Who Is the Demon Amy (Avnas) in the Ars Goetia?

Amy (also known as Avnas) is a potent demonic entity chronicled in prominent grimoires of Western occultism, in particular The Lesser Key of Solomon (as the 58th Spirit) and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. He has the rank of Great President in the infernal hierarchy.

Amy is primarily characterized by his knowledge of the liberal sciences and astrology, and his ability to grant familiars and reveal hidden treasures. His initial appearance is often described as a flaming fire before he assumes a human form. He is believed to command 36 legions of lesser demons.

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Key Takeaways

Attribute	Details
Name	Amy, Avnas, Auns, Hanar, Hanni
Title	Great President, Prince (in Dictionnaire Infernal)
Gender	Male
Origin	Fallen Angel, of the order of Angels and Powers (Potestates) before his fall, holding the hope of returning to the seventh heaven after 1200 years (a claim noted as incredible by Weyer and de Plancy)
Appearance	Appears first as a flaming fire; after a while, he takes on the shape of a man.
Hierarchy	President (or Great President)
Superior Demon	Subordinate to the infernal hierarchy of Lucifer/Satan, but his position as President implies direct rule over his own legions.
Servitors	36 legions of spirits/demons
Associated Figures	King Solomon (who supposedly bound the demons of the Goetia)
Powers	Making the conjurer marvelously knowing in astrology and all liberal sciences; giving good familiars; revealing treasures guarded by spirits; inciting positive reactions from rulers.
Weaknesses	His power can be countered by the Shem HaMephorash angel Ieialel, according to Thomas Rudd’s version of the Lesser Key of Solomon.
Opposing Angel/Saint	Archangel Ieialel (according to Thomas Rudd)
Equipment/Tools	None specifically mentioned, but the Seal/Sigil is essential for his binding and command.
Pantheon	Christian Demonology, Goetia (Occult Demonology)
Notable Myths	Mentioned in the Lesser Key of Solomon and Pseudomonarchia Daemonum as a powerful President summoned by a magician.

Etymology

The name Amy, or its variant Avnas, doesn’t have a clearly established or universally accepted etymological root directly connected to ancient Near Eastern or Hebrew demonology, unlike some other spirits in the Goetia. The name Amy is the more common spelling in primary sources like the Lesser Key of Solomon and the Dictionnaire Infernal.

One proposed, though speculative, connection comes from the potential relationship to the Latin word amare, meaning “to love,” or amicus, meaning “friend,” which may relate to his function of procuring “good familiars” or influencing rulers to be favorably disposed, thereby acting in a seemingly “friendly” capacity to the summoner. However, this is a tenuous link and is not supported by explicit scholarly consensus on the origin of the demonological name.

Another variation, Avnas, may possess a distinct, though equally obscure, derivation. In some Balto-Slavic languages, a cognate like the Lithuanian word avinas means “ram” or “Aries” (the zodiac sign).6 Given Amy’s strong association with astrology, this linguistic similarity to a term for a zodiacal sign is a curious coincidence. However, there is no direct textual evidence to link the demon’s name to a ram or the constellation Aries.

When all is said and done, Amy and Avnas remain terms whose demonological etymology is uncertain, likely being variations created and codified within the grimoire tradition itself.

What Does the Demon Avnas Look Like?

The appearance of Amy or Avnas is described concisely and sequentially in the foundational texts of Goetic demonology. His visual manifestation follows a two-stage process.

Firstly, he “appeareth at first in the Form of a Flaming Fire.” This initial guise is one of pure, unrestrained elemental fire or flame, representing a state of powerful, perhaps dangerous, energy. This fiery form is consistent with other high-ranking demons who may initially appear as consuming conflagrations or smoke, a potential reflection of their abode in Hell or their original, powerful angelic nature.

Secondly, after the initial appearance as a flame, he is described as “putteth on the Shape of a Man.” This transformation indicates that his stable, permanent form, which the conjurer interacts with, is humanoid.

Unlike many other Goetic demons who assume monstrous or composite animal forms (such as a lion, snake, or dog), Amy’s final form is that of a man.

Interestingly, the grimoires do not elaborate on the specific traits of this human shape, such as clothing, age, or physical features. As a result, Avnas’s visual representation shifts from elemental fire to a basic human silhouette, making his description among the least visually detailed of the 72 demons.

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Historical and Mythological Background

The primary documentation for Amy is confined to the grimoire tradition of the Ars Goetia and its related texts. He does not appear in earlier religious or mythological narratives outside of this specific occult framework.

Amy in the Lesser Key of Solomon

Avnas is listed as the Fifty-eighth Spirit in the first book of the Lemegeton, known as the Ars Goetia. The text identifies him as a Great President who governs thirty-six Legions of Spirits.

His description notes his two-stage appearance: first as a “Flaming Fire” and then as the “Shape of a Man.” His office is explicitly stated as “to make one Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences.”

Beyond this, he is said to “giveth Good Familiars” and “can bewray Treasure that is kept by Spirits.” This passage focuses on his role as a purveyor of intellectual and occult knowledge, as well as a procurer of valuable, hidden material possessions and loyal spiritual aids.

Amy in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum

In Johann Weyer’s 1577 text, the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Appendix to De praestigiis daemonum), Amy is listed as the Sixty-first Spirit.

Weyer’s description largely aligns with the Goetia, naming him as a Great President who initially appears as a “flame of fier.” After taking a “mans shape,” he “maketh one marvelous in astrologie, and in all the liberall sciences, he procureth excellent familiars, he bewraieth treasures preserved by spirits.”

Weyer adds a critical detail: the statement that Amy “was of the order of angels and Potestates,” and that he “hopeth after a thousand two hundred yeares, to returne to the seventh throne.” Weyer, however, immediately adds a disclaimer, stating, “But this is not credible.”

Amy in the Dictionnaire Infernal

Jacques Collin de Plancy’s 1863 edition of the Dictionnaire Infernal includes an entry for Amy that synthesizes the prior grimoire accounts. De Plancy calls him a Great President in Hell and also notes his title as one of its Princes.

He reiterates the key functions: appearing as a “flames of fire” before taking “human form,” teaching astrology and the liberal arts, giving good familiars, and revealing treasures “guarded by demons.” He also repeats the Weyer detail that Amy claims to hope to return to the 7th throne in Heaven after “1200 years.” Likewise, he dismisses the claim as “not credible.”

Historical Mentions

Text/Grimoire (Year)	Description	Excerpt
Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577)	Amy is the sixty-first spirit, a Great President, formerly of the order of Angels and Powers. He teaches liberal sciences and astrology, gives familiars, and reveals hidden treasure. Rules 36 legions. He hopes to return to the seventh throne in 1200 years, a claim noted as incredible.	“Amy is a great president, and appeareth in a flame of fier, but having taken mans shape, he maketh one marvelous in astrologie, and in all the liberall sciences, he procureth excellent familiars, he bewraieth treasures preserved by spirits, he hath the governement of thirtie six legions, he is partlie of the order of angels, and partlie of the order of potestates, and hopeth after a thousand two hundred yeares, to returne to the seventh throne: but this is not credible.”
The Lesser Key of Solomon / Ars Goetia (compiled 17th Century)	Amy, or Avnas, is the fifty-eighth spirit and a Great President. He appears first as a flaming fire, then as a man. His office is to make one knowledgeable in astrology and liberal sciences, give good familiars, and reveal guarded treasure. He commands 36 legions.	“The Fifty-eighth Spirit is Amy, or Avnas. He is a Great President, and appeareth at first in the Form of a Flaming Fire; but after a while he putteth on the Shape of a Man. His office is to make one Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences. He giveth Good Familiars, and can bewray Treasure that is kept by Spirits. He governeth 36 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.”
Dictionnaire Infernal (1863 edition)	A Great President and Prince in Hell. He appears as a flame and then a man, teaching liberal arts and astrology, providing familiars, and revealing guarded treasures. He commands 36 legions and has the unlikely hope of returning to heaven.	“Amy est un grand président en enfer, et un de ses princes. Il se montre sous les flammes de feu, et prend la forme humaine. Il enseigne l’astrologie et les arts libéraux. Il donne de bons familiers. Il peut révéler les trésors qui sont gardés par les démons. Il commande trente-six légions, et les anges déchus et les puissances sont sous ses ordres. Wier dit qu’Amy espère de remonter au 7e trône dans 1200 ans; ce qui n’est pas croyable.”

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Avnas’s Powers and Abilities

The powers of this demon are predominantly intellectual and manipulative, focusing on providing knowledge and influence that can corrupt a mortal’s pursuit of power or wealth. His main focus is on high-level, specialized knowledge.

He has the ability “to make one Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences.” This grants the summoner an advanced, often unparalleled, understanding of complex academic subjects.

This power is double-edged, as the pursuit of such esoteric knowledge, particularly astrology, was often viewed as a step away from orthodox theology and a path to forbidden understanding. He does not simply impart passive knowledge but rather makes one knowledgeable, suggesting a deep-seated transfer of intellectual capability.

Secondly, Amy “giveth Good Familiars.” Familiars are minor spirits or demons that serve a practitioner, typically for life, acting as spies, messengers, or agents in minor magical operations. By providing “good” familiars, Amy equips the summoner with loyal, long-term demonic service, enabling the sustained practice of the occult arts.

Thirdly, he “can bewray Treasure that is kept by Spirits.” This power involves revealing the location of hidden riches that are guarded by other spirits. This ability directly plays on human greed and the pursuit of illicit material wealth, offering an easy, demonically aided path to riches rather than honest labor.

He can also “incite positive reactions from rulers“ (according to the Dictionnaire Infernal), granting the conjurer political and social influence they may not have earned, potentially leading to the corruption of power.

Amy’s method of corruption is subtle, primarily through the temptation of forbidden knowledge and unearned wealth and influence, thereby steering the individual away from virtuous pursuits and into the arms of the infernal world through intellectual and material gain.

Powers and Abilities Breakdown

Power/Ability	Description	Source	How It Tempts/Corrupts Humans
Knowledge of Astrology	Makes the conjurer wonderfully proficient in the study and practice of astrology.	Lesser Key of Solomon	Corrupts by offering forbidden, occult knowledge and the temptation to manipulate fate or future events for personal gain.
Knowledge of Liberal Sciences	Confers great knowledge in all the liberal sciences (e.g., rhetoric, logic, mathematics).	Lesser Key of Solomon	Tempts the summoner with intellectual vanity and the pursuit of power through secret learning outside of conventional study.
Granting Familiars	Provides a person with good, loyal familiar spirits for long-term service.	Lesser Key of Solomon	Corrupts by ensuring a constant, reliable source of demonic aid, normalizing the practice of black magic and reliance on Hell.
Revealing Hidden Treasure	Discloses the location of wealth or treasure that is currently guarded by other spirits.	Lesser Key of Solomon	Appeals directly to material greed by offering easy, unearned wealth via a direct pact with a demon.
Inciting Favorable Rulers	Has the power to provoke positive, favorable sentiment from kings or rulers towards the conjurer.	Dictionnaire Infernal	Corrupts through the temptation of political power and social influence gained through manipulation rather than merit.

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How to Counter Avnas’s Powers

The ability to successfully counter the demon Amy’s powers and bind him is fundamentally rooted in the ritual’s structure, as described in the Goetic tradition.

The most effective counter is the possession and proper use of his Seal or Sigil, a precise geometric diagram believed to hold his true character and name, granting the conjurer authority over him. By displaying the Sigil or wearing it as a Lamen (a protective plate), the magician establishes a spiritual and magical authority necessary to command the spirit, thereby neutralizing his ability to corrupt or deceive.

Additionally, in some specific versions of the grimoires, such as the one associated with Thomas Rudd, a specific Shem HaMephorash Angel is listed as his direct spiritual adversary.

The angel Ieialel (often associated with endurance, fortitude, and dispelling evil) is said to oppose this demon. To counter his influence, a practitioner would invoke the appropriate angelic power or divine name (like those derived from the Kabbalistic Shem HaMephorash) to shield themselves from Amy’s temptation and to compel him into obedience, using angelic intervention as a direct opposing force.

Avnas’s Role in the Hierarchy of Hell

Avnas has a significant and established rank within the infernal hierarchy, specifically as a President or Great President. This title signifies a high-ranking officer who presides over a specific domain or group of legions, distinguishing him from Kings, Dukes, Marquises, or Earls. In the Lesser Key of Solomon, he is listed as the Fifty-eighth Spirit.

His power base is substantial, as he is said to govern thirty-six Legions of Spirits. In the infernal military structure, this large number of subservient spirits places him among the powerful commanders, capable of marshaling a considerable force for any task given to him by a mortal conjurer or a higher-ranking demon.

Johann Weyer’s account adds the unique, though doubted, detail that Amy was partially of the order of Angels and the Potestates (Powers) before his fall. This suggests a lofty, original position in the celestial hierarchy, which, if true, would contribute to his immense power and the intellectual nature of his current demonic domain.

His ultimate ambition to return to the “seventh throne” after 1200 years, even if considered a “not credible” claim by the chroniclers, highlights a unique self-perception of his status—one of a powerful exile waiting for a chance at redemption, rather than a satisfied servant of evil.

Astrological Associations and Symbolism

Amy is heavily associated with the celestial arts due to his primary ability to make the summoner “Wonderful Knowing in Astrology.” This strong connection suggests that his operation may be most favorable or potent when performed during specific astrological conditions related to his nature.

While the grimoires typically provide a ruling zodiac sign or time of day for each demon to maximize the effect of a summoning ritual, generalized associations can be inferred from his abilities. The element of Fire is explicitly linked to him through his initial appearance as a “Flaming Fire,” suggesting an association with the fire signs of the Zodiac (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) and the element itself.

Attribute	Association/Meaning
Element	Fire
Planet	Mercury (for intellect/sciences) or Sun (for knowledge/rulers)
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn or the Cusp of Capricorn/Aquarius (suggested by modern demonology for the 58th Spirit, December 30 – January 3)
Direction	North (traditional direction of the President rank)
Metal	Mercury (for intellect/communication)
Color	Red, Orange, Gold (reflecting fire and authority)

Avnas’s Sigil

The Sigil or Seal of Amy (Avnas) is an indispensable element in the ritualistic invocation and command of this demon, as with all the 72 spirits of the Goetia. The Sigil is a unique, abstract geometric diagram designed to represent the demon’s signature, true name, and essence, providing a binding point for the conjurer’s authority.

In The Lesser Key of Solomon, the text explicitly instructs that the Sigil of the spirit is to be worn as a Lamen—a protective and authoritative breastplate—during the ritual.

The Sigil’s importance is twofold: protection for the conjurer and compulsion for the demon. Without the correctly consecrated Sigil, a spirit of Amy’s rank, commanding 36 legions, would be exceedingly dangerous to summon and impossible to control. That’s why the Sigil serves as the foundational tool for managing his powers, including imparting astronomical knowledge, granting familiars, and revealing guarded treasures.

Associated Symbols and Offerings

Symbol/Item	Association/Meaning	Use in Rituals
Fire/Flame	His initial manifestation, elemental domain	Used as a focus for the initial summoning; an offering of a small, controlled flame.
Astrological Instruments	His main area of knowledge (astrology/liberal sciences)	Used to symbolize the knowledge being sought; includes astrolabes, charts, or maps.
Gold	Associated with the wealth and treasures he reveals	Used as an offering of material value to show respect or as a symbolic down payment.
Familiar Spirits	His ability to grant spiritual aids	Used as a symbolic focus when requesting a familiar, or as a representation of his command over legions.

Similar Demonic Entities

Demon Name	Gender	Primary Religion	Type / Class	Sphere of Influence	Weaknesses
Foras / Forcas	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (President)	Knowledge, wealth, virtue	The divine names, his seal, ritualistic compulsion.
Alloces	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (Duke)	Knowledge, familiars, secrets	His seal, the use of sacred words, angelic intervention.
Bifrons	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (Earl)	Knowledge, death, necromancy	Solomonic binding rituals, the Ring of Solomon.
Balam	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (King/Duke)	Divination, intellect, camouflage	His seal, holy water, the Archangel Camael (sometimes cited).
Sallos / Zaleos	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (Duke)	Love, peace, war	His seal, proper adherence to the summoning circle.
Gremory / Gemory	Female	Occult Demonology	Demon (Duke)	Love, divination, dignity	His seal, divine authority, the Shem HaMephorash Angel Ieiazel.
Asmoday / Ashmedai	Male	Judaism / Christian Demonology	Demon (King)	Lust, gambling, marriage	Incense from fish liver (Book of Tobit), Archangel Raphael, the name of God.
Belial	Male	Judaism / Christian Demonology	Demon (King)	Lawlessness, vice, corruption	The name of God, specific protective amulets (Talisman of Belial), holy fire.
Ronove / Roneve	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (Marquis / Earl)	Rhetoric, language, familiars	His seal, the Solomonic triangle, the use of commanding divine names.
Barbatos	Male	Occult Demonology	Demon (Duke / Earl)	Divination, friendship, treasure	His seal, the use of the hexagram, specific angelic counter-forces.

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Conclusion

Amy, as the Fifty-eighth Spirit and a Great President of Hell in the Goetic system, is defined by his unique blend of intellectual and material assistance to the conjurer. His core abilities—making one proficient in astrology and the liberal sciences, granting familiars, and revealing hidden treasures—establish him as a figure who tempts mortals with a rapid, occult-aided path to forbidden knowledge and wealth.

His compelling appearance, which shifts from a pure flaming fire to the shape of a man, along with his command over 36 legions, points out his potent rank. The subtle historical detail of his alleged hope for a return to Heaven, though doubted by chroniclers, adds a layer of complexity to his otherwise straightforward description as an intellectual and material facilitator of infernal aid.

In the end, Avnas represents the corrupting power of unearned wisdom and easy riches gained through the intervention of a high-ranking, powerful entity.