DAEMONOLATRIA

G

Gaap

A great president and prince, appears when the sun is in the southern signs, coming in a human shape, and preceded by four powerful kings. He teaches philosophy and the liberal sciences, excites love and hatred, makes men insensible, gives instruction in the consecration of things which belong to the divination of Amaymon, his king, delivers familiars out of the custody of Magicians, gives true answers as to past, present and future, transports men speedily from place to place at the will of the exorcist. According to Weyer, he will speak outside the triangle, but what he says will be false.

Galla

From Kur, the Sumerian underworld, came seven demons called Galla. They were the attendants and messengers of Ereshkigal, the goddess of death and gloom, who sat naked on a throne in her dark lapis lazuli palace, surrounded by seven great walls. The central rule of the Sumerian hell stated that no one, neither a mortal nor a god, who entered her dark domain, could ever leave Kur again. To this the Galla were an exception, for they could roam the world to relentlessly terrorize men and haul them back to the dark abode. Gods and humans alike, on earth or in hell, needed food and drink. But not the Galla who, to quote an ancient Sumerian poem:

                            'Touched no food,

                                      Drank no water,
                                      Did not taste the sprinkled flour,
                                      Did not know the sacred wine.
                                      No bribe mollified the Galla,
                                      Nor did they satisfy a woman's body
                                      But hated children
                                      And tore them from their parents' lap.'
 

The goddess, Innana, having failed in her attempt to over throw her sister, Ereshkigal, who had imprisoned her in Kur, managed to escape from the underworld. But the seven Galla followed, threatening to drag her back if she could not find another deity to take her place. When Innana found the shepherd Dumuzi, her lover, celebrating instead of mourning her departure, she cast the eye of death on him. He was delivered into the demons' hands:

                             'The seven demons grip his thighs,

                                         They bite and tear his face,
                                         They slash at his body with an axe,
                                         They turn his face into the face
                                         Of agony.'
 

Gamygyn

A great marquis, appearing in the form of a small horse or ass, but afterwards in human

shape. He speaks hoarsly teaching the liberal sciences, and giving news of souls who have died in sin. According to Weyer, he summons into the presence of the exorcist the souls of drowned men, and of those detained in Purgatory, called magickally Cartagra - that is, the affliction of souls. They assume an aerial body, are visible to sight, and reply to questions.

Ghaddar

A demon (possible female) in the deserts of the Red Sea countries. It catches travelers and tortures them by devouring their genitals.

Ghul

In Muslim folklore, the ghoul is a female demon of the desert that is able to assume the shape of an animal. It is an evil spirit that robs graves and feeds on the flesh of the dead. They also lure travelers into the desert, sometimes beguiling them by prostituting themselves, and then devouring them.

Glasya Labolas

See Caacrinolaas.

Goap

Prince of the western region of Hell.

Gomory

A powerful duke, appears like a beautiful woman, wearing a ducal crown. He discovers past, present, and future, as also the whereabouts of hidden treasures; he procures the love of women, and especially of girls.

Gong Gong

A Chinese demon who is responsible for the great floods, together with his associate, the snake-like Xiang Yao. Gong Gong is the eternal opponent of the highest ruler. Also called Kung Kung.

Gorgons

The Gorgons were the three demonic daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. The word Gorgons meant 'the grim ones,' and because of their mother's name they were sometimes alluded to as the Phorcydes. They had long, razor-shaped teeth, brazen claws, while their faces and breasts were those of women. They were usually considered demons of the underworld or of the deep sea.

Medusa ("ruler"), the most infamous of the three and the only mortal one, had hissing vipers instead of hair. Her sisters, who were both immortal, were named Stheno ("forceful") and Euryale ("far-roaming").

So dreadful was their appearance that the area outside the cave in which they lived was surrounded by bodies of those who had had the misfortune to look directly at a Gorgon's face. One glance sufficed to turn the greatest hero into stone. Their faces were likened to the pock-marked surface of the moon. To ward off undesired suitors, ancient Grecian chastity belts were stamped with the Gorgon's likeness above the keyhole. Bakers also painted their oven door with a Gorgon face in order to discourage anyone from opening the door and letting in a draught.

Medusa was the ugliest of the three because she had once dared boast greater beauty than that of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The goddess promptly transformed Medusa into a hag. Later Athena, still full of anger, helped the hero Perseus kill the Gorgon. She told him to approach the demoness while she was asleep, and to be sure not to look at her face but to guide his sword by looking at her image in his highly polished shield. After chopping off Medusa's head, Perseus presented the goddess with the trophy, which she attached to the centre of her magic shield, the Aegis.

Gorson

King of the southern regions of Hell.

Guecubu

Among the Araucanians, an Indian tribe of Chile, South America, the Guecubu were evil spirits, who did all in their power to thwart and annoy the Great Spirit Togin and his ministers.

Guison

A mighty duke, who appears like a cynocephalus, and discerns the past, present and future, answers all questions, reconciles enemies and gives honours and dignities.

Gusoyn

A great and strong duke, appearing in the form of a "Zenophali". He knows the past, present, and the future, and expounds all questions. He reconciles friendship, and distributes honours and dignities. He commands forty legions. A demon in the service of Agaliarept. Also Guseyn.

Guta

A greatly feared Hungarian demon who beats his victims to death.

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