| “ | I am tired of waiting for you, boy. You've always worn your humanity too close. You cling to it even now. | „ |
| ~ Astaroth to Hellboy. |
| “ | You can't have this sense of freedom. This life, without a doubt unburdened, is unique to itself. You are not unique. You are just one of billions. A 'cog in the machine', so to speak. Now let those words sink in. Let them sink until countless holes have burned through you. | „ |
| ~ Astaroth. |
Astaroth is a Prince and Great Duke of Hell, who is one of the most prominent demons in the Infernal Council.
Overview[]
Astaroth is also the twenty-ninth spirit listed in the Ars Goetia. He is an exceptionally powerful Duke of Hell assisted by four demons: Aamon, Barbatos, Rashaverak and Pruflas.
According to Judaic lore, he was a high-ranking angel, either one of the Seraphim or a prince of Thrones, prior to his fall. Astaroth is a Grand Duke, a Treasurer of Hell, and commands 40 Legions of demons. Astaroth also features as an archdemon associated with the Qliphoth according to later Kabbalistic texts.
Astaroth is perhaps one of the lesser threats to humanity so far as physical danger is concerned, though it appears that he is fond of manipulation and corruption that is intellectual in nature. Once the demon appears, he willingly answers all questions regarding the past, present, and future and will give up easily any secrets that he knows.
Appearance[]
He is depicted as a naked man with a dragon's hands, feet and wings, a secondary pair of angel's wings, wearing a crown, holding a serpent and riding a wolf. Although he is also portrayed as a woman riding a serpentine bat-like beast.
Texts that describe Astaroth depict him as a wretched angel. Other accounts mention Astaroth having horned wings and often note the gloomy nature of the being. He also appears as a serpent with a colored tail, two small feet, a chestnut neck, and spines similar to a hedgehog that can grow up to a finger’s length.
History[]
Fall from Heaven[]
Astaroth, like many of the fallen angels that fell from Heaven, was an angel that resided in Paradise and was a member of the Thrones. Due to his position as a Throne, he was highly ranked amongst the choir of angels as he would see to the carrying of God's throne. However, he found himself joining Lucifer's side during the War in Heaven, and was cast down to Hell alongside all other rebel-angels. He was present at Pandemonium during Lucifer's Rally, officially declaring himself as an enemy of God forever.
After Lucifer and his rebel brothers conquered Hell while newly establishing it as their own kingdom a hierarchy was formed during the process with Astaroth aiding in the decreeing of noble positions as a prince of accusers and inquisitors. Hell would ultimately be ruled by the three supreme monarchs known as the Satanic Triumvirate which consisted of Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Samael. These three would be above, and simultaneously be part of, the Seven Kings of Hell whom were the ruling body of the Inferno. Due to Astaroth's influence and power he would be closely affiliated with the Seven Great Kings and the Triumvirate as well to the point where demonologists counted him among their number.
Modern Age[]
The demon was said to instigate cases of demonic possessions, most notably that of the Loudun nuns in France in the 16th century. The nuns accused a priest, Father Urbain Grandier, of causing their possession. At Grandier’s trial, a handwritten “confession” of his was produced detailing his pact with the Devil, witnessed and signed by Astaroth and several other demons.
Astaroth, alongside Dagan and Mammon, also took care of Azazel's son, Hellboy. The two demons witnessed the birth of the cambion in Hell, and then cut of his right hand, and crafted on the enigmatic Right Hand of Doom in it's place. Astaroth believes that with this object, which is the key to the Outerverse, they can unleash and maybe even control the Yog-Sothoth, using the ancient deity in their war against God and Heaven. Though they were discovered by Mundus and most of Azazel's accomplices were discovered and imprisonment, Astaroth managed to avoid his fate.
He saw great potential in the power it represented if only Hellboy could be made to claim it. On May 12th, 1947, Astaroth was among the three demon lords to learn that a young Hellboy was becoming more assimilated to mortal life by eating pancakes. Astaroth commented that Hellboy would never want to come back to Hell. However, Astaroth believed he could still win Hellboy back to his heritage. A year later, Astaroth learnt that Gremory had lured Hellboy from the safety of BPRD headquarters with the Midnight Circus in an elaborate scheme designed to kill the young child. Astaroth stepped in to stop Gremory, unmindful of her warning of the threat Hellboy would one day pose, as he forbade Gremory from making another attempt on Hellboy's life, so long as he still lived.
Box Full of Evil[]
Hellboy first knowingly encountered Astaroth during a B.P.R.D. mission with Abe Sapien in Scotland, when the sorcerer Igor Bromhead invoked the powers of Hell to protect him from Hellboy's wrath. Astaroth appeared on Earth and did so, but when Bromhead accidentally broke the talisman that protected him from Astaroth's power, he turned the lower half of the sorcerer's body into that of a lizard. After Hellboy defeated the demon Valac, Astaroth seals Valac back in his prison to be taken back to Hell. When Hellboy refuses to take the removed Crown of Hell back, Astaroth tells Hellboy that he will keep it with him at Pandemonium until Hellboy is ready to reclaim it.
Darkness Calls and the Storm[]
Hell erupted in a civil war between the remaining monarchs which only escalated when their strongest competitors were defeated by Earth's mightiest forces like the Sons of Sparda. Out of all the candidates, only six were worthy enough and fought amongst themselves for Hell's power. Astaroth, despite being among the candidates, did not participate in these political strifes and opted to simply observe from the sidelines due to knowing that his nephew would truly inherit the throne.
However, Astaroth's hand was forced when the entirety of Hell was nearly subdued by Urizen, a primordial devil that existed before even Hell itself and was there before Lucifer and his band of rebel angels fell from grace after the war in Heaven. Urizen emerged after hearing of Lucifer and Satan's defeat, beginning his conquest over Hell since it was his by right as he was the first entity to exist there alongside his fellow Evils. It was Astaroth who aided Mephistopheles in providing valuable information to locate the needed components to craft a weapon powerful enough to destroy Urizen. He only did this so Urizen would not takeover Hellboy's birthright.
During the beginning phases of the Dagor Dagorath, Astaroth appeared to the Gruagach, secretly aiding the fairy as he predicts that Nimue, the Queen of Blood, will eventually kill Hellboy, and thus bring the cambion back to Hell. Gruagach is also aided by the Demon's Three which consists of Yomyael, Bifrons, and Beleth in finding Nimue's severed body parts that are scattered across the world all while they prepare for Lilith's ascension to power. Nimue is eventually resurrected after Astaroth gave Gruagach the final means of raising her from the dead; a golden and bejeweled Ciborium containing the blood of every man, woman and child from a nearby murdered village. With Nimue resurrected, Astaroth had knowingly or otherwise set things on the path to Hellboy's eventual death.
He appeared to Hellboy later in the rebellion, showing him the true and horrifying extent of Nimue's forces and urging him to claim his birthright and raise the army of Hell to combat her. When Hellboy refused to do so even at this desperate hour, a disgusted Astaroth left him to his fate.
The Descent[]
When word of Hellboy's death reached Hell, it started a panicked exodus from Pandemonium by Hell's aristocracy. The cambion's spirit and will was completely sapped, unable to no longer bear the unavoidable truth of his role in the world's destruction. Astaroth approaches him as he laid by the shores of Cocytus while observing the souls that were taken from the river by Mulciber, whom the other demons had enslaved in order to forge damned souls into an enormous army of hideous abominations.
He comments on the sight before him on how this army is meant for him when he decides to become the Beast of the Apocalypse. When he turns, he is faced with not only Astaroth but also two other demons, Gamon and Lusk, who are revealed to be his half-brothers from the late Azazel. Astaroth states that the Earth's darkest hour is now underway and by its end Hellboy will stand alongside the dark mother amongst the ashes of the Earth and the marred Heavens. Hellboy demanded on how Astaroth would benefit from all this, and his uncle answered that they are simply owed what they were due ever since Lucifer opened their eyes and made them see past far more than just their free-will being abused.
Having hoped that Hellboy's death would finally strip him of his humanity he tells him one final time to accept his destiny but he predictably refuses. Astaroth now realized his nephew was a lost cause and decided to set Gamon and Lusk on him and take the Right Hand by force. Hellboy is attacked by his half-brothers, who see him as an abomination to their father's honor. They fight arduously until they are interrupted by the sudden arrival of John Constantine, using his quick wit and sharp tongue, turned Gamon and Lusk on each other, which angers Astaroth as he tries to stop them. Furious, Astaroth nearly destroys Constantine but before he can do anything, Livyatan rises from Cocytus and swallows Astaroth, Gamon, and Lusk before disappearing again. Astaroth's death freed Hellboy from the burden of his right hand and the power it represented, as there was no longer anyone in Hell left who wanted it.
Personality[]
Astaroth is also known to be a great mentor to turn to if in need of assistance – especially if that assistance is needed to make important political or business connections. According to many legends, Astaroth serves as a council to both humans and demons – though he seems to have a preference towards human affairs. This is possibly because Astaroth seems to have a conscience when it comes to giving advice and does not want his wisdom to be associated with evil or ill intent.
Interestingly enough, although Astaroth is considered to be part of the evil trinity, he is only willing to give power to those who seek his help in order to accomplish good deeds. It is said that if anyone attempts to summon him for ill intentions, he will refuse to give them assistance. Additionally, many people claim that Astaroth will only appear to those who see him as the goddess Astarte. Anyone who doesn’t recognize her a goddess and tries to summon Astaroth in demon form is usually ignored, though there are a small amount of success stories. Astaroth enjoys talking at length about the creation of the world, the Fall, and the faults of demons, taking great care to point out how he is being punished unjustly.
Power and Abilities[]
One of the highest-ranking demons and a Duke of Hell, Astaroth is said to be among the strongest devils in the Inferno with powers to rival that of great demons like Bael. He is described as the patron of battles and engagements, eater of souls, the Father of the Executioners. Astaroth is also said to be one of the incarnations of death.
He can seduce men through laziness and vanity, make men wise in mathematical sciences and handicrafts, reveal hidden treasures, make men invisible and give them power over serpents. Astaroth is summoned for his ability to grant friendships to great lords; a nocturnal demon, he is most powerful on Fridays between the tenth and the eleventh hour of the night.
To others, he teaches mathematical sciences and handicrafts, can make men invisible and lead them to hidden treasures, and answers every question formulated to him. He was also said to give to mortal beings the power over serpents.
Myth and Legends[]
Astaroth is often depicted as one of the demons that serves as the ‘Great Duke of Hell’ though there is some debate over if he is a demon or was simply brought into existence as a demon when the modern religions of this world rose to power.
Because of the debate over the origins of Astaroth, there are several different variations of who he (or she) is in their true form. Most versions of the dominant religions claim that Astaroth has always been a demon. Their explanation for the appearance of the creature in modern day is simply that as a deceiver, Astaroth took the form of the goddess Astarte in order to gain favor among people. He is said to commonly try to win people over through laziness and the manipulation of logic.
There are, however, other religions that see Astaroth as a helpful demon that is not necessarily benevolent, but is also not evil.
