Asmodeus— Hebrew/Jewish Demon"King of Demons"

King of the Nine Hells

Asmodeus is one of the most powerful demons in Jewish and Christian demonology. His name may derive from the Persian "Aeshma-deva," a demon of wrath, or from Hebrew roots meaning "destroyer." In the Book of Tobit, he falls in love with Sarah and kills seven of her husbands on their wedding nights before the archangel Raphael binds him in Egypt.

The Three-Headed King

In demonological grimoires, Asmodeus appears with three heads: a bull (representing wrath), a man (lust), and a ram (revenge). He rides a lion and breathes fire, carrying a lance and a banner. Despite his fearsome appearance, he is considered one of the more cooperative demons to summon—if one survives the encounter.

Builder of Solomon's Temple

In Jewish legend, King Solomon enslaved Asmodeus using a magic ring inscribed with the divine name. The demon was forced to help build the Temple in Jerusalem. But Asmodeus eventually tricked Solomon, stole his ring, and cast the king into exile while ruling Israel in his place. Solomon only recovered his throne through humility and repentance.

Lord of Casinos

Asmodeus governs lust, but also gambling and all games of chance. He teaches mathematics and geometry, grants invisibility, and reveals hidden treasures. In modern occultism, he is invoked for questions of desire, revenge, and forbidden knowledge. His dual nature—destroyer and teacher—reflects the ambiguous power of forbidden things.

The Matrimonial Demon

Asmodeus specifically targets marriages, sowing discord between spouses and tempting the faithful to infidelity. The fumigation of fish liver and heart, as Raphael taught Tobias, is said to drive him away—the smell being unbearable to this otherwise fearsome king of demons.