Furcas

{{Short description|Goetic demon}}

{{about|the mythological demon|another demon and President of Hell also called "Forcas"|Foras}}

{{Portal|Religion}}

Image of Furcas from [[Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal|thumb|275x275px]]

In demonology, Furcas (also spelled Forcas) is a Knight of Hell (the rank of Knight is unique to him), and rules 20 legions of demons.[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5754923d/f290.image Collin de Plancy. Dictionnaire Infernal. Paris, 1863, p. 280.][http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/goetia.htm#furcas Furcas] Esoteric Archives He teaches Philosophy, Astronomy (Astrology to some authors), Rhetoric, Logic, Chiromancy and Pyromancy.

Furcas (also known as Ren Vacca) is depicted as a strong old man with white hair and a long white beard, who rides a horse while holding a sharp weapon (pitch fork).

{{blockquote|Furcas is a knight and commeth foorth in the similitude of a cruell man, with a long beard and a hoarie head, he sitteth on a pale horse, carrieng in his hand a sharpe weapon, he perfectlie teacheth practike philosophie, rhetorike, logike, astronomie, chiromancie, pyromancie, and their parts: there obeie him twentie legions.|Johann Weyer (1583)[https://web.archive.org/web/20060519182635/http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/articleview.asp?Post=154 Article view @ DileriumRealm.com]}}

Notably, the 1563 edition says Forcas is an alias of the demon Foras, but in the 1583 edition of Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, Forcas is established as a unique demon separate from Foras. According to a translation by Joseph H. Peterson:

{{blockquote|Foras [*Forras], alias Forcas is a great president, and is seene in the forme of a strong man, and in humane shape, he understandeth the vertue of hearbs and pretious stones: he teacheth fullie logicke, ethicke, and their parts: he maketh a man invisible, wittie, eloquent, and to live long; he recovereth things lost, and discovereth [discloses] treasures, and is lord over nine and twentie legions.|Johann Weyer (1563)[http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/weyer.htm#par29 § 29. Furcas] Esoteric ArchivesWeyer, Johann. Pseudomonarchia Daemonum p. 8, {{ISBN|9780557050598}}}}

The etymology of his name may be derived from the Latin word furca, meaning fork,[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/morphindex?lang=la&lookup=furca&bytepos=44411783&wordcount=2&embed=2&doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059 Furca (Latin); fork] or from Greco-Roman also meaning a sepulchre (tomb).{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051220145025/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-dgra/0569.html Furca from the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities]}} AncientLibrary.com