Vine is the forty-fifth spirit of the Ars Goetia, with the titles king and earl. The 1904 edition assigns him thirty-six legions. He appears as a lion riding a black horse and holding a viper.[2]
Finding and dismantling#
Vine discovers hidden things, witches, and events of past, present, and future. The same entry gives him the building of towers, the destruction of great stone walls, and the stirring of water into storms. Construction and demolition are both included in his office.[1][2]
The reference to discovering witches belongs to the hostile categories of the historical text. It cannot identify a real person as a witch or substantiate an accusation. It does, however, show how demonological classifications and contemporary fears could enter a magical catalogue's promises.
A variant legion count#
Peterson's Sloane transcription gives thirty-five legions, unlike the thirty-six in the 1904 edition. The discrepancy should be recorded with the relevant witness instead of resolved by treating a popular online number as the only possible reading.[1]
The mounted lion and viper provide a distinctive appearance. Purson has a lion's face and a serpent but rides a bear; Orias is another mounted lion with serpents. Reading these combinations together shows how a limited set of visual elements is rearranged into different named figures.
See also#
References
- Lemegeton, Goetia: Vine, 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 45 · Public-domain edition. Offices and appearances are statements in this catalogue. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩