Balam: The Three-Headed Demon King of Prophecy and Terror

Balam is a well-known demon, primarily found in early modern grimoires and occult books. He is described as a powerful and fearsome king in the infernal hierarchy, leading many legions of spirits. Balam is known both for his destructive abilities and for revealing secret knowledge, especially about time and hidden actions.

The demon has a strange, multi-headed body and a hoarse, rough voice that matches his intense and unsettling nature. People seek him out for his powers of invisibility and perfect foresight, but his frightening appearance is said to scare those who are not ready to face him.

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Key Takeaways

Attribute	Details
Name	Balam, Balan, Balaam.
Title	King of Hell, Terrible King, Mighty King.
Gender	Male.
Origin	First detailed extensively in 16th-century demonology texts such as the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum; likely derived from the biblical entity of Balaam.
Appearance	A three-headed entity (bull, man, ram) with flaming eyes and a serpent’s tail, riding a giant bear and carrying a hawk.
Hierarchy	King.
Superior Demon	Generally listed under the authority of Lucifer or Belial in various grimoires.
Servitors	Commands forty legions of inferior spirits.
Associated Figures	Balaam (the biblical prophet), King Solomon.
Powers	Grants perfect knowledge of the past, present, and future; bestows invisibility; makes men witty or provides them with sharp mental faculties.
Weaknesses	Sacred names of God, specific protective circles, and the intervention of the opposing angel.
Opposing Angel/Saint	Haziel.
Equipment/Tools	Carries a hawk or goshawk on his fist.
Pantheon	Christian Demonology / Goetic Tradition.
Notable Myths	Inclusion in the Lesser Key of Solomon as the 51st spirit.

Etymology

The name Balam is widely considered by scholars of historical demonology to be a corruption or derivative of the name Balaam, the non-Israelite prophet mentioned in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible. In the biblical narrative, Balaam is a diviner who is asked to curse the Israelites, but instead blesses them after being intervened on by an angel and his speaking donkey.

Over time, Balam shifted from a human diviner to a demon as medieval and Renaissance theologians sought to fit nonhuman spiritual figures into a structured infernal hierarchy.

The name Balam is often linked to the Semitic word “Bela,” meaning “to swallow” or “to devour,” which highlights his destructive side. In some cases, the name is also tied to the idea of being a “lord” or “possessor,” much like the title Baal used for West Semitic gods.

In the specific context of the Ars Goetia, the spelling Balam distinguishes the spirit as a specific king with localized powers over truth and invisibility. However, the phonetic and historical link to the biblical sorcerer remains the most academic explanation for his terminology.

What Does the Demon Balam Look Like?

Goetic texts describe Balam’s appearance in detail, showing him as a monster with three heads: one of a bull, one of a man, and one of a ram. These heads are thought to represent strength, intelligence, and stubbornness or sacrifice.

Balam’s eyes are said to be flaming, giving off a scary light that shows his supernatural vision. He has a serpent’s tail, which often stands for cunning and ancient power in demon stories. Instead of walking, he rides a huge, angry bear.

He carries a goshawk or hawk on his fist, showing his role as a hunter or watcher from above. His voice is especially hoarse, which is often mentioned as a feature frequently noted when describing the meeting.

Historical Mentions

Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Johann Weyer, 1577):

“Balam, rex magnus & terribilis, prodit tribus capitibus, primo bubulo, altero humano, tertio arieting: caudam habet colubrinam, oculos flammeos, equitat in urso, ficedulam portat in manu: raucam edit vocem: respondet perfectè de præteritis, præsentibus & futuris: reddit homines invisibiles & prudentes: quadraginta legiones huic subsunt.”

Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (English Translation):

“Balam is a great and a terrible king, he commeth foorth with three heads, the first of a bull, the second of a man, and the third of a ram, he hath a serpents taile, and flaming eies, he rideth upon a beare, and carrieth a goshawke on his fist, he speaketh with a hoarse voice, answering perfectlie of things present, past, and to come, hee maketh men invisible and wise, hee governeth fortie legions of spirits.”

The Lesser Key of Solomon (S.L. MacGregor Mathers, 1904):

“The Fifty-first Spirit is Balam. He is a Terrible, Great, and Powerful King. He appeareth with three Heads: the first is like that of a Bull; the second is like that of a Man; and the third is like that of a Ram. He hath the Tail of a Serpent, and Flaming Eyes. He rideth upon a furious Bear, and carrieth a Goshawk upon his Fist. He speaketh with a hoarse Voice, giving True Answers of Things Past, Present, and to Come. He maketh men to go Invisible, and also to be Witty. He governeth 40 Legions of Spirits.”

The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Reginald Scot, 1584):

“Balam is a great and a terrible king, he commeth foorth with three heads, the first of a bull, the second of a man, and the third of a ram, he hath a serpents taile, and flaming eies, he rideth upon a beare, and carrieth a goshawke on his fist, he speaketh with a hoarse voice, answering perfectlie of things present, past, and to come, hee maketh men invisible and wise, hee governeth fortie legions of spirits.”

Dictionnaire Infernal (Collin de Plancy, 1863 edition, original French):

“Balan, grand et terrible roi aux enfers. Il paraît avec trois têtes, celle d’un taureau, celle d’un homme et celle d’un bélier. Il a une queue de serpent et des yeux qui jettent des flammes. Il monte sur un ours et porte un épervier sur le poing. Sa voix est rauque. Il répond sur le passé, le présent et l’avenir. Il enseigne les ruses, les finesses et le moyen de voir sans être vu. Il commande quarante légions. Il était autrefois de l’ordre des dominations.”

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Dictionnaire Infernal (1863 edition, English translation):

“Balan, great and terrible king in hell. He appears with three heads, that of a bull, that of a man, and that of a ram. He has a serpent’s tail and eyes that dart flames. He mounts on a bear and carries a sparrow-hawk on his fist. His voice is hoarse. He answers about the past, the present, and the future. He teaches ruses, finesse, and the means to see without being seen. He commands forty legions. He was formerly of the order of Dominations.”

The Book of Oberon (Daniel Harms et al., based on a 16th-century manuscript):

“Balam is a great King and a terrible, appearing with three heads: the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram. He hath a serpent’s tail and flaming eyes. He rideth upon a bear and carrieth a hawk on his fist. He speaketh with a hoarse voice, answering perfectly of things past, present and to come. He maketh men invisible and also witty. Under him are forty legions of spirits.”

Balam’s Powers and Abilities

Balam is distinguished by his control over prophecy and time. Unlike other demons who focus on destruction, Balam’s power lies is the mind and how people perceive reality. His primary ability is to provide accurate answers about the past, present, and future. This can tempt individuals with forbidden knowledge and the opportunity to transcend conventional limits.

Balam can also render people invisible, facilitating secrecy and deception. He can make people clever or wise, but this often leads to pride or using intelligence for bad purposes. Controlling forty legions shows he has a lot of power in the infernal world and can command many spirits.

Powers and Abilities Breakdown

Power/Ability	Description	Source	How It Tempts/Corrupts
Temporal Revelation	Accurate knowledge of past, present, and future events.	Ars Goetia	Encourages humans to seek control over destiny and skip divine providence.
Invisibility	The ability to hide a person from physical sight.	Pseudomonarchia Daemonum	Facilitates theft, espionage, and avoidance of consequences.
Mental Augmentation	Granting wit and cunning to the practitioner.	The Discoverie of Witchcraft	Fosters arrogance and the use of intellect to manipulate others.

How to Counter Balam’s Powers

To protect against Balam, people use traditional blessed items and set up sacred boundaries. Spiritual defenders have long recommended Holy Water and blessed salt to make barriers that demons cannot cross. The Saint Benedict Medal is a well-known amulet used to keep away powerful infernal kings by calling on spiritual protection.

Plants like Rue and Hyssop are used in cleansing rituals to get rid of the heavy energy linked to Balam. If someone feels affected by him, such as being obsessed with the future or wanting to hide things, it is best to talk to a priest or a spiritual expert. The Turkish Evil Eye (Nazar) is also used to protect against the harmful gaze of such beings.

Balam’s Role in the Hierarchy of Hell

In the complex and organized system of the infernal realm, Balam is ranked as a King. This title is not merely for show; it indicates he has real authority over a specific area or role.

The Dictionnaire Infernal says Balam was once a high-ranking angel from the Order of Dominations. In Heaven, these spirits managed lower angels. As a fallen King, Balam still uses these skills to control secrets, knowledge about time, and invisibility.

Relationships with Superior Demons

Although Balam is a King, he is not the top ruler of the infernal kingdom. Most goetic and Christian demonologies say Balam works under the main leaders of the underworld, often called the Infernal Trinity or the chief monarchs.

• Lucifer: As Emperor of Hell, Lucifer is Balam’s highest superior. Balam is an oracle and strategist, using his perfect knowledge of past and future events to advise on actions in both the heavenly and earthly worlds.
• Belial: Some sources, such as 17th-century manuscripts, report that Balam has a courtly relationship with Belial. Both are Kings, but Belial is often regarded as occupying a more subordinate role within the hierarchy. At the same time, Balam acts as a special advisor on secret operations and time manipulation.
• Paimon: In the Ars Goetia, Balam and King Paimon are equals. They respect each other’s territories. Paimon leads through arts and sciences, while Balam leads through prophecy and secrecy.

Servitors and Ruled Spirits

Balam is a general in the infernal army, leading forty legions of spirits. In occult tradition, each legion has about 6,666 spirits, so Balam commands over 260,000 spirits in total.

The main grimoires do not name these spirits individually, but they are grouped by what they do:

• Spirits of Invisibility: Many of Balam’s spirits work to control light and how things are seen. They are responsible for making someone invisible when Balam gives this power.
• Chroniclers of Time: Since Balam gives true answers about all times, he uses spirits who act as recorders. They collect information from the past and present to help him see everything clearly.
• The Bear-Guard: In stories, the furious bear Balam rides is seen as a powerful servant demon. It represents the wild rage Balam has fully controlled, showing his ability to rule brute force with his intelligence.

Astrological Associations and Symbolism

Balam is usually linked to the Sun, like most Kings in goetic tradition. This is interesting because it connects a dark, rough-voiced being to the bright Sun, showing his role in revealing the past and future. His metal is gold, and his element is earth, which ties his powers to real human history.

Association	Symbol/Value
Planet	Sun
Metal	Gold
Element	Earth
Color	Yellow or Gold
Zodiac Sign	Sagittarius
Number	51 (Order in Goetia)

Balam’s Sigil

Balam’s sigil is a complex geometric symbol used in Renaissance magic as his unique signature. People believed the sigil focused his energy. Traditionally, it was engraved on a gold lamen to show his rank as King. Without the sigil, it was thought Balam would not appear or would not be forced to tell the truth.

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Associated Symbols and Offerings

Symbol/Item	Association/Meaning	Use in Rituals
Bear	Brute force and ferocity.	Symbolizes the mount of the King.
Hawk	Vigilance and far-seeing sight.	Represents his mastery over information.
Frankincense	Solar incense.	Used to appease or attract high-ranking solar spirits.

Similar Demonic Entities

Demon Name	Gender	Primary Religion	Type / Class	Sphere of Influence	Weaknesses
Paimon	Male	Christian Demonology	King	Arts, sciences, secret things	Sacred names, Host
Asmodeus	Male	Jewish / Christian	King / Prince	Lust, gambling, wrath	Fish liver smoke, Raphael
Agares	Male	Christian Demonology	Duke	Languages, earthquakes	Consecrated circles
Barbatos	Male	Christian Demonology	Duke / Earl	Animal speech, treasures	Holy water, salt
Gusion	Male	Christian Demonology	Duke	Honor, dignity, future	Iron, silver
Aamon	Male	Christian Demonology	Marquis	Feuds, reconciliation	Sacred invocations
Belial	Male	Judaism / Christian	King / Prince	Lawlessness, worthlessness	Divine judgment, Michael
Purson	Male	Christian Demonology	King	Hidden things, creation	Protective amulets
Vepar	Female	Christian Demonology	Duke	Storms at sea, putrefaction	Salt, fire
Zagan	Male	Christian Demonology	King / President	Transformation, deceit	Truth-telling spells

Conclusion

Balam is still a fascinating entity in demonology because he started as a biblical prophet and became a powerful king of the underworld. His control over time and perfect knowledge shows the human wish to go beyond natural limits, even through dark ways.

Even though Balam looks frightening and has a hoarse voice, stories about him show a strict, though evil, order in the infernal world. Learning about his traits and how people try to protect themselves from him helps us understand human fears and the lasting impact of goetic traditions.