Linguistic Archaeology: Spirits of the Brazen Vessel

SPIRITS OF THE BRAZEN VESSEL

In the first episode, The Sun in a Bottle, Edward had to swear to the 'Spirits of the Brazen Vessel' not to mention Catweazle to anyone.

'King Salomon had allegedly locked seventy-two evil spirits together with their legions in a brass vessel – a metal cauldron – as punishment for their pride. When Solomon had tied them up and had sealed the vessel he sank it together with the spirits in a deep lake (or a cave) in Babylon. The Babylonians were surprised when they found the cauldron, and they ventured into the lake to break open the vessel. They expected to find a wealth of treasure in it, but scarcely had they broken open the cauldron when the upper spirits flew away, their legions following them.'

Sources: The Lesser Key of Solomon (The Goetia); Die Kinder Lucifers, a german version of the Dictionnaire Infernal (from Collin de Plancy, approx. 1845).

72 Spirits of the Brazen Vessel (and alternate names)

1. Bael
2. Agares
3. Vassago
4. Samigina
5. Gamigin
6. Marbas
7. Valefor
8. Amon
9. Barbatos
10. Paimon
11. Buer
12. Gusion
13. Sitri
14. Beleth
15. Leraje
16. Leraikha
17. Eligos
18. Zepar
19. Botis
20. Bathin
21. Sallos
22. Purson
23. Marax
24. Ipos
25. Aim
26. Naberius
27. Glasya-Labolas
28. Bune
29. Bime
30. Ronove
31. Berith
32. Astaroth
33. Forneus
34. Foras
35. Asmoday
36. Gaap
37. Furfur
38. Marchosias
39. Stolas
40. Stolos
41. Phenex
42. Halphas
43. Malthus
44. Malphas
45. Raum
46. Focalor
47. Vepar
48. Sabnock
49. Shax
50. Vine
51. Bifrons
52. Uvall
53. Vual
54. Haagenti
55. Crocell
56. Furcas
57. Balam
58. Alloces
59. Camio
60. Caim
61. Murmur
62. Murmus
63. Orobas
64. Gremory
65. Gamori
66. Ose
67. Voso
68. Amy
69. Avnas
70. Oriax
71. Orias
72. Vapula
73. Naphula
74. Zagan
75. Volac
76. Valak
77. Valu
78. Ualag
79. Andras
80. Haures
81. Hauras
82. Flauros
83. Andrealphus
84. Cimejes
85. Kimaris
86. Amdusias
87. Amdukias
88. Belial
89. Decarabia
90. Seere
91. Sear
92. Dantalion
93. Andromalius

Popularity of use

A      %       E       %         I          %         O          %        U          %
67     72%  29      31%    31       33%     36         38%   24         25%

B       %       C       %         D         %         F          %          G          %
17     18%    11     11%    8         8%        6          6%        9          9%

H        %        J       %        K         %          L         %           M         %
14      15%     1      1%      5         5%        28       30%       21       22%

N         %        P      %        Q         %           R         %           S          %
18       19%     10    10%    0         0%        40        43%      45        48%

T           %        V      %       W        %            X         %          Y          %
11         11%    13    13%    0         0%         4         4%         3          3%

Z            %
1            1%

Names by Popularity of Use

72% A:
48% S, a:
43% R, s, a:
38% O, r, s, a:
33% I, o, r, s, a: Orias,
31% E, i, o, r, s, a: Sear, Seere, Ose,
30% L, e, i, o, r, s, a: Sallos,
25% U, l, e, i, o, r, s, a:
22% M, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Murmus, Murmur, Raum, Aim,
19% N, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Amon,
18% B, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Belial, Orobas, Balam, Bime, Bune, Naberius, Buer, Marbas, Bael,
15% H, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Hauras, Haures,
13% V, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Valu, Avnas, Voso, Vual, Uvall, Vine, Ronove,
11% C, T, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Volac, Caim, Camio, Alloces, Crocell, Malthus, Stolos, Stolas, Marchosias, Astaroth, Berith, Bathin, Botis, Beleth, Sitri, Barbatos,
10% P, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Naphula, Vapula, Vepar, Malphas, Halphas, Ipos, Purson, Paimon,
9% G, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Ualag, Gamori, Haagenti, Gaap, Eligos, Gusion, Gamigin, Samigina, Vassago, Agares,
8% D, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Andromalius, Dantalion, Decarabia, Amdukias, Amdusias, Andrealphus, Andras, Asmoday,
6% F, d, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Flauros, Furcas, Bifrons, Focalor, Furfur, Foras, Forneus,
5% K, f, d, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Kimaris, Valak, Sabnock, Leraikha, Valefor,
4% X, k, f, d, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Oriax, Shax, Phenex, Marax,
3% Y, x, k, f, d, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Amy, Gremory, Glasya-labolas,
1% J, Z, y, x, k, f, d, g, p, t, c, h, b, n, m, u, l, e, i, o, r, s, a: Cimejes, Zagan, Zepar, Leraje,
Un-used: Q, W, 


At 33% Orias appears to be the earliest, and most well known of the seventy-two spirits. Orias is a Marquis of hell commanding thirty legion's of spirits. He is described as having knowledge of the planets and stars. He is depicted as a lion riding a horse with a serpent's tail. He also carries two serpents in his right hand.

So originally he is a powerful Marquis commanding thirty legions. Whats a legion? A legion is a combined force of 3,000-6,000 infantry, and 100-200 cavalry. So thirty legions is 900,000-1,800,000 infantry, and 3,000-6,000 cavalry.
He is an Astronomer with knowledge of stars and planets.
As a lion, he is likely blond, with a heavy beard that likely looks like a lions mane.
Carries two serpents in his right hand. This is probably the Caduceus (Staff of Hermes) which originates with the Sumerian God Ningishzida 4,000 BC - 3,000 BC. The Staff is born by heralds (messengers).

At 19% we have Amon (for you Game of Thrones fans).