Purson is the twentieth spirit in the Ars Goetia, a king with twenty-two legions. His appearance combines a man's body, a lion's face, a viper in his hand, and a bear as his mount. Trumpets sound before his arrival.[1][2]

Hidden things and the world#

Purson is credited with discovering treasure and knowing past, present, and future events. His answers extend to secret and divine matters and the creation of the world. The breadth of this office makes him one of the catalogue's figures associated with cosmological questions as well as practical gain.[2]

The entry says he can take a human or aerial body and provide good familiars. These details place knowledge, appearance, and spirit service together. They should remain part of the description rather than disappear behind the general label of a treasure spirit.

Royal imagery#

The bear mount and heralding trumpets give Purson a ceremonial entrance. Paimon and Beleth also arrive with music, showing how royal status is expressed through a procession as well as a title. Purson's lion face and serpent are his more particular features.

His legions are described as belonging partly to the order of Virtues and partly to Thrones. The catalogue thus retains Christian angelic classifications inside an infernal hierarchy. The associated seal identifies the spirit, while a painted image or engraving interprets the visible form described by the text.[1]

See also#

References

  1. Lemegeton, Goetia: Purson, Sloane 3825 transcription · Joseph H. Peterson edition of the historical grimoire, with manuscript readings. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
  2. S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley, The Goetia (1904), spirit 20 · Public-domain edition. Offices and appearances are statements in this catalogue. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
goetiagrimoiresdemonologypurson

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