Have you ever wondered what lurks in the shadows of ancient grimoires, whispering secrets that could unravel your very perception of reality? Shax, the enigmatic demon known for his cunning deceit and malevolent prowess, stands as a chilling figure in the annals of demonology.
As a Great Marquis of Hell, Shax embodies the essence of treachery, stripping away senses and hoarding treasures with a sinister grace that has terrified occultists for centuries. What drives this infernal entity to sow chaos among mortals, and how has his dark legacy endured through the ages?
Delving into the lore of Shax raises intriguing questions: Can a being of pure malice truly reveal hidden truths, or is every revelation laced with poison? How does Shax manipulate the boundaries between visibility and oblivion, and what ancient forces might have birthed such a demonic force?
Table of Contents
Key Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Shax, Chax, Shan, Shass, Shaz, Scox |
| Title | Great Marquis of Hell, Duke (in some sources) |
| Gender | Typically male, though some depictions portray a female form |
| Role | Deceiver, thief of senses and wealth, revealer of concealed secrets |
| Hierarchy | 44th spirit in the Ars Goetia, commands 30 legions of demons |
| Servitors | 30 legions of spirits, often on evil horses; named leaders include Pystoria, Carsio, Dorceta, Hecaton, Mamoris, Eshelin, Calishay, Cairzut, Zolgis, Volmak, Zelgmet, Sirgun, Bellmok, Jengran, Magraton, Sorzom, Milgor, Voroth, Zolginur, Colvax, Dalgar, Razogor, Bazgik, Masteron, Zortun, Gorguk, Rorgak, Drelok, Birmon, Mirron |
| Superior Demon | Likely reports to higher entities like Lucifer, Beelzebub, or Satan |
| Powers | Induces blindness, deafness, and confusion; steals valuables and returns them after centuries; uncovers hidden treasures; provides familiars (often treacherous); infiltrates dreams; obfuscates traces |
| Appearance | Stork or stock-dove with a hoarse, subtle voice that turns beautiful in a magic triangle; sometimes with dark skin, blue hair, and an aura of power |
| Etymology | Possibly from Latin “saxum” (rock, implying unyielding deceit) or Hebrew “shachat” (to corrupt or destroy) |
| Associated Figures | King Solomon, Johann Weyer, Jacques Collin de Plancy, Ielahiah (opposing angel), Beelzebub (resented superior) |
| Weaknesses | Compelled to truth within a magic triangle; vulnerable to angelic invocations and protective rituals |
| Opposing Angel/Saint | Ielahiah (Kabbalistic angel) |
| Equipment/Tools | Associated with sigils, magic triangles, and ritual offerings like feathers or silver |
| Pantheon | Christian demonology, Solomonic tradition, Western occultism |
Etymology
The name Shax harbors profound linguistic mysteries, echoing his role as a demon of corruption and illusion. One prominent theory links it to the Latin term saxum, meaning “rock” or “stone,” symbolizing an immovable foundation of deceit that withstands time, much like how Shax hoards stolen wealth for 1,200 years. This connection underscores his unyielding nature, where truths are buried under layers of falsehoods, only to surface when compelled.
Alternatively, Shax may derive from the Hebrew shachat, translating to “corrupt,” “destroy,” or “slaughter,” aligning perfectly with his abilities to dismantle human senses and understanding. In ancient Semitic languages, similar roots evoke themes of ruin and betrayal, reflecting Shax‘s trickster essence in demonological lore. Variant spellings like Chax, Shaz, or Scox suggest scribal adaptations during medieval translations, influenced by phonetic shifts across European dialects.
Further etymological exploration ties Shax to Aramaic or Babylonian influences, where words resembling “shax” imply hidden pitfalls or snares, mirroring his power to uncover concealed things while ensnaring the unwary.
In occult traditions, demonic names carry vibrational power, and Shax‘s elusive origins amplify his mystique, making invocation a perilous act of linguistic mastery. Some scholars speculate connections to pre-Christian deities of mischief, though these remain speculative, emphasizing Shax‘s evolution from ancient folklore into Solomonic grimoires.
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What Does the Demon Shax Look Like?
Shax typically manifests in the form of a stork or stock-dove, an avian guise that conceals his malevolent intent behind an unassuming exterior. His voice begins as hoarse and subtle, grating like whispers from the abyss, but transforms into a beautiful, melodic tone once confined within a magic triangle. This duality in sound reflects his deceptive core, luring summoners into false security.
Physical traits include long, slender legs and a sharp beak, often depicted with piercing eyes that gleam with infernal cunning.
In some accounts, Shax appears with dark skin, short blue hair, and a medium build, emanating an aura that charges the air with dark energy. His stork form may feature subtle demonic embellishments, such as shadowy feathers or a faint, bleeding hue around the mouth, enhancing his eerie, predatory presence.
This bird-like appearance ties Shax to symbolic themes of stealth and vigilance, as storks in ancient myths serve as omens of misfortune or thieves of fortune. The contrast between his graceful form and destructive powers highlights the demon‘s paradoxical nature, where beauty masks utter malice.
Historical and Mythological Background
The origins of Shax trace back to the turbulent era of the heavenly rebellion, positioning him as a fallen angel cast from paradise. Once residing in Heaven’s celestial choirs—though his exact order remains shrouded—he joined Lucifer’s uprising against divine authority.
Banished alongside his brethren, Shax descended into Hell, where his resentment festered, particularly toward Beelzebub for escalating the conflict to irreversible damnation. This infernal descent marks Shax as an embodiment of corrupted divinity, his angelic essence twisted into a vessel of deceit and ruin.
Potential connections to ancient deities amplify Shax‘s mythological depth. His stork form evokes parallels with Thoth, the Egyptian ibis-headed god of knowledge and secrets, but inverted into a harbinger of obscured truths and theft.
In Babylonian lore, trickster spirits like those associated with Enki’s cunning waters mirror Shax‘s manipulative prowess, suggesting syncretic influences from Mesopotamian demonology. European folklore links him to avian omens, where storks symbolize ill fortune or soul-stealing, blending with Christian demonology to form his Goetic identity.
The Binding by King Solomon
In the foundational myth of the Lesser Key of Solomon, King Solomon—renowned for his wisdom and dominion over spirits—summoned and bound Shax among the 72 demons of the Ars Goetia.
Using his legendary seal and a magic triangle, Solomon compelled Shax to reveal hidden treasures and speak truthfully, countering the demon‘s innate propensity for lies. Shax, appearing as a stork with a hoarse voice, resisted initially, attempting to deceive the king by offering false familiars and stealing his senses.
Solomon’s ritual demanded precision: incense burned, sigils drawn, and invocations recited to confine Shax. Once trapped, the demon‘s voice softened, divulging secrets of lost artifacts not guarded by wicked spirits.
This encounter solidified Shax‘s reputation as a reluctant servant, his powers harnessed for royal gain but always laced with peril. The legend warns of Shax‘s vengeful nature, as unbound summoners risk sensory deprivation or eternal deceit.
The Vampire’s Bargain
A darker tale emerges from esoteric narratives, where Shax entangled with the vampire Romulus Diovanni in a pact for dominion.
Seeking to conquer the world, Romulus invoked Shax, offering the soul of Cloacina—the Roman goddess of sewers and hidden flows—in exchange for unparalleled power. Shax, drawn to the offering’s symbolic resonance with concealment, appeared in his avian form, his hoarse whispers promising legions and secrets.
The bargain unfolded in shadowed rituals: Romulus presented Cloacina’s essence, captured through arcane means, while Shax bestowed abilities to obscure enemies and steal vital forces. However, Shax‘s treachery surfaced; the demon twisted the pact, granting power that corrupted Romulus further, leading to his downfall.
This legend illustrates Shax‘s allure to the ambitious, exploiting desires for control while ensuring mutual ruin, a cautionary fable in vampire lore intertwined with demonological traditions.
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Shax in Medieval Rituals
During the Middle Ages, occultists invoked Shax for vengeful or acquisitive purposes, using grimoires like the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. Rituals involved midnight ceremonies within protective circles, offerings of silver coins or feathers to appease his thieving spirit. Summoners commanded Shax to afflict enemies with blindness or confusion, stripping them of wits in courtly intrigues or battles.
One detailed account describes a sorcerer punishing a rival by bidding Shax to steal senses during a duel, rendering the foe helpless. Yet, failures abounded; unbound Shax turned on practitioners, hoarding their wealth or deceiving with illusory familiars.
These practices cemented Shax‘s role in European witchcraft, blending Solomonic magic with folk superstitions, where his name invoked fear of unseen theft and perceptual loss.
Folklore Connections and Global Parallels
In broader folklore, Shax‘s avian motif links to global myths of bird-demons as soul-thieves or omens. Scandinavian tales of stork-like spirits that pilfer fortunes parallel Shax‘s larceny, while African lore features deceptive birds akin to Anansi’s tricks, suggesting cross-cultural diffusion.
In Asian demonology, entities like the Chinese gui or Japanese tengu share Shax‘s deceptive revelations, possibly influencing his Goetic form through trade routes.
These connections portray Shax as a universal archetype of malice, evolving from ancient psychopomps—guides of souls twisted into corrupters. His resentment in Hell adds depth, positioning him as a reluctant infernal, forever scheming against superiors and mortals alike.
Historical Mentions
| Text/Grimoire | Year | Description | Excerpt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pseudomonarchia Daemonum | 1577 | Shax is a great marquis appearing as a stork, known for deceit unless in a triangle; steals senses, money, and horses. | “Shax, alias Scox, is a darke and a great marquesse, like unto a storke, with a hoarse and subtill voice: he dooth marvellouslie take awaie the sight, hearing and understanding of anie man, at the commandement of the conjuror: he taketh awaie monie out of everie kings house, and carrieth it backe after 1200 yeares, if he be commanded, he is a horssestealer, he is thought to be faithfull in all commandements: and although he promise to be obedient to the conjuror in all things; yet is he not so, he is a lier, except he be brought into a triangle, and there he speaketh divinelie, and telleth of things which are hidden, and not kept of wicked spirits, he promiseth good familiars, which are accepted if they be not deceivers, he hath thirtie legions.” |
| Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis (Ars Goetia) | 17th c. | The 44th spirit, a Great Marquis who deprives senses, steals valuables, and reveals secrets when constrained. | “The Forty-fourth Spirit is Shax, or Shaz (or Shass). He is a Great Marquis and appeareth in the Form of a Stock-Dove, speaking with a voice hoarse, but yet subtle. His Office is to take away the Sight, Hearing or Understanding of any Man or Woman at the command of the Exorcist; and to steal money out of the houses of Kings, and to carry it again in 1,200 years. If commanded he will fetch Horses at the request of the Exorcist, or any other thing. But he must first be commanded into a Triangle, △ or else he will deceive him, and tell him many Lies. And he can discover all things that are Hidden, and not kept by Wicked Spirits. And he governeth 30 Legions of Spirits, and this is his Seal, etc.” |
| Dictionnaire Infernal | 1818 | A duke and marquis who lies unless confined, steals money and horses, and reveals treasures. | “Scox or Chax, Duke and Grand Marquis of hell. He has a hoarse voice and a mind given to lies; he appears in the form of a stork. He steals horses, and takes the silver in the houses he possesses only to return it 1200 years later if everything is still in order. If he is confined to a triangle, he will speak truth on supernatural matters, point out hidden treasures not guarded by evil spirits, and will obey the exorcist; but outside the triangle he lies and Scox is his name. He commands thirty legions.” |
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Shax’s Powers and Abilities
Shax, as a demon of profound malice, wields abilities that dismantle human faculties and exploit vulnerabilities with ruthless precision. Unlike generic demonic possession, Shax‘s talents focus on perceptual sabotage, rendering victims blind, deaf, or bereft of comprehension, fostering isolation and despair. This power tempts the vengeful, offering control over adversaries but corrupting the user through escalating paranoia and moral decay.
He excels in theft, pilfering money from royal coffers or horses from stables, returning them after 1,200 years—a cruel jest that preys on greed, promising wealth while ensuring long-term loss. Shax uncovers hidden treasures unguarded by spirits, appealing to seekers of forbidden lore, yet his revelations often lead to obsession and downfall. His familiars, while potentially useful, frequently betray, mirroring his deceptive core and eroding trust.
In newer interpretations within occult circles, Shax infiltrates dreams to plant discord or extract secrets, extending his influence into the subconscious. Some accounts attribute digital obfuscation—veiling online traces or disrupting surveillance—adapting his ancient thievery to modern contexts, corrupting through anonymity and misinformation. These powers corrupt by exploiting ambition, turning curiosity into ruinous pursuits.
Powers and Abilities Breakdown
| Power/Ability | Description | Source | How It Tempts/Corrupts Humans | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory Deprivation | Induces blindness, deafness, or loss of understanding, disorienting targets. | Ars Goetia, Pseudomonarchia | Fuels revenge, leading to isolation and ethical erosion. | Magic triangle, Ielahiah invocation. |
| Theft of Valuables | Steals money or horses, returns after 1,200 years; precise larceny. | Dictionnaire Infernal | Exploits greed, promising gains that breed impatience and crime. | Banishing rituals, moral vigilance. |
| Revealing Hidden Things | Discovers secrets or treasures not protected by evil spirits. | Ars Goetia | Tempts with knowledge, fostering obsession and betrayal. | Ritual confinement, angelic seals. |
| Providing Familiars | Grants spirits as aides, often deceitful unless controlled. | Pseudomonarchia Daemonum | Offers power, risking treachery and dependency. | Precise sigils, protective circles. |
| Dream Infiltration | Enters dreams to deliver messages or extract information. | Modern occult interpretations | Manipulates subconscious, causing paranoia and self-doubt. | Dream wards, saintly prayers. |
| Trace Obfuscation | Erases energetic or digital footprints, aiding concealment. | Contemporary demonology | Enables anonymity for illicit acts, eroding accountability. | Grounding rituals, truth incantations. |
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How to Counter Shax’s Powers
Countering Shax‘s insidious influence demands meticulous ritual and spiritual fortitude. The magic triangle, central to Solomonic magic, is paramount; drawing it with consecrated chalk or salt confines Shax, forcing truthful speech and curbing deceit. Without this, his lies proliferate, leading to sensory illusions or misplaced trust in treacherous familiars.
Invoking the Kabbalistic angel Ielahiah provides celestial opposition, as this guardian angel neutralizes Shax‘s perceptual assaults through prayers for clarity and protection. Protective circles, inscribed with holy names like Tetragrammaton, create barriers against theft or infiltration, while burning storax incense repels his avian form.
Moral and mental discipline is crucial; Shax preys on greed or vengeance, so grounding meditations with crystals like agate dispel confusion. Banishing rituals, such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, expel his presence, restoring senses.
For dream intrusions, wards like silver amulets or herbal sachets of purslane under pillows thwart entry. Knowledge of his sigil allows reversal: tracing it inversely with intent banishes manifestations. Ultimately, avoiding invocation altogether prevents entanglement, as Shax‘s counters rely on preempting his summons.
Shax’s Role in the Hierarchy of Hell
Within the infernal structure of Hell, Shax holds the rank of Great Marquis, positioned as the 44th spirit in the Ars Goetia, a mid-tier authority commanding respect yet subservient to supreme overlords.
This places him below Kings like Baal or Presidents like Marbas, but above lesser Knights or Counts, granting him dominion over tactical deception rather than brute conquest. Shax rules a shadowy domain in Hell‘s labyrinthine depths, a realm of veiled caverns where secrets fester and illusions thrive, far from the fiery pits of more aggressive demons.
He commands 30 legions of spirits, often mounted on evil horses symbolizing swift, treacherous raids.
Notable subordinates include Pystoria (master of sensory illusions), Carsio (thief of whispers), and Dorceta (guardian of hidden vaults), each amplifying Shax‘s deceitful arsenal. Superior demons like Lucifer or Satan oversee him, with Shax resenting Beelzebub for his role in their fall, fostering tense alliances marked by begrudging obedience.
Allied with tricksters like Amon or Marchosias, Shax collaborates on schemes of misinformation, sharing legions for joint operations. Adversaries include loyalists like Bune, whose straightforwardness clashes with Shax‘s guile, leading to infernal rivalries over territory or souls. His role involves executing orders of subversion, infiltrating mortal realms to corrupt leaders or hoard knowledge, maintaining Hell‘s balance through calculated chaos.
Astrological Associations and Symbolism
Shax‘s astrological ties weave a tapestry of illusion and transformation, aligning him with Mercury‘s swift, deceptive energy and the element of air, facilitating his ethereal manipulations. His zodiac influence spans 5-9 degrees of Scorpio, blending water’s depth with air’s intangibility, symbolizing hidden depths and sudden strikes. Wednesday, Mercury’s day, heightens his summoning efficacy, while his number 44 evokes dual chaos and revelation.
Symbolic metals include mercury for fluidity and silver for lunar deceit, paired with crystals like agate for grounding illusions or opal for shifting perceptions. Colors such as gray, silver, black, white, violet, and pink reflect his paradoxical stealth and allure. Planets Moon and Mars/Pluto underscore emotional manipulation and destructive rebirth, with tarot’s 5 of Cups signifying loss through deception.
His stork symbolism extends to purslane plants for resilience in barren realms, and incense like jasmine or storax for veiling rituals. These associations position Shax as a symbol of obscured power, where astrological alignments amplify his malevolence.
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Astrological and Symbolic Associations
| Attribute | Association | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Element | Air, Water | Illusion, emotional depth, fluidity |
| Planet | Mercury, Moon, Mars/Pluto | Deception, intuition, transformation |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio (5-9 degrees), Gemini, Libra | Intensity, duality, adaptability |
| Day | Wednesday | Optimal for invocations and deceit |
| Number | 44 | Chaos, hidden knowledge, duality |
| Metal | Mercury, Silver, Iron/Plutonium | Fluidity, reflection, destruction |
| Stones | Agate, Opal | Protection from illusions, shifting truths |
| Colors | Gray, Silver, Black, White, Violet, Pink | Stealth, neutrality, mourning, allure |
| Tarot Card | 5 of Cups | Loss, regret through deception |
| Plant | Purslane | Resilience in adversity |
| Incense | Jasmine, Storax | Veiling, purification of secrets |
Shax’s Sigil
The sigil of Shax, a intricate glyph from the Ars Goetia, features curving lines and angular intersections that evoke hidden paths and avian flight, serving as a conduit for his summoning.
Drawn with precision—often in black ink on parchment—this symbol focuses intent, binding Shax to the ritual space and amplifying his deceptive energies. Its complexity mirrors his elusive nature, requiring meditation to unlock its vibrational power.
Beyond the sigil, Shax associates with items like mirrors for reflecting illusions or silver coins for wealth theft. These enhance rituals, whether for invocation or warding, blending symbolism with practical malice.
Associated Symbols and Offerings
| Symbol/Item | Association/Meaning | Use in Rituals |
|---|---|---|
| Stork | Omen of misfortune, stealthy observation | Focal point for summoning |
| Feathers | Air element, freedom in deception | Offerings to invoke or appease |
| Mirrors | Illusion, revelation of hidden truths | Tools for scrying or confusion spells |
| Silver Coins | Wealth theft, lunar influence | Gifts to gain favor or simulate returns |
| Storax Incense | Purification, Mercury’s connection | Burned for clarity in invocations |
| Purslane | Resilience, Scorpio’s endurance | Herbal offerings in protective rites |
| Jasmine | Subtle allure, dream infiltration | Incense for subconscious manipulations |
| Agate Crystal | Grounding illusions, protection | Amulets against sensory deprivation |
Comparison with Other Demons
| Demon | Rank | Powers | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agares | Duke | Teaches languages, incites earthquakes, destroys dignities | Old man riding a crocodile |
| Amon | Marquis | Foretells future, reconciles foes, procures love | Wolf with serpent tail, vomiting fire |
| Bune | Duke | Grants wealth, eloquence, changes dead bodies’ places | Dragon with three heads |
| Marchosias | Marquis | Fierce warrior, gives true answers, strong in battle | Wolf with gryphon wings, serpent tail |
| Sabnock | Marquis | Builds fortresses, inflicts wounds and sores | Armed soldier on pale horse |
| Vine | King/Earl | Discovers witches and hidden things, storms towers | Lion holding serpent, riding black horse |
| Forneus | Marquis | Teaches arts and sciences, makes one beloved | Great sea monster |
| Berith | Duke | Turns metals to gold, grants dignities, reveals past/future | Red soldier on red horse, crowned |
| Gaap | President/Prince | Ignites love/hate, transports swiftly, teaches philosophy | Human with bat wings |
| Malphas | President | Builds houses/towers, reveals enemies’ desires, provides familiars | Crow, then human voice |
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Conclusion
Shax endures as a paragon of infernal cunning, his powers weaving threads of deception that ensnare the unwary across epochs. From his fallen angelic origins to his role in Hell‘s hierarchy, Shax exemplifies the perils of seeking forbidden knowledge, where every revelation risks profound loss. His legacy in grimoires and folklore serves as a stark reminder of demonic malice, urging caution against the allure of his avian whispers.
In exploring Shax, one confronts the shadows of human frailty—greed, ambition, and the thirst for secrets—that he exploits with merciless precision. As a Great Marquis, his influence persists in occult traditions, a testament to the enduring fascination with forces that blur truth and illusion.
Yet, amidst the terror, Shax‘s constraints offer hope: through ritual and resolve, his darkness can be contained, illuminating the triumph of light over infernal guile.
