Do you know which demons are literature’s favorites? Can you distinguish Satan, Asmodeus, and Lucifer? Those evil spirits seem to be the most popular in the Western culture, yet their origins appear to have eroded by time. But before using the generic term “devil” for the lord of the shadows, you should know the following.
The figure we understand as Satan was popularized by Dante’s The Divine Comedy. He has three faces and six pairs of wings that bring forth an eternal winter when they flap. Each jaw chews the torn bodies of Judas Iscariot, as well Julius Caesar’s assassins, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Yet Alighieri describes the dark figure as not having much influence in the shadows. In fact, it would appear that he too is a prisoner of hell much like the other mythological monsters that inhabit this wasteland.
Asmodeus is a childlike demon that has made appearances in legends throughout history, taking different shapes and functions. Some say he was the protector of sensuality and carnal pleasures, inciting people to lose all ethics and morality. Others believe he only devotes himself to place obstacles in married life by favoring adultery. His last controversial appearance came when Oscar Wilde declared he was one of the friends who gave him the gift of irony.
Lucifer is an angel who wanted to impose a throne that presided over God’s. Such slander cost him to be banished from Heaven. From then on, he is known as the fallen angel or Prince of Darkness. Unlike Satan, this demon is the most cited and reproduced in hundreds of occultist, esoteric, and witchcraft related volumes. The most famous image of this being can be found in Eliphas Levi’s forbidden book, Dogma of High Magic. Despite what most think, the symbols of Lucifer do not suggest a malicious creature, but lean towards wisdom and intelligence.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, it’s time to look at the lesser-known demons.
Is Dahut
This female-shaped demon became part of history as the most insatiable woman there ever was. Legend claims that her sexual appetite was such that she drove all the nobles and warriors of King Gradlon’s court to die from exhaustion. She was a medieval noble woman until one day she met a knight dressed in red. He asked her to take a walk with him, and once they were outside the city, the man showed his true identity: Satan. Any other person would have fled, but she remained at his side so that he would show her the hidden passions that existed in hell.
Muroï
They say that this demon is only able to possess the dead body of an evil person. In Hebrew myths, he is summoned by a rabbi who seeks to destroy order within society. When he was born in the Middle Ages, every image of the Virgin Mary close to his crib spilled tears of blood. He is one of the predecessors of vampires.
Abezethibou
This spirit studied the hearts of humans in order to destroy them from the inside out. The heads of hell tasked him with inserting himself in the courts of Egyptian pharaohs to lead them to evil. It was because of him that the people of Israel were persecuted as they left Egypt, guided by Moses. He was imprisoned in the Red Sea after the parting of the water, but will return when he is ready to settle the score with the heirs of his greatest enemy.
Abrahel
This demon enjoys seducing men of dubious asceticism, particularly the poor and uneducated. This is why it takes the shape of a beautiful woman to get their attention. Once they are under her charms, she can bend them to her will and even make then commit true acts of madness in order to fulfill her fancy. Because of this she was given the name of Queen of the succubus, female demons of the Middle Ages.
Belial
This demon was a resident of Sodom prior to its destruction. Some describe him as a being in love with vice, pleasure, and libido. At the time he was named patron of homosexual men. Due to the city’s choice to sin against nature, it was condemned to fire and brimstone.
Alouqua
An ancient Hebrew myth says that she was the mother of a terrible breed of female vampires. Her prideful sexual ability was such that her lovers were not able to last more than one night with her without losing their minds. She is also believed to be Lilith’s first daughter after being banished. It was her mother who taught her the subtle art of driving men to madness.
Baal
This demon gained popularity during the Inquisition, for he granted his followers the gift of numbness. It was this that made him an enemy of the exorcists. His most powerful weapons are discretion and caution, which gave him a way to possess men of little faith to torture their minds.
Behemoth
Hebrew myths describe him as an immense and insatiable ox that devours the fodder equivalent to a forest per day. Cursed books agree in their affirmation that the demon is perpetually obese, with rustic features and rough manners, with a seemingly undeveloped intelligence until he attacks. He first appeared in the Book of Job.
Barbatos
There are several grimoires and forbidden books from the Middle Ages that feature Barbatos seducing women during the summer. He transforms into a good-looking young man, or a masculine epitome of virility, depending on the fantasy of his victims. He is physically one of the most attractive demons from hell, which makes his job much easier.
Demons are an essential part of mythology. Their names may change depending on the culture, yet they all are part of a supreme being that embodies evil and hate. Their stories might be chaotic, but these evil spirits need to exist to bring balance to the universe, because for there to be a loving god there must also be dark beings.
Translated by María Suárez