Lemegeton, Goetia: Halphas, Sloane 3825 transcription · Joseph H. Peterson edition of the historical grimoire, with manuscript readings. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
- S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley, The Goetia (1904), spirit 38 · Public-domain edition. Offices and appearances are statements in this catalogue. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩