Balthamos

Lore & Background

In *The Amber Spyglass*, Balthamos and Baruch are introduced as a pair of angels who approach Will Parry after Lyra's kidnapping. They inform Will that he must travel with them to give the Subtle Knife to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel, as a weapon against the Authority. Will initially ignores the angels, but they persist in their mission. The angels work alongside Lord Asriel's Gallivespian spies—the Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia—to help Will rescue Lyra from the cave where Mrs Coulter has hidden her. Balthamos and Baruch represent a rebellion against the Authority's rigid laws, choosing to aid the children in their quest.

In Their Own Story

When Will Parry is approached by Balthamos and Baruch, the angels tell him he must travel with them to give the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel as a weapon against the Authority. Will ignores the angels at first, but with the help of a local girl named Ama, the Bear King Iorek Byrnison, and Lord Asriel's Gallivespian spies (the Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia), he rescues Lyra from the cave where her mother has hidden her from the Magisterium. Balthamos and Baruch accompany Will and Lyra as they journey to the Land of the Dead, where they temporarily part with their dæmons to release the ghosts from their captivity.

Reader's Guide

Balthamos, as an angel, possesses the ability to travel between worlds and withstand cosmic hazards. He and Baruch serve as guides and protectors for Will and Lyra during their journey to the Land of the Dead. The angels work in coordination with Lord Asriel's Gallivespian spies to help rescue Lyra from Mrs Coulter's cave. Their role is to ensure the Subtle Knife reaches Lord Asriel, who plans to use it as a weapon against the Authority. Balthamos and Baruch's actions are driven by their rebellion against the Authority's rigid laws, choosing to aid the children in their quest to understand the true nature of Dust.

Did You Know?

• Balthamos and Baruch are described as a pair of angels who approach Will Parry after Lyra is kidnapped by Mrs Coulter.
• The angels tell Will that he must travel with them to give the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel as a weapon against the Authority.
• Will initially ignores the angels, but they persist in their mission alongside Lord Asriel's Gallivespian spies.
• Balthamos and Baruch help Will rescue Lyra from the cave where her mother has hidden her from the Magisterium.