Sodomite demons. All about demons. Hierarchy, ranks, titles. Incubus and succubus

Each mythology has its own list of the most powerful creations, both representing the forces of light and the forces of darkness.

In some religions they are more structured, in others less so. In Christianity, which has had a considerable influence on occult views on, there are several conflicting views on demons, their essence, image, power and hierarchy.

However, it is possible to isolate the most powerful demons who undoubtedly occupy key positions in the hierarchy of hell.

Demon names and power

According to various sources, the number the most powerful demons there are different numbers of them. Here, those of them that are considered the strongest according to the majority of the religious teachings of Christianity and religions close to it will be highlighted.

And also, according to most mystics and occultists. The most powerful are:

Devil, Satan, Lucifer- the most powerful demon of the fiery hyena, the lord of hell, the concentration of universal evil. He has a huge number of names and appearances. Moreover, in different Abrahamic religions and in different eras, there are differences in its description. It is designated as fallen angel rebelling against the Lord. At the same time, also in the Middle Ages, the devil was correlated with Beelzibub, although this demon is also an independent being.

It is possible that Satan is a broader concept than just a name or title and includes a collective image of higher demons. But this claim is debatable.

Right Hand of the Lord of Hell

The last giant sea monster, which is considered by some versions of the highest demons, according to others one of the incarnations of Satan. The position of Lilith is very ambiguous.

But she definitely occupies a high position and has great power.

According to a number of divisions, the four supreme, and therefore the most powerful demons are Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan and Belial.

Other positions

A separate division is proposed by Satanists with a clearer structure. But it lends itself to criticism, both by the church and by occultists.

The mystics and occultists themselves also do not have a common opinion on the power of demons.

There are times when representatives of different directions argue about the meaning and power of individual demons.

A completely different look at the power of demons is a statement that seldom leaves the circle of some mystics, that all hell demons divided according to species.

And representatives of the same species, being inextricably linked, have equal power. Thus, a completely different hierarchy emerges.

The details, however, are unknown. Since supporters of this classification of demons practically do not share this information.

Essences that terrify people exist, perhaps, in the myths and legends of different peoples. Their appearance goes back to the origins of folklore. As a rule, a variety of terrible supernatural monsters brought evil, death, or were an instrument of punishment from higher powers. In our review, the most terrible and terrible entities from different cultures.

1. Pishachi

Pishachas are one of the most feared carnivorous demons in Hindu myths. They were depicted with dark faces, bulging veins and bulging red eyes. Pishachas have always hungered for human flesh.

2. Vetaly

Vetals are ghostly creatures from Hindu mythology. They are spirits that inhabit corpses, after which they cease to decompose and gain the ability to move around like zombies. However, vetals can also leave a corpse at will.

3. Ronow

In demonology, Ronove is considered a marquis and a great count of hell, who commands twenty legions of demons. He is most often depicted as a kind of monster with vague outlines, who holds a staff in his hand. It is also believed that he collects the souls of people and animals that die.

4. Rakshasa

These demonic spirits originate from Hindu myths, but can also be found in other religions such as Buddhism. They are known as cannibals, and devour their victims while still alive. According to Hindu traditions, they were so overwhelmed with bloodlust that when they were created, they tried to devour their creator, the god Brahma.

5. Preta

Preta spirits, also known as "hungry ghosts", can be found in some Indian religions. They are doomed to wander and suffer from terrible hunger and thirst, which they cannot satisfy in any way. According to these religions, people who were greedy, corrupt, jealous and greedy in life become preta in death.

6. Lemurs

In ancient Roman religion, lemurs were evil, restless spirits of the dead who were known for their terrifying appearance. They were also thought to be related to the Greek monster Lamia, after whom they were named.

7. Yorogumo

According to ancient Japanese myths, the Yorogumo is a bloodthirsty monster. In most tales, he is described as a huge spider that takes the form of a very attractive woman who seduces men, lures them into her lair and devours them.

8. Hundun

Hundun is a faceless evil, which in Chinese mythology and cosmogony is considered a source of catastrophes and chaos. The strangest thing about this demon is how ancient it is. According to Chinese beliefs, it existed before heaven and earth were separated, that is, before the Big Bang.

9. Eligos

Edigos is the Great Duke of Hell who rules over sixty legions of demons. He discovers hidden things and knows the future of wars. Usually, Eligos is depicted as a pious knight, carrying a spear, a banner, and a serpent.

10. Genie

Jinn are supernatural beings in Arabic as well as Islamic late mythology and theology. The Qur'an states that the jinn are made up of smokeless and "burning fire", but they are also physically capable of interacting with people and objects.

11. Barbatos

Barbatos in demonology is the Duke of Hell, who rules over thirty legions of demons. He has four kings as companions who help him command the legions. It is believed that he can lead people to treasures that were hidden by the magic of wizards, but for this he asks a very high price - souls.

12. Barakiel

Barakiel is the ninth watcher of the twenty leaders of the two hundred fallen angels that are mentioned in the book of Enoch. His name means "lightning of God", which is not surprising since Barakiel is believed to have taught the people of astrology before his fall.

13. Azi Dahaka

Azi Dahaka is a storm demon from Iranian mythology and religion. It was alleged that he steals livestock and attacks people. This is a snake-like monster with three heads and six eyes, which also represents the oppression of Iran during the time of Babylon.

14. Agares

Agares is the Duke of Hell, who owns its eastern part and commands thirty-one legions of demons. He appears riding a crocodile with a hawk on his arm. It was believed that Agares could bring back deserters and put enemies to flight. He can also exalt people, teach all languages ​​and cause an earthquake.

15. Abaddon

In the book of Revelation, an angel named Abaddon, who looks like Satan, is described as the king of the locust army. He holds a trident, has frightening wings, a snake tail and an evil face with cruel eyes. His name in ancient Greek means "destroyer".

16. Asag

In the ancient Sumerian religion, Asag was a grotesque demon who looked so scary that fish in the rivers died from his presence. His name translates as "causing disease."

17. Dybbuk

In Jewish mythology, a dybbuk is an evil spirit that inhabits a person and lives in him until his death. This malevolent creature leaves the host's body only after it has fulfilled its nefarious purpose.

18. Abizu

In the myths of the Middle East and Europe, Abizu is a female demon. She is accused of miscarriages and infant mortality, as Abizu allegedly envies people, being barren.

19. Ghoul (ghoul)

The ghoul is one of the most famous creatures in the ancient Arab religion and was first mentioned in the Thousand and One Nights. He is described as an undead creature that can also take the form of an intangible spirit. As a rule, ghouls live in cemeteries and feed on carrion.

20. Succubus

Those who think that only men commit rape are deeply mistaken. A succubus is a demon who, in medieval legends, invaded the dreams of men and boys in the form of attractive women, and then seduced or raped them.

21. Xin Tian

Xin Tian is an evil divine giant in Chinese mythology who fought against the heavenly emperor Huang Di. Even after he was defeated and beheaded, Xin Tian continued to fight, creating a face on his torso: eyes from his nipples and a mouth from his navel. At the same time, he was armed with an ax in one hand and a shield in the other.

22. Buer

Buer is a demon who was first described in demonological literature of the sixteenth century, where he is described as the great president of hell, commanding fifty legions of demons. Buer was described as having the head of a lion and five goat legs surrounding his body so that Buer could move in any direction.

23. Azazel

According to the book of Enoch (an apocryphal book in the Jewish religious tradition), Azazel was one of the leaders of a group of fallen angels who took human women as wives and taught people a lot. After he was cast into hell, unable to kill (the archangels were sent to "eliminate" the fallen angel), Azazel became the most mysterious supernatural being in sacred literature.

24. Belphegor

In Western demonology, Belphegor is a demon who was originally an ancient Semitic god and later became one of the seven princes of hell. The sixth of ten archdemons offers people ingenious inventions that can make them rich in exchange for souls.

25. Nephilim

According to ancient biblical texts, the word Nephilim means "giants". They were known as great warriors, born of "sons of God" who were divine beings and "daughters of Adam" who were mortal. God condemned his sons for rebellion and connection with people, and that is why their offspring were called "nephilim" or fallen ones.

Demons are fallen angels: this is the official teaching of the Christian Church. It seems that the story of the revolt of angels is familiar to everyone - there are hints of it in the Bible, Christian thinkers appeal to it, a brilliant literary description of angelomachy is given by J. Milton. I will recall this story briefly.

One of God's bright angels named Lucifer ("light-bearer") became proud of his power and set out to take the Lord's throne. He raised a rebellion in heaven and carried away with him a third of the angelic host. Archangel Michael came out against the rebels with heavenly hosts faithful to God. As a result of the battle, the rebellious angels, led by Lucifer (Satan), were thrown from heaven into the underworld and turned into demons, whose only goal from now on is to sow evil.

This story has many interpretations, but here we will give only completely original versions of the origin of demons, which are fundamentally different from the orthodox:

1. In the Middle Ages, there was a point of view that demons were originally created by God to commit evil. The defenders of this idea relied on a quotation from the Book of Isaiah, where the mouth of God says: "I create a destroyer for destruction" (54, 16). Rabbinic treatises state that Satan was created on the sixth day of creation at the same time as Eve; evil spirits were created "between the suns," i.e. between sunset and dawn on the eve of the first Sabbath - when God created their souls, the dawn of the Sabbath was already breaking, and he did not have time to create their bodies.

2. In the heretical teaching of the Bogomils, as well as in popular beliefs that have not got rid of pagan dualism, Satan (Satanael) is not God's creation, but an independent figure opposing God, like the Persian Ahriman. Both forces - good and evil - take part in the process of creation of the world; in opposition to God's angels, Satan creates his demonic army by striking flint with his staff.

3. The Apocryphal Book of Enoch tells the story of the cohabitation of the "sons of God" (angels) with the "daughters of men". The angels who, out of lust, exchanged the kingdom of heaven for the earthly vale, were cursed by God and became demons. This theory was shared by many church authorities in the Middle Ages (for example, Thomas Aquinas).

4. The same Book of Enoch says that from the marriages of fallen angels with earthly women, a tribe of monstrous giants originated. When God destroyed the giants, evil spirits came out of their bodies.

5. The ancient Jews believed that many evil spirits were born from the intercourse of Adam with female spirits (or Eve with men's perfume) during those one hundred and thirty years that Adam and Eve were separated after the fall. Numerous demons gave birth to Adam and his first wife, Lilith, who later turned into a demon herself.

6. Some of the people scattered after the unsuccessful construction of the Tower of Babel were turned into demons of three types - shedim, ruhin and lilin

7. Finally, according to later folk beliefs, the infernal army is constantly replenished at the expense of the souls of great sinners; children cursed by their parents, as well as the offspring of incubi and succubi. However, these are all demons of the lowest order, as well as all sorts of vampires, ghosts and werewolves, who also make up the army of Satan.

DARK ARMY

There is nothing surprising in the fact that Satan has invested a lot of money in creating his own army. He loved the warriors of his army and adored what they were meant for - war. What could quell an uprising, a bloody revolution, or extinguish an international conflict better than death and destruction? For demons, the battlefield is just an amusement park. And the hierarchy of ranks and positions in the army of Satan was more complex and confusing than in the Pentagon. Here are her main faces.

Put Satanachia (Put Satanachia) - general-general, had a deep knowledge of all the planets and helped the witches to establish a close relationship with those living on Earth. He also had special power over earthly mothers.

Agaliarept - the great general of Hell and the commander of the second legion, controlled Europe and Asia Minor, as well as the past and future. Possessing the ability to reveal secrets, he sowed enmity and distrust between people.

Africa was under the rule of Beelzebub's personal lieutenant-general - Fleurety. An expert in the use of poisoned plants and herbs that cause hallucinations, Flevreti worked at night. He sowed enmity among people, kindling a feeling of lust. Usually a group of violent associates took part in his adventures.

The Marquis of Amon commanded the order of forty legions of the army of Hell. This demon spewed fire from the wolf's mouth. Amun had a wolf's head and a snake's tail. He had the gift of prophecy and the ability to predict the future.

Punishment for the sin of gluttony. From Le grant kalendrier et compost des Berglers, printed by Nicolas Le Rouge, Troyes, 1496

Agvares (Aguares) - the great duke of the eastern regions of Hell, had 30 legions under his command. He was a good linguist, and he also knew how to arrange dances of the dead.

Amduscias (Amduscias) - another great duke, commanded 29 legions and, rather strangely, was famous for his ability to compose terrible, ear-piercing music. He was usually depicted with a human figure and the head of a unicorn.

Sargatanas, a brigadier general, served directly under Astaroth and had a unique gift - he could penetrate a person's mind and read his innermost thoughts. If Sargatanas experienced the same thoughts and feelings, then he could erase them from the consciousness of a person, and transfer him to the other side of the globe.

A field marshal in the army of Astaroth was a demon named Nebiros, who personally looked after North America and often used animals for his heinous deeds.

Count Raum (Raum) commanded 30 legions and was known for the destruction of cities. He had a mysterious ability to determine who committed theft.

Baal - Grand Duke, commanded 66 legions, one of the ugliest officers of Satan. His body was short and fat, and his legs, growing in all directions, resembled spider legs. Baal had three heads - a cat, a toad and a man, the latter crowned with a crown. His hoarse and piercing voice was terrible. Baal used it to instruct his treacherous followers. This ruthless and cunning demon could turn invisible.

At the head of 60 legions was Abigor (Abigor) - a knight riding a winged horse and controlling his warriors from a height. He knew all the intricacies of warfare and had the gift of prophecy. Unlike other demons, Abigor was portrayed as a handsome and dashing dandy.

Azazel was the standard bearer of the army of Hell.

In addition to those listed, there were, of course, many other demons who ranked high enough to have their own name and duties, but were not of the highest class. Many of them controlled the forces of nature and managed them, directing them to the destruction of mankind. We name some of the most famous demons of this class.

Furfur could control thunder, lightning and hurricanes. Having the title of count in Hell, he appeared in the form of a winged deer with human hands and a flaming tail. If Furfur was not inside the magic triangle, then every word he said was a lie.

Vin (Vine) could destroy the thickest walls and cause a storm in the sea.

Procel could freeze water and bring it to a boil.

Seera (Seera) could slow down or speed up the passage of time.

Abduscius could uproot mighty trees and bring them down on people.

Haborim (Haborym) had the title of duke in hell and controlled fire and fires. He had three heads - cat, human and snake, and he rode a viper, brandishing a torch.

Halpas (Halpas) - a great earl, had the appearance of a stork and spoke in a hoarse voice, reminiscent of a croak. He was famous for two things - he could incinerate an entire city, and then rebuild it, populating it with soldiers eager for battle.

Demons of a narrow specialization.

Other demons were even more specific in their attacks on humanity. By not causing storms at sea or earthquakes on land, they exploited the weaknesses of human nature. These demons acted on individuals, sowing fear and doubt, envy and cruelty in their minds, or causing pain in the body. Here are some representatives of this unpleasant fraternity.

Andras (Andras) and his squire Flauros (Flauros) were supposed to commit murder. Andras, the great marquis of Hell, had the body of a winged angel and the head of an owl. He rode a black wolf with a sword in his hand.

Shax made his victims blind and deaf.

Duke Valafar gave orders to robbers and robbers to attack innocent travelers.

Sabnack (Sabnack) subjected to corruption the bodies of the dead.

Three demons ruled the dead. Murmur took care of the souls, while Bifrons and Bune moved the bodies from one grave to another.

Philotanus (Philotanus) - a demon of the second rank and assistant to Belial. He specialized in inciting mortals to debauchery.

Dantalian used magic to change a person's good thoughts into bad ones.
Zepar (Zepar) could penetrate the mind of a woman and bring her to madness.
Moloch (Moloch) was once a deity to whom children were sacrificed, then he became the prince of hell and reveled in the tears of mothers. His face is usually smeared with blood.
Belphegor sowed discord among people and incited them, using wealth, to do bad deeds. He was depicted either as a naked woman or as a monstrous bearded demon with a constantly open mouth and very sharp nails.
Belphegor, an insidious demon who seduces people with wealth L. Breton
Oliver (Olivier), the prince of the archangels, aimed people at cruelty and indifference, especially towards the poor.
Mammon (Mammon) - the demon of wealth and greed He found his face in the Middle Ages. He was mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 6, article 24):
“No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or he will be zealous for one, and neglect the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon…”
Oiellet, the prince of the dominion, had probably one of the easiest jobs - he tempted people to break the vow of poverty.

DEMONS

Demonesses (demons, demonesses, female demons, etc.) are female demons. Like demons, demonesses are seen as fallen angels. A prime example of this is Barbelo. According to legend, before her fall, she was the most beautiful angel, along with Lucifer. Also, the most famous of the demonesses - succubus, are considered defeated angels. However, Lilith (the supreme demoness) has a different origin. She, like Naama, before she became a demoness, was mortal. In addition, daughters of demons can be called demons.
And now about the most famous female demons, in more detail. In Kabbalistic literature, four "mothers of demons" are often mentioned: Lilith, Naama, Agrat and Mahallat - they send spirits subject to them to do evil. Sometimes they gather on the mountains, where they discuss future evil deeds and have sexual intercourse with Samael (a reminiscence of ideas about the demonic coven among Christian peoples). Often this list of mothers of demons (or rather wives of Satan) changes. Constants in it are: Naama, Lilith and Agrat. The fourth was added to them, already mentioned, Mahallat, then Nega (the demoness of the plague), then Ishet Zenunim (the demoness of fornication), then some Even Maskit. Sometimes the wives of the Devil are considered the demoness Elizadra, who, along with Lilith, is considered the supreme demoness. Speaking of the supreme demonesses, the notorious Roman goddess of the underworld Proserpina, ranked among the demons, like many pagan deities, is also called the main among the demonesses. Speaking of famous female demons, one cannot help but recall Lamia. Lamia, an ancient Greek vampire demon, successfully passed from paganism to Christianity, where she was actually identified with Lilith.
In almost all lists and hierarchies of demons, demonesses occupy a rather low position. This was the main reason why very few "ladies" are known among demons.

HELL ADMINISTRATION STAFF

In the political arena, Hell had its own Prime Minister named Lucifuge Rofocale. Lucifuge could only take on his natural form at night and hated the light. His many duties included spreading disease and mutilation, causing earthquakes, and destroying sacred deities. His power extended to all the treasures of the earth.
The great president of Hell was a burly, white-haired old man named Forcas. He taught logic and rhetoric and also commanded 29 legions of Hell's armed forces.
Leonard is an outstanding demon, was the chief inspector of black magic and witchcraft, something of a quality control expert, as well. also master of the covens. He appeared to them in the form of a huge black goat with three horns and a fox head.
Abbadon, or Apollyon, has been called the "destroyer" since his days as the destroying angel of the Apocalypse. In the "Revelation" of John the Theologian, he is called the chief of the locust demons, who are depicted as horses with wings, human faces and poisonous scorpion tails. Another title of Abbadon is Lord of the Bottomless Well.
Adramelech is the great chancellor and at the same time responsible for Satan's wardrobe. Most of his body is from a mule, part of the torso was human, and the tail was peacock.
Baalberith was the general secretary of Hell and was also head of the archives service. This demon incited people to blasphemy and murder. At meetings with the princes of Hell, he appeared in the form of a bishop. Vaalberith was very eloquent. According to the Admirable History, written by Father Sebastian Michaelis in 1612, this demon possessed a nun in the city of Aix-en-Provence. During the exorcism (exorcism), Baalberith gave not only his name and the names of the other devils who possessed the nun, but also the names of those saints who could most effectively carry out the exorcism.
Alastor was the executor of the decrees issued by the court of Satan.
Melchom is the keeper of the treasures of the princes of Hell.
Uphir was a doctor in Hell. He was responsible for the health of all the demons living in the underworld.
Verdelet acted as butler and transport manager. He supervised the ceremonies and also ensured that the witches arrived at the sabbat on time and safe and sound.
Nysrock - a demon of the second rank - was the chef in the houses of the princes of Hell.
Dagon is the baker of the princes. Before he took over the culinary duties, he was the main god of the Philistines, and so important that after they recaptured the Ark from the Israelites, they erected a temple of Dagon there.
Paymon ruled public ceremonies in Hell, and also sought to break the will of the people by opposing her desire. He was portrayed as a man with a woman's face. He performed his duties by riding a camel.
Nibras (Nybras) - the lower devil, responsible for the entertainment in Hell - a very thankless job.
Xaphan - a demon of the second category, supported the fires of Hell. During the rising of the angels, the idea to set fire to the sky came from Xaphan.

CLASSIFICATION OF DEMONS

Among the demonologists, there has not yet been found a Linnaeus who would create an exhaustive and generally accepted classification of infernal creatures. As for the options available, they are just as contradictory and imperfect as attempts to establish the exact number of demons. Here are some common types of classifications:
1. By habitats.
This type of classification goes back to the Neo-Platonic notions that not all demons are absolutely evil and not all must necessarily dwell in Hell. The classification of the spirits of Michael Psellos was especially widespread in the Middle Ages:
- fiery demons - live in the ether, areas of rarefied air above the moon;
- air demons - live in the air under the moon;
- earthly demons - inhabit the earth;
- water demons - live in water;
- underground demons - stay underground;
- lucifugas or heliophobes - haters of light, living in the most remote depths of hell;
2. By occupation.
A rather arbitrary classification proposed in the 15th century. Alphonse de Spina. A number of claims can be made against this scheme: many of the characteristic demonic functions have remained outside of it, and it is also almost impossible to assign one or another of the known demons to a certain category.
- Parks - women spinning the thread of fate, who are actually demons;
- Poltergeists - demons, naughty at night, moving things and doing other minor dirty tricks;
- Incubus and succubus - seducing mostly nuns;
- Marching demons - usually arrive in crowds and make a lot of noise;
- Service demons - serve witches, eat and drink with them;
- Demons of nightmares - come in dreams;
- Demons formed from the seed and its smell during sexual intercourse;
- Demons-deceivers - can appear in the form of men or women;
- Pure demons - attack only saints;
- Demons that deceive the old women, suggesting to them that they flew to the Sabbath.
3. By rank.
Based on the fact that demons are fallen angels, some demonologists (I. Wier, R. Burton) suggested the presence in hell of a system of nine ranks, similar to the angelic hierarchy of Dionysius. Their system looks like this:
- The first rank - Pseudo-gods, those who pretend to be gods, their prince Beelzebub;
- The second rank - Spirits of lies, fooling people with predictions, their prince Python;
- Third rank - Vessel of iniquities, inventors of evil deeds and vicious arts, they are headed by Belial;
- The fourth rank - Punishers of atrocities, vengeful devils, their prince Asmodeus;
- Fifth rank - Deceivers, those who seduce people with false miracles, the prince is Satan;
- Sixth rank - Air authorities, causing infection and other disasters, they are led by Merezin;
- The seventh rank - Furies, sowers of troubles, strife and wars, they are ruled by Abaddon;
- Eighth rank - Accusers and spies, led by Astaroth;
- The ninth rank - Tempters and spiteful critics, their prince Mammon.
4. Planetary classification.
Since ancient times, spirits have been correlated with heavenly bodies. Even in the ancient "Key of Solomon", the author claims that there are "spirits of the sky of Saturn", called "Saturnians", there are spirits of "Jupiters", "Martians", "Solar", "Venus", "Lunar" and "Mercurians". Cornelius Agrippa, in the fourth part of the Occult Philosophy, gives detailed description each category:
- Spirits of Saturn. They usually appear in a long and thin body with a face expressing rage. They have four faces: the first behind the head, the second in front, and the third and fourth on each knee. Their color is black - matte. Movements are like gusts of wind; when they appear, the impression of ground vibrations is obtained. Sign - the earth seems whiter than any snow. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: A bearded king riding a dragon. Bearded old man, old woman leaning on a stick. Hog. The Dragon. Owl. Dark clothing. Spit. Juniper.
- Spirits of Jupiter. They appear in a full-blooded and bilious body, of medium height, in terrible excitement, their eyes are very meek, their speech is friendly, the color resembles iron. Their mode of locomotion is like lightning during thunder. A sign - people appear at the very circle, having the appearance of being devoured by lions. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: The King with a drawn sword, riding a deer. A man in a miter and long clothes. Girl in a laurel wreath and decorated with flowers. Bull. Deer. Peacock. Azure dress. Sword. Buxus.
- Spirits of Mars. They appear long and bilious; the appearance is very ugly, dark and somewhat reddish in color, with deer antlers and vulture claws. They roar like mad bulls. Their impulses are like a fire that spares nothing. A sign - you might think that lightning flashes around the circle and thunder rumbles. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: An armed king riding a wolf. Red clothes. Armed man. A woman with a shield at her hip. Goat. Horse. Deer. Fleece wool.
- Spirits of the Sun. They usually appear in a wide and large body, dense and full-blooded. Their color is like gold dyed with blood. Appearance is like a glow in the sky. The symptom is that the caller feels sweaty. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: King with a scepter, riding a lion. The king in the crown. Queen with scepter. Bird. A lion. Clothes of gold or saffron color. Scepter. Wheel.
- Spirits of Venus. They appear in a beautiful body; medium height; their appearance is charming and pleasant; color - white or green, with gilding on top. The walk is like a bright star. A sign is the girls frolicking around the circle, inviting the defiant to them. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: King with a scepter, riding a camel. A girl dressed amazingly. Nude girl. Goat. Camel. Dove. The clothes are white and green. Flowers. Grass. Cossack juniper.
- Spirits of Mercury. They appear in a body of medium height; cold, wet, beautiful, affably eloquent. With a human appearance, they are like an armed soldier who has become transparent. They approach like a silver cloud. A sign - the caller is terrified. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: The king riding a bear. A wonderful young man. A woman holding a spinning wheel. Dog. Bear. Sphinx. A colorful dress. Rod. Stick.
- Spirits of the Moon. They usually appear in a large, broad, flaccid and phlegmatic body. In color, they resemble a gloomy and dark cloud. Their physiognomy is puffy, their eyes are red and watery. The bald head is decorated with prominent boar fangs. They move with the speed of the strongest storm on the sea. Sign - pouring rain at the very circle. Images taken by them in exceptional cases: King with a bow, sitting on a doe. Small child. Hunter with bow and arrows. Cow. Little doe. Goose. Green or silver dress. Dart. Man with multiple legs.
5. By areas of influence.
The classification proposed by contemporary demonolatry priestess Stephanie Connolly is perhaps the most convenient for practicing spellcasters who invoke demons for specific purposes. According to S. Connolly, the main spheres of influence of demons are as follows:
- Love-Lust (this category includes Asmodeus, Astaroth, Lilith, etc.)
- Hatred-Revenge-Wrath-War (Andras, Abbadon, Agaliarept, etc.)
- Life-Healing (Verrin, Verrier, Belial, etc.)
- Death (Eurynome, Vaalberit, Babael)
- Nature (Lucifer, Leviathan, Dagon, etc.)
- Money-Prosperity-Luck (Belphegor, Beelzebub, Mammon, etc.)
- Knowledge-Secrets-Witchcraft (Ronve, Python, Delepitora, etc.)

NUMBER OF DEMONS

There is no doubt that there are a great many demons. However, since the first centuries of Christianity, theologians and demonologists have been practicing mathematics with amazing tenacity, trying to calculate the exact number of hellish spirits.
Maximus of Tire in the 2nd century calls a very modest figure of 30,000, but subsequent centuries inflated the composition of the devil's army to incredible limits.
Alphonse de Spina in 1459, referring to the fact that exactly one third of the heavenly host fell away from God, named the number of demons - 133,306,608.
In the 16th century a certain researcher, taking the biblical "number of the beast" as a basis, counted 66 hellish princes commanding 6,660,000 devils.
Johann Wier, the famous student of Agrippa, claimed that 7,405,926 demons ruled by 72 princes live in hell. Demons form 1111 squads of 6666 each.
All were surpassed by Lutheran theologians, who named a fantastic figure - 2,665,866,746,664 demons.

HIERARCHY OF HELL

How are all these demons organized? Who rules over whom? Who orders and who carries out orders?
There have been many disputes about this, but unanimity has not been reached for several centuries. And only one statement almost did not raise objections: Satan, also known as the emperor of the Great Underworld, the Prince of Light and the Angel of Darkness, reigned over all. He was the great adversary of God, the Serpent, the Gad, the Spirit of universal hatred. It was Satan who embodied true evil.
Under his leadership, there was a huge and terrible army of demons and other creatures that bring disaster, injury and destruction. But to keep such a horde in obedience would be an exorbitant task even for Satan himself, and, like God, who had seraphim, cherubim and archangels. Satan has rallied the aristocratic demons around him to help him manage the Kingdom of Darkness. These demons, in contrast to the nine steps of the angelic hierarchy, formed their infernal nine-step structure. And everyone agrees that the first among the demons was one of the Oldest friends of Satan - a powerful angel named Beelzebub.

When Satan first rebelled in heaven, he called into his ranks several very powerful seraphim, among whom was Beelzebub. Once in his new abode, he learned to seduce people with pride and ambition. When Beelzebub called witches and sorcerers to him, he appeared before them in the guise of a fly, since his military nickname was "Lord of the Flies." He received this name, that he sent a plague on Canaan with flies, or maybe because the flies were believed to be the offspring of dead flesh. But in any case, this nickname remained with Beelzebub.
Another great angel who fell from heaven along with "Lucifer" was Leriathan, who was depicted in the Bible as a "curving serpent ... a monster of the sea" (Book of Isaiah, ch. 21, v. 1). Sometimes Leviathan is accused of being the serpent that seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden. In hell, he is considered the secretary of maritime affairs, since Satan appointed him to be in charge of all the expanses of water.
Asmodeus is one of the busiest demons. He is not only the overseer of all gambling houses in hell, but also the main distributor of debauchery. Leading all this, Asmodeus was a demon of lust and was personally responsible for inciting turmoil in families. Perhaps the reason was that he himself came from a dysfunctional family. According to Jewish legend, his mother was a mortal woman, Naama, and his father was one of the fallen angels (perhaps Adam before the appearance of Eve). The famous textbook of magic, The Testament of Solomon, described Asmodeus as "fierce and screaming." He did everything he could daily to prevent husbands and wives from intercourse, while at the same time spurring their hidden animal instincts, inciting adultery and other sins. Before mortals, Asmodeus appeared sitting on a dragon, with a sword in his hands. And he had three heads: one was a bull, the other was a ram, and the third was a human. All three heads were considered promiscuous by birth. The legs of the demon, according to one version, were cock-like.
Astaroth also rode around on a dragon, but perhaps there was only one head behind him, which is usually depicted as very ugly. In his left hand he held a viper. This demon was the grand duke of the western regions of Hell, and besides, the guardian of the infernal treasury. Astaroth incited people to idle pastime, awakening laziness in them, in his free time he acted as an adviser or mentor to the rest of the fallen angels.
Behemoth was a huge demon, as evidenced by his name. Usually he is depicted as an elephant with a huge round belly, hobbled on two legs. He ran all the gluttons and led the feasts in Hell. And since, on duty, he had to stay awake most of the night, he was also a watchman. The hippopotamus is also known to a certain extent for its singing.
Belial was one of the most revered demons of Satan. Even before Satan was called the head of the dark forces of the underworld in the New Testament, Belial had already reached a high position. In one of the Dead Sea manuscripts, “The War of the Sons of Light with the Sons of Darkness,” Belial appears as the sole ruler of the underworld:
“For the sake of depravity, you were born, Belial is an angel of enmity. You and your abode are darkness, and your goals are to sow evil and pain around you.
In the end, Belial descended from heaven, but he still had the name of the demon of lies. Milton captured it in his book Paradise Lost-II as follows:
“... Honest heaven does not leave, it seemed that he was born noble and for glorious deeds, but everything was deceit and untruth, although his tongue promised manna from heaven and could give plausibility to any evil deed in order to confuse and amaze any reasonable advice: since his thoughts were low, he tempted the industrious, but timid to good deeds and negligent to noble deeds.
When Gilles de Rais, known for his massacres, tried to summon demons using parts of the dismembered body of a child he had killed, Beelzebub and Belial appeared to him.

HIERARCHY OF DEMONS

In matters of demonic hierarchy, there is the same confusion as in the classification options. Despite the fact that hell is often presented as a realm of chaos and disorder, mankind has been irresistibly drawn to attribute to it a harmonious hierarchical system.
In popular grimoires of the 16th and 17th centuries, such as "Grand Grimoire" and "Grimorium Verum", Lucifer (emperor), Beelzebub (prince) and Astaroth (great duke) are called the lords of Hell, who are subject to 6 high-ranking spirits and many smaller ones.
In other books, not three, but four supreme hierarchs of Darkness, corresponding to the four cardinal points, may be mentioned; to the three above, then Belial, then Leviathan, then Moloch are added.
P. Binsfeld, a demonologist of the 16th century, identified seven, in his opinion, the main demons corresponding to the seven deadly sins: he associates Lucifer with pride, Mammon with stinginess, Asmodeus commands lust, Satan - anger, Beelzebub corresponds with gluttony, Leviathan - with envy , Belphegor - with laziness.
In late Kabbalah, ten archdevils correspond to ten evil Sephiroth (dark forces), among them Satan, Beelzebub, Lucifer, Astaroth, Asmodeus, Belphegor, Baal, Adramelech, Lilith and Naamah.
Johann Wier, in De Praestigius Daemonum, tried to paint a complete picture of the Infernal Empire by assigning to each demon a corresponding rank or office. He has Beelzebub as the supreme ruler of Hell, among the highest princes - Euryn, Pluto, Moloch, etc.
The famous magical treatise "Lemegeton" (16th century) lists 72 dominant demons, subordinate to the four emperors of the cardinal points (Amaimon, Corson, Ziminar and Gaap). In accordance with the feudal system of that time, demons bear the titles of kings, dukes, counts, marquis and governors, but nothing is said about the subordination of the less significant to the more significant.
Agrippa in his Occult Philosophy also ascribes titles of nobility to spirits, but attaches greater importance to the "rank" or "order" of the spirit. "Let it be known," he writes, "that the spirit of the lower order, whatever dignity it may have, is always lower than the spirits of the higher order. It is not an inconvenience that kings and earls are subject to higher authorities and are no more important than their ministers" .

RESORT OF DEMONS

The demons needed somewhere to live, and Hell became a haven chosen for them by God. “Filled with inextinguishable fire, a house of pain and misfortune,” Milton said of him. Since then, Satan and his subordinates have done everything they could with their monastery: they have explored, overcoming torment, its vast expanses, and even built their own monuments-towers. It was very difficult to live in these dangerous areas, and even more difficult to get out of there. Since those who went to Hell very rarely returned, it was especially difficult to map it. To get even the slightest idea of ​​WHAT is where in Hell, we are forced to rely on the reports of saints and clairvoyants, poets and prophets. Over the centuries, the description of its territories has often changed.
In the New Testament, St. Matthew allows us to get “some idea of ​​this place by describing how Jesus on the Day of Judgment will separate the good from the wicked:
“And all nations will be gathered before him; and separate one from the other, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and he will put the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” ... Then he will also say to those on the left side: “Depart from Me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels ...” (Gospel of Matthew, ch. 25, cm. 32-34. 41) .
Fire has become an integral part of hell. Over the centuries, the landscape of hell has repeatedly changed - either swamps and swamps, then forests and glaciers, then lakes, then deserts filled it. But in any case, an all-consuming flame was present. In the "City of God", written in the 5th century, St. Augustine describes the fire of Hell in full detail:
“Hell, otherwise called a lake of fire and sulfur, is a real fire, it will burn and torture the bodies of the damned both people and devils, if they consist of flesh, or only their souls. For if people have both bodies and souls, then the incorporeal evil spirits will still be given over to fiery hell, to suffer forever in such a state. And the fate of all will be the same fire.
In the Middle Ages, the home of the damned was described by an Irish monk in a popular treatise known as The Vision of Tundal (1149). The handsome, slightly roguish knight Tundal at the dinner table falls into a state of stupor. The soul leaves the body, and it is instantly surrounded by a crowd of demons, uttering some kind of muttering. Tundal, numb with fear, manages to escape only thanks to the intervention of his guardian angel, who later showed what could happen if the knight did not correct his lifestyle. This prediction was terrifying. Tundal first saw a vast plain strewn with stinking coals, where great sinners were roasted on an iron grate. Then he saw fiery mountains and demons tormenting heretics and pagans with razor-sharp hooks. Further, the path of the sinner lay past Acheron - a monster with flaming eyes, which immediately devoured him. The angel seemed to think that this would teach Tundal a good lesson for the future. When he managed to get out of the womb of the beast, he had to go over a bridge two miles long and only a palm wide. Below, in the water, thousands of hungry creatures swarmed. When Tundal nevertheless managed to cross the bridge, a huge bird with an iron beak was waiting for him on the other side, which devours the knight again, and then defecates him into the frozen lake. After Thundal climbs out of the icy water and ascends the Plains of Fire, he is captured by a gang of evil demons who beat him with a hammer on an anvil along with other sinners. After the intervention of the guardian angel, Tundal falls into the bowels of Hell. And at the bottom of a huge dark pit, he meets the Devil himself... He was
“... blacker than a raven, outwardly similar to a man, but with a beak and a sharp tail and thousands of hands, each of which has twenty fingers, and the nails are longer than the spears of the knights, the legs had the same nails, in each of hands he held sinful souls. The Devil lay on iron bars, chained, and hot coals burned under him. There were many demons around him. And with each exhalation, he threw the souls of the unfortunate directly into the infernal flames, and with inhalation, he again grabbed and squeezed them.
Unable to drive away this vision, Tundal heads to purgatory and manages to make out a piece of the sky behind a high silver wall before waking up and being back in his earthly body. He immediately asks for Holy Communion for himself, distributes everything he has to the poor and unfortunate, and he himself goes to carry food about a terrible punishment.
And who would do otherwise?
The most complete, detailed and witty description of Hell is undoubtedly by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). In the prologue of The Divine Comedy, Dante describes how he got lost in a dark forest, and wild animals blocked his path and threatened his life. And the shadow of the poet Virgil appeared to him and said that the only way to salvation lies through Hell. Dante the pilgrim was forced to agree to this journey.
Hell is represented by Dante as a cone turned inside out, piercing the Earth with a dagger to its very center. Top part his is the widest. At this point, Lucifer and his angels hit the Earth like a colossal meteorite when they were cast down from heaven. Above the entrance to the underworld are the words: “Abandon hope, ye who enter here*. Dante felt a shiver run through his entire body, and Virgil took his hand reassuringly. They went downstairs. Immediately beyond the gates of Hell, a huge gloomy plain was spread, where the souls of those who did not have to truly live during their lifetime, who lived "neither blame nor praise" dwelt. And these souls endlessly rush along the gloomy plain, pursued by clouds of hornets. Dante and Virgil pass on and stop on the banks of the Acheron River, which flows around Hell. Charon, the carrier to Hell, ferries them to the other side.
When will they come out again. then they find themselves in the first circle of Hell, called the threshold of Hell. There are no gloomy pictures here yet. A stream flows through the pasture, next to which rises a seven-walled castle. In this place the souls of those who are pious, but not baptized, and among them great pagans, reside. Virgil himself spent a lot of time in this circle of hell. However, everything changed steadily for the worse "The second circle was intended for the lustful, who in pitch darkness were forever carried by the ferocious unceasing winds of lust. The third circle was on the sidelines and included gluttons lying on their faces on the ground and showered with hail and terrible rain. Cerberus - a three-headed dog - continuously barked and tore their bodies piece by piece.In the fourth circle, the stingy and squandering, they are divided into two groups and doomed to drag blocks from one camp to another.
Dante and Virgil hurried on and reached a seething dark stream. They went with the flow and saw a dismal river known as the Styx. But even Styx, so gloomy and muddy, - "Someone's house. Here - in the fifth circle - there are angry and gloomy, either tearing each other in anger, or whimpering below in black mud. Stepping with caution, Dante and Virgil walked for a long time through the swamp, and then across the moat-like Styx by boat and from the upper part of Hell to the lower levels.If they had known beforehand what they would have to face ...
Now they were in a place that Dante called the City of Dis (Dis - Satan). It was the capital of Hell, where fallen angels flocked to rest. Here - in the sixth circle - Dante found a wide plain dotted with burning graves. Eternal fire burned heretics.
In front of Dante and Virgil, another river stretched - Phlegeton, through which it was also necessary to cross. However, it was very wide, and instead of water, boiling blood flowed in it. In its whirlpools, Dante saw the souls of those who committed violence and murder, was a tyrant or an invader. The beach looked also gloomy. According to him, Dante and Virgil were to go to the dull Forest of Suicides. In it, the souls of those who killed themselves took root and grew, becoming dwarf trees with poisonous fruits. Behind the forest stretched the burning sands, in which the souls of those who had committed a crime against God or nature were tormented in eternal fire.
But it was not yet the center of Hell. In the eighth circle, known as Malebolge, there were deceivers and swindlers. This circle has the shape of a huge amphitheater and descends ten more levels, each of which torments its own class of sinners, Horned demons whip seducers into pimps with whips, hypocrites are forced to walk in very long robes, and fire is directed at their heels. Bribers and litigants who squandered public property for personal gain were dipped in boiling tar by especially playful demons known as Malebranque or "Terrible Claws". Below, at the very bottom of Malebolge, there is a crevice guarded by forty-legged giants, whom Dante called the Tartar Titans. Virgil ordered one of them. Antey. help them down - and he obeyed. Dante and his companion found themselves in the ninth and last circle of Hell - Cocytus - a frozen swampy river, where the Evil Traitor himself sat - Satan. He was huge, forever frozen chest-deep in ice. The huge wings, which he waved in vain, trying to free himself, brought nothing but a cold wind, which strengthened the ice even more. “If he was once as beautiful as he is now ugly,” writes Dante, “then he must be very sad.” Satan had three faces - black, red and yellow, with three mouths exuding bloody foam, and six weeping eyes. And, crying, he mercilessly chews the bodies of three traitors - Judas, Brutus and Cassius, whose terrible crimes were still less disgusting than his own. Lucifer betrayed the Greatest Lord of all the great ones, and for this he is doomed to suffer here, in darkness and cold, hidden as far as possible from sources of light and heat.
Dante and Virgil get out of Hell on the back of Lucifer, who is so distraught with grief that he did not notice them. They crawled out through a hole in the rock into the fresh air and saw the starry sky.
In Milton's Hell, which is named in the title of his book Paradise Lost (1667), the same four rivers flow - Styx, Acheron, Phlegeton and Cocytus. - But besides them, there is also the fifth - Lethe - the river of oblivion, which was supposed to surround all the possessions of Satan. According to Milton, Satan with a cohort of demons, swiftly thrown down from the Eternal Heavens, swept like a stone through the voids of Chaos and fell into the lake of fire. They are no longer angels of light and they will no longer live in happy heavenly halls. And what does their new abode look like?
“The dungeon is terrible, from all sides the fire Burns like in a furnace, But from that fire there is no light - but only darkness and darkness, In which only despondency and evil, sadness and pain are visible. Peace and quiet do not dare to enter there, Hope is also inaccessible to all who live there ... "
The most determined demons will make an attempt to explore this vast underworld, hoping to find some less terrible part of it, but will return empty-handed. Everywhere they found either icy deserts battered by hail and blown by the winds, or scorched, incinerated plains - the world of death, cursed by God, the personification of evil ... This was enough for any of the demons to forever abandon the search for a better one, but not Satan.
With the same pride that caused him to fall from the Eternal Heavens, Satan gathers materials from his terrible world and decides to start building! To match the new title of the monarch of the underworld, he planned to create a luxurious palace. Hell turned out to be rich in minerals, among which was gold. (Milton thought that this was not surprising, because it is Hell that deserves this "cursed metal.") Mammon, the demon of avarice and wealth, of course, first attacked the deposits of gold and mined it with his subordinates. And Mulciber, who once erected towers and walls in Heaven, now built new walls of a mighty sparkling palace in Hell - the abode of demons, the great capital of Satan and his officials. From now on, Hell has its own attraction. According to Milton, the palace had many gates and porches, and the common hall, intended for jousting, was as huge as a field. How was the palace decorated? The appropriate definition would be the word "magnificent." And when the demons gathered in it for their first council, then...
“High on the royal throne, surpassing in splendor the wealth of Ormuzd and Indus, as well as the pearls and gold of the rulers of the East, sat Satan, exalted for his merits to this evil majesty ...”
In the interpretation of the English artist John Martin, the Pandemonium Boardroom (literally: "All the Demon") was a huge winding amphitheater with upward tiers and a domed ceiling lit by countless burning candles. Vaguely reminiscent of buildings in the Byzantine style, the capital of Hell, this palace with massive walls and galleries, towers and bridges, could challenge in scope and splendor the very divine halls.

HOW OLD IS THE DEMON

Another topic of discussion for several centuries has been the question of the lifespan of demons. The ancient Greek poet Hesiod calculated the average life span of the Phoenix, a mythical bird of indescribable beauty that laid down its own funeral pyre and then was reborn from the ashes. The Phoenix, Hesiod claimed, lives ten times longer than a human, and demons live ten times longer than the Phoenix. Thus, the average life of a demon is 6,800 years.
Later, the famous Greek writer and biographer Plutarch slightly corrected this statement, considering that demons, like the people with whom they are compared, are subject to ailments and diseases. He increased the lifespan of the demons to 9,720 years.
Others believe that demons, like angels, are immortal and will exist until the end of the world. So the answer to this question is not yet clear.

She is on everyone's lips. Let's say demons. Realists, though they laugh, but still know what it is. And in the darkness of the night, when unnecessary thoughts climb into my head, willy-nilly, I will also think: maybe they really exist? Finding a list of the demons of hell with a photo, of course, will not work - and it will not prove anything, but still it is sometimes very useful to ask.

Demonology - the cultural heritage of the peoples of the world

Of course, this is all lyrics, and besides, everyone's personal business. But such stories and myths, legends passed down from generation to generation, scary tales are often similar in some interpretations. They all come down to one name - demonology. The myths of demonology are very ancient. Some of the names of demons that can be gleaned from it have turned into others - they have provided inspiration for the characters of literature, fine arts and theater.

Mysticism in general has always inspired creators. This is a huge layer in which the old can be shown in a new light as much as you like and surprise each time.

In addition, demonology in its usual sense can be considered a heritage of culture to the same extent as other myths.

Demonology, among other things, includes a list of hell demons. Names are usually arranged alphabetically or in a demonic hierarchy.

Christian demonology

Christianity presents demons as fallen angels. The first, and most important of them, of course, is Lucifer - a former angel, the most beautiful of them, who dared to imagine himself as God himself. Further, Christian demonology is divided into two branches: the first tells that Lucifer is responsible for the creation of other evil spirits, the second denies the Devil's ability to create, leaving this process only to God, which means that other demons are also fallen angels, only of a lower rank, those who bowed before Lucifer themselves.

In general, Lucifer is the most famous and most controversial image in demonology. The names of the Devil and Satan are also attributed to him, he is also the Ruler of Hell, although at the same time it is indicated that he is locked in his kingdom, and his servants inflame the heat in which he burns. In any case, if we consider the list of demons of Hell, whose names are arranged in a hierarchy, Lucifer will be in the first place.

Evil spirits or soulless beings?

An interesting dilemma about the presence of a soul in demons: according to Christian demonology, the name itself indisputably indicates that, of course, there is. Other sources differ somewhat on this issue.

So, for example, there is a theory that fallen angels are the highest rank of demons, the most important and most powerful of them. The rest are the souls of people who went to hell and turned into evil spirits. According to this theory, it turns out that demons still have a soul.

Another theory comes from the fact that a demon is a demon because he is soulless. Therefore, they have black eyes - nothing reflecting the mirror of the soul. The theory's explanation is that demons can't feel. As a result of all this, a person who has gone to hell for his sinfulness suffers there forever, and it is not possible for him to get out even in the form of a demon.

Demons of Hell: List of Names

As you can see, there are many questions about demonology. Almost all of them have mixed answers. Is there anything definite in this pseudoscience? Oddly enough, these are names. So, the demons of hell are famous, the list of names of which was compiled by demonologists: among them there are those that are known from literature even to those who are generally far from mysticism in their lives, there are those that are directly related to biblical events, and there are those , which can be very surprising with their extraordinary and at the same time detailed history. Below is a hierarchical list of demons in demonology.

1. Lucifer (Heb. לוציפר; lat. Lucifer) (light-bearing) - Ruler of Hell. After Lucifer was cast down from heaven, his appearance changed from beautiful angelic to ugly: red skin, horns and dark hair. Behind his shoulders are huge wings, and each finger is crowned with a pointed claw. The power of the devil is enormous, everything in Hell is subject to him, and everything in it worships him. Such characteristics as freedom (rebellion), pride and knowledge are associated with the image of Lucifer. After falling from heaven, he acquired the name of Satan. The sins of this demon are primarily attributed to an attempt to get God's throne, but also the fact that it was Lucifer who gave people knowledge. In Christian demonology, the Devil is also his name.
2. Kasikandriera is the wife of Lucifer. Ruler of Hell. Mentioned in a small number of sources.
3. Astaroth (lat. Astaroth; Heb. עשתרות) - the first in Hell after the Devil. He is one of those fallen angels who followed Lucifer and therefore were cast down from heaven with him. Possesses extraordinary strength. Very talented, smart and charming. He is handsome, and it is not difficult for him to arouse love for himself with the help of his charm. However, there is as much beauty in it as cruelty. Astaroth more often than other demons is depicted in human form. In the grimoires, on the contrary, he is ugly, but no source detracts from his power. The popularization of the image of this demon is reduced to its use in literature and other art. The famous Woland, for example, is in many ways similar to Astaroth. The characteristics of the right hand of Satan himself include the ability to make a person invisible, to give power over snakes, and also to answer any question.
4. Astarte (Hebrew עשתורת) is the wife of Astaroth. In some sources, the images of the demonic husband and wife merge into one fallen angel under the name Astarte. The Hebrew spellings of both names are identical. The ancient Phoenicians called war and motherhood.
5. Velzevul (IVR. בעל זבוב, Beelzebub) - The Lord of the Flies, the Demon of Power, commands the legions of hell. Beelzebub's name is also not unknown: it is sometimes also referred to as another name for the Devil. This demon is extremely powerful and is considered the co-ruler of Lucifer. Beelzebub is sometimes identified with the sin of gluttony, confusing it with another demon - Behemoth. Perhaps this is because the forms taken by the Lord of the Flies are diverse: from a three-headed demon to a huge white fly. This nickname, in turn, has two possible stories: it is believed that Beelzebub sent a plague to Canaan with flies, and the reason may be that flies are associated with dead flesh.
6. Bufovirt is the wife of Beelzebub.
7. Lilith (Hebrew לילית‏‎‎‎, Lat. Lamia) is the first wife of Adam. Legends about her are different: she is also called the first woman before Eve, who was created after Lilith, according to her appearance, but with a submissive disposition. According to this theory, Lilith was created from fire and therefore was freedom-loving, obstinate. Another legend calls the first demoness a snake, who was also in alliance with Adam and, being jealous of him for Eve, seduced her with the Forbidden Fruit. Lilith was called the Spirit of the night, and she could appear either in the form of an angel or a demon. In some sources, this demoness is the wife of Satan, she is respected and honored by many demons. Lilith would start the list of female names.
8. Abbadon (Hebrew אבאדון; lat. Abaddon) (death) is another name for Apollyon. Lord of the Abyss. Demon of death and destruction. His name is also sometimes used as another name for the Devil. A fallen angel that destroys everything around him.

The main demons are listed, occupying the highest positions in Hell and often taking on a human form. Most of them are fallen angels. These are very powerful demons. The list of names in Latin is duplicated by Russian and Hebrew (in Hebrew) names.

Demon Creatures

In addition to the fallen angels, there are also demons of animal form. The main ones are Behemoth and Leviathan - huge monsters created by God. According to legend, in the end they must fight in a fight and kill each other.

1. Behemoth (lat. Behemoth; Heb. בהמות‏‎‎) is a demon of animal form, able to take the form of all large animals, as well as a fox, wolf, dog, cat. In Jewish traditions, the Behemoth is magnified. It symbolizes carnal sins - gluttony and gluttony. In addition to them, this demon causes in people their worst features, inclines them to animal behavior and appearance. The hippopotamus is very cruel and incredibly strong - his very appearance reflects this fact, but he can also influence a person indirectly, not by direct violence - awakening in him a passion for sinfulness. In Hell he is the Watchman in the Night. The image of the demon was used in literature: the most famous example This is Bulgakov's cat Begemot. Woland's favorite jester from The Master and Margarita contains more characteristics from the author than from legends, and nevertheless bears his name. Bulgakov's cat also has the property of a werewolf.
2. Leviathan (Hebrew לִוְיָתָן) is a huge monster about which there are many legends. In some sources, Leviathan is a demon, one of the angels, cast down from heaven along with Lucifer. In others, Leviathan is called the same biblical tempting serpent, he is accused of being the one who gave Eve the idea to taste the forbidden fruit. Still others argue that Leviathan is not an angel or a demon, but a completely different creature, a monstrous creation of God, created earlier than all life on Earth and in Heaven. All these sources agree on one thing, calling the monster a huge snake. This makes it possible to question the first theory about the fallen angel. A multi-headed snake whose name translates as "wriggling beast" is mentioned in the Old Testament. It is assumed that God's creation was such in the name of the personification of all the forces of evil, and that the Creator himself destroyed Leviathan in prehistoric times. However, there is another tradition, already mentioned above: about Leviathan and Behemoth, whose fight and death is yet to come.

Behemoth and Leviathan are creatures that are more often called monsters than demons, and which are proof of the incomprehensibility of God's creations.

Seven deadly sins

A little earlier, the main demons were presented: a list of names and a description. For some of them, associations with mortal sins were indicated. However, there is a more detailed classification of this phenomenon:

• Lucifer - Pride (lat. Superbia). Proud of himself, Lucifer tried to take the place of God, for which he was expelled from Heaven.
• Beelzebub - Gluttony (lat. Gula).
• Leviathan - Envy (lat. Invidia). An interesting parallel with the serpentine appearance of Leviathan and the green color of Envy.
• Asmodeus - Lust (lat. Luxuria). The Latin name for this sin is similar to English word luxury - luxury.
• Mammon - Greed (lat. Avaritia).
• Belphegor - Laziness (lat. Acedia).
• Satan - Anger (lat. Ira).

The division is of great interest: it turns out that Lucifer and Satan are not the same thing. Why is that?

Devil, Satan, Lucifer - different names for the same evil?

Are they different demons of hell? The list, like the Russians, does not fully answer this question, although it does give a little background. Let's dive into it.

The devil in translation into Latin sounds like Satan and means "enemy", Satan is Diaboli, whose meaning is "slanderer", therefore, the Devil and Satan are synonymous with respect to each other. The devil's image is the opposite of God's. It is assumed that Satan is the creator and master of the forces of evil, which contradicts the point of view that the Lord created everything in the world. Therefore, another legend arises - about the Devil as about Lucifer.

Tradition has already been described here - the expulsion of a beautiful angel and the reason for his fall from heaven. The translation of the name Lucifer comes from the Latin roots lux - "light" and fero - "carry". After being imprisoned in Hell, he took on a different name. And Satan appeared to the world.

In Hebrew, Satan is translated as Zabulus, from which the opinion began that Beelzebub (Beelzebub) can be interpreted as Baal - the devil, and this is another name for the Lord of Hell. But this is the most unpopular theory - as there are many legends about the Lord of the Flies as an independent character. At the same time, in the Jewish environment, this demon has greater power than in traditional demonology.

What about Lucifer and the Devil? Despite the fact that there is an exact causal relationship and an explanation of two (or even three) names at once, there is still a different interpretation, where these are different demons, and they are assigned different properties.

Samael - the riddle of demonology

In addition to the previous question, it is worth mentioning Samael. When the demons, list and description were presented, he did not enter it. It has not yet been decided exactly whether Samael is an angel or a demon.

By the usual definition, Samael is described as the angel of death. In fact, these creatures do not belong to either good or evil, just as death itself does not belong to these concepts. This is a natural process, and therefore shinigami, as the Japanese call them, just make sure that everything goes on as usual. But Samael is not such an unambiguous person, otherwise he would not raise questions.

The name Samael is often confused with the main Archangel of God. Or they are called among the seven archangels. They also say that Samael is the Demiurge, that is, the creator of all living things, which means God.

Interestingly, along with this, he is often ranked among the demons of Hell - moreover, according to some statements, Samael is the true name of the Devil, angelic, before the fall from heaven. True, in this situation it is not clear what Lucifer is.

The legend of the snake-tempter of Eve also got to the riddle of demonology - there are sources that this was Samael.

The most popular description has already been given: Samael is the angel of death, with only one clarification: the same angel of death that came for Moses.

Antichrist

It is a mistake to confuse with the Devil and the Antichrist. The key to unraveling this person lies in his name: Antichrist is the enemy of Christ, his antipode. He, in turn, as you know, was the son of God, not his prototype. The name of the Antichrist is sometimes called anyone who does not confess Jesus Christ, but in reality this is not entirely true. "Anti" means "against" . The Antichrist must be exactly the enemy of Jesus, go against him, be equal to him in strength.

Incubus and succubus

Speaking of demons, it is worth mentioning the smaller servants, who nevertheless became quite famous in the human ranks. These, of course, are demons-tempters of carnal pleasures, lust and passion.

The female demonic hypostasis of debauchery is a succubus (otherwise a succubus), contrary to the ideas of a beautiful devil, an ugly monster. The lower demon, which appears in dreams of a known content with a much more attractive appearance, devours the vitality of a person, devastating him. Succubi, of course, specialize in men.

An equally unpleasant essence and male hypostasis is an incubus, whose goal is women. He acts in the same way as his "colleague". Succubi and incubi prey on sinners, their attack zone is the mind and subconscious.

Finally

The article lists only the most famous and influential demons. The list, in which images illustrate evil spirits, can be supplemented with such names:

• Alastor is a demon herald.
• Azazel is a standard-bearing demon whose name is known to Bulgakov's admirers.
• Asmodeus is the demon of divorce.
• Barbas is the demon of dreams.
• Belizar is a demon of lies.
• Mammon is the demon of wealth.
• Marbas is the demon of disease.
• Mephistopheles is a famous demon who served Faust for 24 years.
• Olivier is a demon of cruelty.

If you go into the details of each mythology and religion, then the list may contain more than a thousand names and is not limited to this. As can be seen from the article, some names ask more questions than they give answers: different faiths interpret them differently, sometimes it is even difficult to understand whether it is an angel or a demon, on whose side he is. There are many ambiguities with the description of the Prince of Darkness himself, his name, his possessions, his abilities.

There are legends according to which even the demons themselves are not evil spirits, but intermediate states between people and gods, neither good nor evil. Demonology holds many secrets. Do we want to reveal them?

This article provides a description of the most insidious and bloodthirsty demons of hell (Asmodeus, Vaal, Yarama, Kali ma, Itzpapalotl, Kelpi, Skadi, Shri Lakshmi, Zotz, Hel, Xipe-Totek, elementals, Belial, etc.), according to the legends and beliefs described in Slavic, ancient Indian, Scandinavian, Aztec mythology.

Demon ASMODAEUS

This demon, according to the Old Testament tradition, was cast into the underworld along with Lucifer, who became the lord of darkness.

His responsibilities include overseeing all gambling in Hell. He is also the main distributor of depravity and vulgarity. Asmodeus was considered a demon of lust and was responsible for inciting turmoil and conflict in families.

Perhaps the reason for this was that Asmodeus himself grew up in a dysfunctional family.

According to ancient Jewish legend, he was born by a mortal woman named Naama, and the father was one of the fallen angels (presumably Adam before the appearance of Eve). In ancient manuscripts on magic, the Testament of Solomon, Asmodeus is described as "fierce and screaming." Every day, Asmodeus did everything he could to prevent husbands and wives from intercourse, while at the same time spurring their hidden animal instincts, thus inciting adultery and other sins.

Before mortals, Asmodeus appeared astride a dragon with a sword in his hands. And he had three heads: one was a bull, the other was a ram, and the third was a human. The legs of the demon Asmodeus, according to one version, were cock-like.

KALI MA

Kali ma is the Indian goddess of destruction and plague, bringing grief and sowing death. In one hand she has the head of Raktevira, the king of demons. Kalima entered into a mortal battle with him, won and drank all his blood. One of the most common depictions shows her squatting by the body of a dead Shiva, consuming his sexual organ with her reproductive organ while she devours his intestines with her mouth.

This scene should be taken not literally, but metaphorically. It is believed that the goddess takes the seed of Shiva into her womb in order to conceive him again in her eternal womb. In the same way, she devours and destroys all life around her in order to recreate it all anew.

Kali ma has black skin and an ugly, ugly face with bloody fangs. She has a third eye on her forehead. Kali ma has four hands with long claws on thin fingers. The body of Kalima is adorned with garlands of babies, snakes, the heads of her sons, and the belt is made from the hands of demons. On her neck is a necklace of human skulls, on which Sanskrit letters are engraved, which in India are considered sacred mantras, with the help of which Kalima created, combining various natural elements.

Goddess SKADI

Skadi is a gloomy and very cruel goddess of the snowy and cold North.
Scandinavia, by the way, was once called Skadin-auya, which means “Land of Skadi”.
In Norse myths, Skadi appears as the beautiful daughter of the giant Tjazzi. After the murder of her father by Thor (one of the main gods in Scandinavian mythology), Skadi came to the gates of Asgard and challenged the gods. Trying to pacify her righteous anger, the god Loki (the son of the god Thor) took the goat and went outside the gate to greet her and make a sacrifice to her.

ASGARD is a mythological city in which, according to Scandinavian mythology, all the gods live. Asgard is a kind of analogue of the ancient Greek Olympus.

However, the victim, according to the legend, was by no means a goat. Loki tied one end of the rope to a goat, and the other to his genitals. The goat pulled the rope one way and Loki the other until his genitals were torn out of his body. Bleeding, Loki fell at the feet of the cruel goddess Skadi. She considered it punishment enough for her father's death.

With the help of magic, Loki regained his lost genitals and continued to pursue other female goddesses.

Demon HEL

Another demon - a representative of Scandinavian mythology - is the goddess Hel, known in ancient German mythology under the name of Holda or Bertha.

Hel was the patroness of various reservoirs (except the sea, which had its own patron god), the goddess of the hearth, spinning and growing flax.

According to ancient legend, Hel traveled across the sky with Odin on his wild hunt, which, apparently, was associated with the Valkyries. Hel was the mistress of the dead and the queen of the underworld, called Niflhelm in Scandinavian-Germanic myths. It was considered the world of the elements - freezing cold and volcanic fire. The first part was inhabited by the righteous and the gods, and the souls of sinners burned in the volcanic fire. Hel received this kingdom as a gift from Odin.

Hel was born from Loki and the female giant Angrboda. The sight of the goddess was terrible, because one half of her body was healthy, and the other was sick, with traces of decay.

In the struggle of the gods and chthonic monsters, Hel took the side of the first, accepting into her kingdom all the dead, except for those who died in battle.

SHRI LAKSMI

Sri Lakshmi is one of the central characters in ancient Indian mythology. This goddess, beloved of the god Vishnu, was usually depicted with a lotus in her hands or sitting on a lotus with a casket and money falling from her palm.

Legends say that she appeared from the foam of the milky ocean, i.e., just like the Greek Aphrodite, she came out of the foam of the sea.

Lakshmi accompanies Vishnu in each of his reincarnations, always being reborn with him. She accompanied Vishnu in his most important rebirth: when he became Rama, Lakshmi became Sita. When he became Krishna, she became a cowherd girl named Radha.

Since Lakshmi is considered the goddess of luck, the Indians believe that she has a rather capricious, absurd character, because luck usually leaves a person quite suddenly.

YARA-MA

The name yara-ma refers to a whole group of demonic beings. These are the demons that inhabit the forests of Australia.

Yara-ma is a small creature with bare red or green skin and suction cups on its arms and legs.

Yara-ma hides on the branches of trees, waiting for prey. When the victim approaches, he jumps on it, digs into the body and sucks out the blood.

The yara-ma has such a large mouth that it can easily swallow a whole person. In some cases, if Yarama-ma falls asleep immediately after eating, his victims manage to escape and escape.

ITSPAPALOTL

Itzpapalotl is a terrible demon from Aztec mythology, which is a cross between a woman and a butterfly. He is depicted in a very unusual way even for mythological demons: stone knives are attached to the ends of his wings, and instead of a tongue, there is also a knife.

Itzpapalotl also has a special magical cloak, with which he can easily turn into a completely harmless butterfly.

KELPI

The kelpie is a creature from Scottish mythology. This demon appears in the form of a horse.

There is a well-known belief that a person who met Kelpie on the bank of the river and swam across it to the other side would never be able to return.

The kelpie always drowns its prey before consuming it.

ZOTZ

Zotz is a South American ferocious demon from Mayan mythology. Zotz is a malevolent, dog-headed, winged entity. This demon lives in hell and drinks the blood of anyone in its territory that catches his eye.

XIPE-TOTEK

Xipe-Totec is an evil Mexican demon that is a character in the mythology of the Mayan people of the era of pre-Christian Central America. In the views of the Maya, this demon could bring terrible disasters and suffering to people, destroy cities and send deadly epidemics. Therefore, it was necessary to constantly appease him so as not to disturb the evil spirit.

In the Aztec and Mayan tradition, human sacrifice was a common practice. Xipe-Totec also demanded human blood, while sacrifices had to be made at intervals of several months. This story resonates with similar stories from other nations. Suffice it to recall the tribute that the Athenians had to pay to the Knossos king Minos, annually sending young men and women to his palace as a sacrifice to the Minotaur, who lived in the labyrinths of the palace. In Slavic mythology, such a plot is associated with the sacrifice of girls to the Serpent Gorynych.

Mythology researchers suggest that such a plot similarity originates in the prehistoric tradition of human sacrifices of that period of the existence of civilization, when there was no division of people into races, but there was a single community of people who spoke the same language (which, by the way, is reflected in the legend of the Tower of Babel) .

After its disintegration into independent ethno-national and cultural-original units, the plot spread throughout the world along with the people who settled and was filled with special details, different in each case.

BRIMBSTON DEMONS

Brimbston demons look like very old and decrepit people and are neither alive nor dead. Their bodies look withered and twisted, in some places holes are visible that appeared from smoldering and decomposition of the flesh. The faces of the demons are also terrible - a naked terrible skull with a grin of long blackened teeth, dirty yellow eyes with thin streams of blood oozing from them. These creatures feed exclusively on human flesh and fresh blood.

ELEMENTALS

Elementals are usually called entities that inhabit the four elements - Earth, Water, Fire and Air. They can be attributed to the spirits of wildlife, which are in the service of sorcerers, magicians and other evil spirits, and the souls of dead people reincarnated by the devil can use the help of elementals.

In ancient and modern legends, elementals are commonly referred to as "peers, devas, genies, sylvans, satyrs, fauns, elves, dwarves, trolls, norns, nisses, kobolds, browns, nicks, stromcarls, undines, mermaids, salamanders, goblins, ponks. , banshees, kelpies, pixies, flywheels" and many others.

ANCIENT MEXICAN BELIEFS tell that there were abodes for demons and spirits, which were divided into certain categories. In the initial monastery, the spirits of innocent children lived, waiting for further distribution, in the next monastery there were the souls of the righteous and heroes, and the souls of sinners lived in dark terrible caves. And it was they who were active in real life, contacting living people who were able to see them.

ASGAROT

According to the legends, Asgaroth, like Asmodeus, flew on a dragon, but, unlike Asmodeus, he had only one human head, which is usually depicted as very ugly, and he holds a viper in his left hand.

This demon was considered the ruler of the western regions of hell, and in addition, the keeper of the infernal treasury. Asgaroth incited people to idle pastime, awakening laziness in them. In his free time, he played the role of an adviser or mentor to the rest of the fallen angels.

HIPPOPOTAMUS

Behemoth is a huge demon, as his very name already speaks of. He is depicted as an elephant with a huge round belly, hobbling on two legs. He "supervised" all the gluttons and ruled the feasts in hell. Due to the fact that, on duty, he had to stay awake most of the night, in addition, he was also considered a watchman. The hippopotamus is also known for its singing.

BAAL

Baals were the minor deities of ancient Syria and Persia. However, the powerful Baal was considered the god of fertility and Agriculture. According to ancient legends, Baal was the son of El, the supreme deity of the ancient city of Canaan and the ruler of all life on earth. Baal commanded the cycle of death and rebirth.

The population of Canaan worshiped Baal and regularly sacrificed children to him, throwing them into the fire. The demon Baal was depicted as three-headed: in the middle he had a human head, and on the sides - a cat's and a toad's. Baal could give wisdom and insight.

VELIAL

Belial was considered one of the most venerable demons of Satan. Even before Satan became the leader of the dark forces of the underworld in the New Testament, Belial already occupied a fairly high position. In the Dead Sea manuscript “The War of the Sons of Light with the Sons of Darkness,” Belial appears as the sovereign ruler of the underworld: “For the sake of debauchery, you were born, Belial is an angel of enmity. You and your abode are darkness, and your goals are to sow evil and pain around you.