Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott
Like Eisheth Zenunim, Agerath’s mythological origins lie primarily within Kabbalistic traditions. Along with the aforementioned, Lilith and Naamah, Agerath is one of the four Demon queens of sacred prostitution. She is considered to one of the brides of Samael alongside Her three sister Demonesses and Her name tentatively translates to “reward”. Her name is more commonly written as Agerath bat Machaloth, which means “Agerath, daughter of Machaloth” in Hebrew. Agerath is, of course, the daughter of the Demoness, Machaloth. She is sometimes reputed to be the mother of the Demon Prince, Asmodeus—as She was once mated with King David to produce the offspring. Alternate versions of the story of Asmodeus’ conception suggest that Naamah, not Agerath, was His mother.
Although opinions vary, many authors attribute Agerath to the direction of West—indicating that Hers is a watery nature. However, Kabbalistic traditions suggest that She is associated with the direction of Northeast which is a more accurate assignment considering Her nature. Agerath is depicted as a Witch Queen and with an appearance akin to that of the Gorgon, Medusa, with serpents in place of Her hair. She rides within a grand chariot which is drawn by an ox and an ass. This traditional depiction of Agerath implies that Her nature is earthy, more closely related to that of Naamah’s. As the earth is aligned with sensuality, sex and love within occult schools of thought, it makes sense that Agerath should be included as a goddess of the Earth. Agerath’s depiction also encompasses the sacred animals of three of the four anti-Kerubs—the serpents of Her mother, Machaloth; the ox of Her husband, Samael; and the ass, the sacred animal of the watery Chaos Dragon, Rahab.
I attribute Agerath to the 29th Path—referred to as Sekhel Mughsham or the Path of Corporeal Intelligence upon the Tree of Life and Nashimiron (Malign Ones) upon the Tree of Death. Interestingly the common title of the Sekhel Mughsham is “The Elder Witch”, a fitting title for Agerath’s nature as the Witch Queen. The Sekhel Mughsham is assigned to the Zodiacal sign of Pisces, which supports the less popular perspective that Agerath’s nature is aligned with the Element of Water. I personally subscribe to the belief that She may be most accurately recognised as a goddess of the Earth, with secondary Water and Air characteristics. Further evidence to support the attribution of Agerath to the 29th Path is the fact that the Nashimiron are described as women united to the bodies of serpents, drawing a close comparison to the tradition depiction of Agerath as a Medusa-like figure.
I perceive Agerath as sensual and beautifully sinister, enjoying both performing and receiving performance within sexual and theatrical contexts. She is a goddess who is deeply enamoured of music of all kinds and seeks to inspire creativity within all who approach Her. She is concerned with upholding the Satanic philosophy that the human experience is to be cherished and that the Self should be indulged its wants and desires so long as it is responsibly done. She inspires us to look within ourselves and to discover the roots of our inadequacies, fears and self-undoing. She helps us to understand and acknowledge our own basic human needs and to unravel the threads of our cocoons by slowly exposing ourselves to new ideas, adventures and ways of thinking.
Primary Name: Agerath bat Machaloth
Other Names: Agerath, Aggereth, Agrat, Agrat bat Mahlat, Agerath bat Machalath
Mythological Source(s): Zoharistic Kabbalah, Judaic and Occult Traditions
Title: The Witch Queen, The Elder Witch, Bride of Samael, Demon Queen
Role: Demoness of Sacred Sexuality and Witchcraft, One of the Four Demon Queens
Sacred Animals: Serpent, ox, ass, beetle, fish, dolphins, bull, owl, eagle, scorpion, dove, penguin, heron, swan, stag, cuckoo
Mythical Beings: Phantoms, Succubi, Werewolves, gnomes, brownies, dwarves, dryads, elves, faeries, undines, mermaids, naiads, water sprites, hippogriff
Zodiacal Sign(s): Pisces
Planet(s): Jupiter
Element(s): Earth (Primary), Water (Secondary), Air
Direction: Northeast (Kabbalistic), North (Biblical), West (Agrippa), North (Traditional)
Colours: Stone colour (Assiah), Buff flecked with silver-white (Briah)
Soul Part: None
Sense: Touch (Earth), taste (Water)
Musical Key: F
Kabbalistic World: Assiah (Earth), Briah (Water)
Kabbalistic Hell: None
Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: None
Tree of Life Attributions: Path 29 (Corporeal Intelligence)
Qliphothic Habitation: Nashimiron (Malign Ones)
Associated Demons: Nashimiron, Qulielfi
Vowel: A
Sounds: k, kh, g, gh
Environment: Geosphere
Season: Winter
Magickal Words: Tauropolit, Louloenel, Nerxiarxin, Psychompoiaps
Consort: Samael
Children: Asmodeus (Speculative)
Parentage: Machaloth (Mother)
Trees: Elm, ash, poplar, cedar, cherry tree, elm
Herbs: Poppy, raspberry, agrimony, aloe, amaranth, daisy, beetroot, borage, cedar, cherry, red cabbage, quince, strawberry, flax, mulberry, elm, poplar, peony, plum, buckwheat, sesame, violet, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, clover
Stones: Pearl, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, lapis lazuli, clear quartz, diamond, beryl, aquamarine
Incense: Ambergris, red storax, golden copal, mace, Balm of Gilead, saffron, ash, cedar, cinnamon, black copal, lotus, myrrh, clover
Metals and Minerals: Tin, gold, bismuth, sulphates
Tarot Cards: The Moon (Pisces), Wheel of Fortune (Jupiter), The Hanged Man (Water), the four Princesses, Pentacles/Coins, Queen of Pentacles
Ailments: Sexual dysfunction, sexually-transmitted diseases, gout, leg and foot problems, bone disorders and injuries, tissue damage, cancer, bowel afflictions, lymphatic disorders, malnutrition and malabsorption
Bodily Government: Legs, feet, sexual organs, bones, tissues, organs of excrement, lymphatic system
Sins: None
Vices: Over-indulgence
Virtues: Responsibility to one’s loved ones and oneself
Holy Days: March 12 (Zodiacal)
Time of Day: Midnight
Chemical Element: None
Alchemical Process: Projection
Symbolism: Magick mirror
Chakra: Root
Ritual Tools: Mirror, salt, chalk, wax, aspergillum, chalice
Drugs: Opium, narcotics
Powers and rulership: Getting in touch with the primal needs of the Self, instincts, sexuality (especially female sexuality), love, compassion, healing, illusions, visual magick (glamour), magickal control or influence over others, divination, theatre and music, prostitution