Ephippas, Arabian wind demon
Ephippas is a demon mentioned within the pseudepigrapha Testament of Solomon despite his absence in most major grimories. This demon is described as having immense power and the ability to move houses and mountains through his powerful gusts of wind. The demon is also malevolent and uses his powers against humanity as evidenced by the need to put him in bondage by King Solomon.
Presently, the demon is bound under the Red Sea together with Abezethibou where they are tasked with holding up a pillar of water. It is posited that Abezethibou will be freed by Ephippas whereupon he will be taken back to King Solomon. There are other accounts which posit that Abezethibou will free himself at the end of days and return to wreak havoc upon humanity – this view does not however detail the fate of Ephippas.
One of the interesting abilities of Ephippas is that he is able to overthrow kings as he states to King Solomon. This begs the question whether his motives against Arabia were driven by this power or whether King Solomon’s caution with the demon can also be attributed to this ability. Nevertheless, the ability to overthrow entire kingdoms highlights the potency of this demon.
When asked which demon opposed him directly, Ephippas stated that he would only be surmounted by the one who will be born of a virgin and crucified by the Israelites. This is obviously implicit of Jesus Christ thereby highlighting this demon’s ties with Christianity. At this point, King Solomon was oblivious of this prophecy although the biblical allusions are evident. It is then that he is compelled into demon labor at the temple of Jerusalem.
History
The origins of this demon are within the ancient Middle Eastern mythologies. In the Testament of Solomon, the king of Arabia – Adarkes – requests for King Solomon’s assistance against the vicious wind demon. The demon causes murderous winds that continually afflict the kingdom of Arabia until Solomon’s help is requested. King Solomon subsequently sends a boy with his magic ring under a leather flask.
Ephippas appears at the onset of every morning and causes powerful gusts of wind to blow over Arabia until the third hour. When the demon blows into this flask the people of Arabia are skeptical that the boy has caught the demon. They are eventually led to believe the demon has been captured after the monstrous winds do not return for three days. Upon returning the flask containing the demon to King Solomon, it confesses its identity.
The demon also reveals its abilities to King Solomon before he is asked to assist in moving a cornerstone in the construction of the temple of Jerusalem. The demon moves the heavy rock to the entrance of the temple causing “the stone which the builders rejected to become the head”. Both Abezethibou and Ephippas are then outwitted by King Solomon and confined to the bottom of the Red Sea until the end of times.
Description
Rank: Arabian wind demon
Element: Air
Gender: Male
Incense: Sandalwood
Appearance
The demon appears as a masculine structure with the physique of a fully grown adult man. The demon is horned and able to fly freely through the air. His facial features are monstrous as consistent with most demonic entities providing for a frightening countenance.
The “Demonic Enns” of Ephippas
Veni veni, o comitis Ephippas
Liftoach Pandemonium, et germinet Ephippas
The sigil of Ephippas
Similar demons to Ephippas
- Onoskelis
- Alleborith
- Ruax
- Bianakith
- Phaath
Attributes of Ephippas
- Ephippas was called to assist Abezethibou in lifting the pillar from the bottom of the Red Sea. Abezethibou had been confound here after the sea walls collapsing and drowning him during the exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
- This demon is very powerful and able to provide the conjuror with labor when the need arises – the demon himself admitted to King Solomon that he has the ability to move both mountains and houses upon his return to the temple of Jerusalem.
- The demon is malevolent and it is noteworthy that he is presently held in bondage under the Red Sea together with Abezethibou. For this reason, summoning is done against his volition.
- Despite being in bondage under the Red Sea, there are no discernible accounts which state his ultimate fate expressly. When Abezethibou is freed at the end of days, it is unknown what will become of this demon.
When to summon Ephippas
This demon can be summoned to provide the conjuror with labor in the manner which he benefited King Solomon’s construction of the temple of Jerusalem. It is noteworthy that the overtly malevolent demon is only summoned against his wishes and great care must be taken when dealing with him. It is noteworthy that even King Solomon required the magic ring with God’s seal to be able to ensare Ephippas.
Items Required:
- The sigil of the demon
- Sandalwood incense
- Scrying mirror
- Black candles
Ritual Time: Ephippas is a night demon and can be summoned at the onset of the morning until the third hour
Precautions:
- This demon is very potent despite the approachable and affable demeanor presented in manifestations. It is therefore necessary to accord him the utmost respect during rituals.
- The conjuror should take care to protect themselves from otherworldly energies by mentally picturing a protection circle and entering it.
- Over-reliance on the demon’s power should also be avoided as it may affect other parts of one’s psyche and hence life.
Steps:
- The conjuror should prepare for the ritual through power meditation to balance energies.
- The demon’s sigil should be displayed on the altar before starting the ritual.
- At the stroke of midnight the ritual is viable up to the third hour of morning whereupon the demon’s power wanes.
- The conjuror should make the incense offering while chanting the enns of Ephippas.
- Ephippas manifests within the scrying mirror whereupon the conjuror can make their request known respectfully.
- After stating one’s wishes and praising the demon, he can be dismissed respectfully before snuffing out the candles.