Enc of dem in wor rel and cul 35

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Ala Demon

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they are well known to assume the form of animals and humans.
Extremely gluttonous, even for a demon, the
ala’s attempt to devour the moon and the sun is
made evident by periodic eclipses. When not
consuming or destroying, ale are said to live in
the clouds, gigantic trees, inhospitable mountain
caves, lakes, remote places, and springs. To prevent being attacked by an ala, one must approach
it with respect and trust. If one should win the
favor of an ala, the demon will look after him,
making him wealthy and seeing to his personal
protection, even going as far as to save his life if
necessary. For those not blessed, magical herbs
called ala’s herbs can be placed in the field where
the plow turns around to prevent hailstorms from
destroying crops.
The natural enemies of ale are dragons and eagles; Christianized tales tell of dragons and the
saints fighting together against ale. There are also
tales of humanlike ale that are strikingly similar
to the Russian tales of Babba Yaga.

Sources: Books LLC, Balkan Folklore, 69; MonierWilliams, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 1293; Turner,
Dictionary of ancient Deities, 201.

Ala Demon
In Mesopotamian demonology an ala demon
is a nocturnal demonic creature. Stalking the

streets, it freely enters into a person’s home. Appearing like an amorphous, cloudlike being, it
preys upon sleeping men, causing them to have
nocturnal emissions. If it envelopes a person in
its cloudlike form, it will cause them to suffer
from insomnia. Signs that a person has been attacked by this sort of demon include depression
and loss of appetite.

Sources: Boulay, Flying Serpents and Dragons, 255;
Pick, Dreams and History, 42; Sorensen, Possession and
Exorcism in the New Testament and Early Christianity,
27–8.

Alagas
In the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage,
book two, Alagas (“wandering”) is named as one
of the one hundred eleven SERVITORS OF AMAYMON, ARITON, ORIENS, AND PAYMON. An AERIAL DEVIL, he and his court are constantly on the
move, never staying in any one place for long (see
also AMAYMON, ARITON, ORIENS, and PAYMON).

Sources: Belanger, Dictionary of Demons, 23; Susej,
Demonic Bible, 256; Von Worms, Book of Abramelin,
255.

Alal
Variations: Alu
Alal (“destroyer” or “spirit”) is one of a group
of seven demons working in unison from

Chaldean and Sumerian demonology. Named in
the Magan Text as one of the servants of Ereshkigal, the goddess of death and gloom, this AERIAL

DEVIL cannot be prevented from entering into a
person’s home, and when it does so will induce
men to sin. He also has the ability to possess a
person (see IRKALLA). Alal lives in the desert and
in abandoned places of worship where sacrifices
took place (see also GIGIM, IDPA, NAMTAR ,
TELAL, URUKU, and U TUK).

Sources: Baskin, Sorcerer’s Handbook, 136; Icons,
Demons, 136; Lenormant, Chaldean Magic, 24;
Sorensen, Possession and Exorcism in the New Testament
and Early Christianity, 27–8.

Alan
The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, book
two, lists Alan (“a tree”) as one of the thirty-two
SERVITORS OF ASTAROT (see ASTAROT).

Sources: Belanger, Dictionary of Demons, 23; Ford,
Bible of the Adversary, 91; Mathers, Book of the Sacred
Magic of Abramelin the Mage, 106.

Alardi
Variations: “The winged one”
From the Ossetian people of the northern
Caucasus Mountains in Europe comes the demonic spirit known as Alardi. He is known to
inflict smallpox upon those individuals who hurt
the women under his protection.

Sources: Baddeley, Rugged Flanks of Caucasus, 136 –

7; Field, Contributions to the Anthropology of the Caucasus, 69; Wieczynski, Modern Encyclopedia of Russian
and Soviet History, 139.

Alastor
Variations: Alaster, Alastôr, Alastwr, Chalkis,
“the Executioner”
From Greek mythology comes the demon
Alastor (“avenger”). He is ranked as the executor
of decrees handed down from SATAN’S court, as
well as executioner and commissioner of public
works. This AERIAL DEVIL under the command
of ASMODEUS is the demon of blood feuds between families. Described as an avenging spirit,
daimon, and a FALLEN ANGEL, Alastor was said
to have been born a mortal man, the son of King
Neleus of Pylos. He became a demon when he
and his brothers were killed by Herakles. As a
demon, Alastor is exceptionally cruel; he sees to
it that the sins of the father are delivered onto
the child, as well as tempting men to commit
murder.
Sources: Chambers, Book of Days, 723; Chong-Gossard, Gender and Communication in Euripides’ Plays, 94;
Chopra, Academic Dictionary of Mythology, 20; Daniels,
Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult
Sciences of the World, 1420; Rudwin, Devil in Legend
and Literature, 28.

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