Demons, A Cultural History:

Researchers must be careful to consider the context of demonological works. Unlike modern historians or forklorists, who are concerned with the reliability of sources and the verifiably of findings, medieval and  early modern writers on the infernal hierarchy are often quick to accept tradition as truth, to give credence to stories told by freinds-of-freinds, and to let their own bias into their writings. Indeed, many demonological works are polemic, that is the information they provide about demons merely serves as ammunition in a larger argument. Much late antique (200-500 AD) Christain thinking on demons is a reaction against the polythstic traditions of the Roman and Germanic worlds, the gods or guardian - spirits of non - Christian cultures were quickly re-labeled  and re-packaged as demons by Christian intellectuals amd missionaries. During the period of the Protestant reformation, the struggle between Catholic orthodoxy and the newer sects animated demonological  discussions. Protestant writers claimed that Catholic traditions were demon-worship in disguise, or taking a slightly different approach, decried the Catholic  fear of deomons as unreasonable superstition. For those who beleive in the  possibility of supernatural beings, The earlier writings of demonologists might very well provide useful evidence, but only when approached critically. One must always realized that a demonological work is more likely to give information about the cultural and intellectual environment of it's time than to offer thr truth about extra - natural entities.

Some would also argue  that our concept of demon is uniquely western and uniquely informed by the Christian thought of the middle ages. Although we can point to dark or evil gods in pagan pantheons, we often do them an injustice when we squeeze them into the "war in heavens" mythology  that has developed in the Christian church. Loki is ot simply the "Satan" of the Norse pantheon, his role is far more ambiguous after all, in many stories he's Thor's drinking buddy.

Daina Lynn Walizel has argued that the medieval conception of demons comes from four sorces, greco-roman mythology, heberw traditions, celtic and germanic mythology, and early Christian cosmology This  medieval conception is largely consistent with the writings of later demonologist such as Johannes Nider, John Weyer and Martain Del Rio, and is still with us today in popular culture, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Dungeons and Dragons to heavy-mental record covers and horror novels.

So, what were these traditions and what did each of them contribute to ideas of demons? The following Walzel's argument. One of the most influential classical writers on demonology is Apuleius, who is most famous for his novel The metamorphoses, more popularly known as The Golden Ass for it's main character, an unfortunate rogue who is transformed into a donkey. Apuleius became an invaluable  source for later generations because Saint Augustaine included excerpts from and discussions of his writings in his city of gods.

For Apuleius, demons were neutral messenagers between the gods and human kind. The greek word daemon, in fact means a messenger. Like humans, demons had souls, unlike humans, they were bodiless. Many of the names later applied to demons come from Hedrew mythology. In the late antique period, a Jewish folklore of demons began to develop. As E.M. Butler discusses, the jewish testament of soloman. Wrtten sometime btween 100 and 400 AD., tells of Solomon summoning demons to build the temple at jerusalem. The tale contains a list of  demons including Asmodeus and Ornias. Butler points out that even this text, one of the oldest remaining to us, already contains signs of cultural mixing and overlapping, the names of Menopotamian deities and spirits pop up along with Hebrew names. The later books of Solomonic magic that appear during the middle ages and renaissance come from this folkloric tradition, or at least purport to. The early Christain contribution took the neutral spirits of the greeks and the lively suspects of jewish mythology and place them in to the cusmic  context of a war between good and evil. As Walzel points out, christain explained demons as the fallen angles from the bible and saw them as their enemies. As a way of distancing them selfs from their non-believing counterparts, early christians quickly identified the gods od rome as demons. This doctrine solidified in Augustine's City of God, when christianity had become more accepted and  widespread. Augustine  clearly identified the gods of rome as demons who had deceived men into worshipping them, and he carefully refuted Apuleis's claim that demons were natural.

Walzel is less clear about the contribution of celtic or germenic mythology to medieval demon-lore. One might imagine that as christianity spread through out northern europe, the rich and imaginative depictions of  monsters and fairies of non-roman culture shaped people's idea of what a demon might look like. A good example of this unstable mix of german-tribal-monster and christain demon is Bewolf's Grendel, a giant worthy of myth in a poem is called a desecendant of cain.

These traditions mixed to create the medieval conception od demons that was futher elaborated in theolrated and legal texts, and described in the magical grimoires circulated in the period.

Butler,Elizabeth M. Ritual Magic - Reprint. University Park, Penn State UP, 1998.

Kors, Alan Charles and eward Peters. withcraft in Europe, 400-1700, A Documentary History. 2nd edition. Philadelphia, Penn UP, 2001.

Walzel, Diana Lynn. Sources of Medieval Demonology, repr. in witchcraft  in the  Ancient World and the Middle Ages ed. Brian P. Levack. New York, Garland, 1992.

A Demon was originally a greek term which meant a wise, guardian spirit. In present day spiritualism and parapsychology, the word connotes an enitity which appears to have a mealickous and resentful nature, and  is of a non-human origin, differentiated from a spirit which proceeded from a once-living person.

What characteristics do these evince?

1. They seem intersted in, often resentful perhaps envious, of the living human beings.

2. Although they have been known to inflict minor injuries on people, such as scrateches,welts even what appear to be marks, primarily they assault the human mind though oppressive anxiety and fear.

3. They sometimes make their presence known through our senses, such as explicable foul orders and low gutteral growling, examples of which have been recorded during any investigations by paranormal reseach groups.

Demons may exist as a quasi life form, inteligent though not reasoning as do human beings existing outside the boundaries of our experience of linear time.

An exorcism or spiritual cleansing may provide a remedy, either temporaray or hopefully permanent against demonic infestation by making environment hostile for the entity or entities.

Here is a topic for speculation, Obvisiously, not much is known for cetain regarding these entities called demons other then their presence is quite inconvenient. Consider, could a spirit become demonic, or be assimilated by the demonic entities? Are they always of non-human origion?

Who's Who In The Underworld.

The existance of evil and it's demonic deliverers has been pondered since the being of time. There are many views on the subject, as well as many people who have dedicated their lives to demonology. Some will be mentioned in this essay. Their work through the centuries has agreed unpon, argued over and the validity, at times, by some, completely ignored. I supect that this is due to the controversial nature of the subject. varying religions and cultural backgrounds certainly have affected the information passed down to us by the brilliant researchers, philosophers, and historians of centuries past. Howerver, there are too many similiarties to ignore. In the light of this in some instances, the information may be in conflict with information found through resources then those I have utilized here.

Alphonsus de Spina, in 1467, published his Fortalicium Fidei (fortress of the faith). He became a professor at the University of Salamanca and later a bishop of the church. He was condsidered an authority on all things theological, including demonology. He concluded that there are ten orders of demons and that they totalled in the millions. He categorized the demonology. He categorized ten specific types. He also divided them in to classes according to what their purposses are following the list of the demonic names and ranks are the explanations of the types and orders as de spina recorded them.

Johnnes Weyer (Weir), another authority in demonic studies, wrote his De Proestigiis Doemonun in the 16th century. He study the works of such authorities as Diodorus Siculus of the 1st century, the philosopher Apaleius of the 2nd century and many other notable historians. It is noted that Weyer said that the infernal regions had 66 princes that commanded 6,666 legions and each legion being comprised of 6,666 demons or devils. The figures here bring to mind the well recognized "number of the beast",666. Some Cabalists believe that this is 600 (false) 66 (greed) and 6 (this world). Weyer felt that the names of the demons explained what their intentions and or duties were to be. Many demonics in Hebrew tradition were named  after places (Astaroth) or qualities (Remmen, meaning loftiness).

Alphonsus de Spina's Nine Types Of Demons.

1. False Gods

2. Lying Spirits

3. Inquisitors

4. Vengeful

5. Deluding

6. Creators Of Tempests

7. Furies

8. Accusers

9. Tempters

De Spina's Division Of Classes.

1. Fates

2. Poltergeists

3. Incubi And Succubi

4. Armies

5. Familiar Spirits

6. Nightmares

7. Those Produced By Intercourse With humans

8. Those In Disguise

9. Those Who Assail Saints

10. Those Who Persuade

Ten Orders Of the Deminic.

1. Seraphim

2. Angels

3. Principalities

4. Virtues

5. Thrones

6. Cherubim

7. Domination

8. Powers

9. Potentates

10. Archangels

There is a supposed pattern to their specific lull and peak in activity, our own yearly calendar. Here is a list of Chief entities that are most active during the corresponding months.

1. January - Belial

2. February - Leviathan

3. March - Satan

4. April - Astarte

5. May - Lucifer

6. June - Baalberith

7. July - Beelzebub

8. August - Astaroth

9. September - Thamuz

10. October Baal

11. November - (Unknown)

12. December - Moloch

The "Lesser key of Solomon" or the "lemegeton", plays an important role in history, study of summoning of and exorcising of demonics. The first part of the book, Goetia gives the conjurations for 72 different spirits or demons. It also includes the ranks and offices of the demonic heirarchy.

The second part of the book, Theurgia Goetia, deals with the spirits at the cardinal part the third part is called "Paul Art" (reason unknown), it concerns the spirits of the hours of the days and nights of the Zodiac. The fourth pat, the Almadel, deals with the Quarternary of the Attitude", or the four other choirs of spirits inhabiting hell. The last part of the key of Solomans is the Book of orations and Prayers, said to have been used by King Solomon himself. Latin American, Rita Cabezas. The criticism was not in her findings, yet in her means of getting the information. She spent some time communicating with those residing in the Infernal regions her work was built, according to her, on the word of the demonic themselves. This may been through conjuration, summomings, channeling or even seance type activitities. As we all awear this was an extremely risky approach. Her findings were that there were that there were following six principalities (in spanish), Damian, Asmodeo, Menquelesh, Arios, Beelzebub and Nosferateus under each of these were six govenors for each nation. She claimed that in costa rica for example, are Shiebo,Quiebo, Ameno, Mephistopheles, Nostrodamus and Azazel. The united states, in her findings, was territory to Ralphes, Anoritho, mancherter, Apolion, Devil took alasi one unnamed. The word from the mouths of demonic beings could be considered incredulous to say the least. Please note some of the similiarities in her findings, Apolion, in her findings seems surely to be Apollyon from the research done by the great demonologist mentioned previously also, Asmodeo is clearly the same entity as Asmodeus. Another similiar entity to Ralphes other than Raphael, the very one that did banish Asmodeus to the desert. Mephistopheles, Azazel and Beelzebub are mentioned in a multitude of other literary pieces on the subject, back centuries.

There are a number of others names that have been documented as that od demons, some may be cultural or regional names given to already listed entities. How ever the following is included to avoid any erroeous omittances.

1. Agliarept

2. Lucifuge Rofocale

3. Sargatanas

4. Tarchimache

5. Fleurety

6. Pu Satanchia

There are some noted as being demonics that also have a very high reverence as being bengn and even maternal/paternal figures, in pagan cultures from past and present. They are as follows.

1. Hecate

2. Kali

3. Pan

4. Loki

5. Lilith 

6. Baphomet

Cultural differences may divide humanity in many ways, howerver, we are unified in our intrigue and in our fear when it comes to the Infernal regions. Here are some examples of the evil that plagues our other lands.

1. Apep - (Egypt) Opposer of the sun god Ra. Takes the form os a serpent/crocodile.

2. Chernobog - (Baltic/Slavic) "The Black God" rules evil, misfortune, death and night.

3. Elathan - (Celtic) domain is the darkness.

4. Erebus - (Greek) Son of Chaos, guaedian of the darkness surrounding hell.

5. Grand Bois - (Hailti) master of the forest and of night.

6. Hatu - Atu - Topun - (Polynesia) Dangerous female demon specifically at dawn and dusk.

7. Ikwaokinyapippilele - (Panama) Causes ills of all kinds.

8. Lilitu - (Hebrew) Ancient female demon connected with Lilith.

9. Manuval - (New Guinea) active only at night, spreading ills, chaos, and the like.

10. Mush - (Iron) Demon of eclipses and of night.

11. Nyx - (Greek) Daughter of Chaos, sister to Erebus.

12. Oroan - (Guyana) anither demon of the eclipse.

13. Sakarabu - (West Africa) Juge and demon of darkness.

14. Oni - (Japan) Demon that creats and lives in the eyes ot it's tempests.

With the findings of our predesessors and our ambitiom to discover more about the inhuman entities that walk among us and reside below us, we hope over time to unfold these most intriguing mysteries of the infernal regions. Knowledge is power.

Names and Ranks in the Infernal Region.

1. Apollyon - (Abaddon) King of Demons.

2. Abigor - Horseman with a specter and a lance, commanding 60 legions.

3. Adremelech -  Chancellor and high Council of Demons.

4. Aguares -  Grand Duke of Eastern region, commanding 30 legions.

5. Alocer - Grand Duke, commanding 36 legions.

6. Amduscius -  Grand Duke, commanding 29 legions.

7. Andras -   Marquis, commanding 30 legions.

8. Asmodeus - (Asmoday) - Head of Casinos, banished to the deaert by Rapheal.

9. Astaroth - Grand Duke of Western region, Lord Treasurer.

10. Aym - Grand Duke, commanding 26 legions.

11. Ayperos - Prince, commanding 36 legions.

12. Azzazel - Standard Bearer of Armies, also known as Satanael.

13. Baal -  Commanding gernal of the Infernal Armies.

14. Baalberith - Chief Secretary and archivist (second order demon, Berith).

15. Balan - Prince.

16. Bearded Demon - Remains nameless to avoid his use in search of the Philosopher's stone (King Solomon).

17.  Beelzebub - (Beelzebuth) - Prince of the Demons, Lord of the Flies, second only to Sata.

18. Belial - Prince of Trickery, Demon of Sodomy.

19. Belphegor - Demon of Ingenious discoveries and wealth.

20. Buer - Second order demon but commands 50 legions.

21. Caym - Grand President of the Infernal.

22. Charon - Boatman who ferries souls across the river Styx.

23. Chax - Grand Duke.

24. Cresil - Demon of Impurity and siovinliness.

25. Dagon - Baker and member of the House.

26. Eurynomus - Prince who feeds on corpses.

27.  furur - Count, commanding 26 legions.

28. Geryon - Giant centaur, guards hell.

29. Jezebeth - Demon of falsehoods.

30. Kasdeya - According to the "Book Of Enoch", the fifth Satan.

31. Kobal - Entertainment Director, patron of comedy.

32. Leonard - Inspector General of Black Magic and Sorcery.

33. Leviathan - Grand Admiral - androgynous (Christian myth say's he seduced both Adam and Eve).

34. Lilith - Prince of Hell. ( hebrew myth is that she is a succubus).

35. Malphas - Grand President, commanding 40 legions.

36. Mammon - Demon of Avarice.

37. Mastema - Leader of the offsprings of fallen angels by humans.

38. Melchom - Treasurer of the House.

39. Mephistopheles - Some versions a servant of Lucifer, others Satan himself.

40. Merihim - Prince of Pestilence.

41. Moloch - Another demon of Heberw lore.

42. Mullin - Servant of the House of Princes, Lieutenant to Leonard.

43. Murmur - Count, Demon of Music.

44. Naburus - Marquis, connected with Cerberus.

45. Nergal - Chief of Secret Police, second order demon.

46. Nybras - Grand Publisist of Pleasures, inferior.

47. Nysrogh - Chief of the house of Princes, second order demon.

48. Orias - Marquis, Demon of Diabolic Astologers and Diviners.

49. Paymon - Master of Ceremonies.

50. Philatanus - Demon assisting Belial in furthering sodomy and pedophile behaviors.

51. Proserpine - Princess of Hell ( some say, close to Persephone of Pagan traditions).

52. Pyro - Prince of Falsehoods.

53. Raum - Count, commanding 30 legions.

54. Rimmon - Ambassador from Hell to Russia, also known as Damas.

55. Ronwe - Inferior, yet commands 19 legions.

56. Samael - Angel of Death, Prince of Air.

57. Semiazas - Chife of Fallen Angels.

58. Shalbrirl - Demon that strikes people blind.

59. Sonneillon - Demon of Hate ( Michaelis).

60. Succorbenoth - Chief Eunuch of the House of Princes, Demon of Gates and Jealousy.

61. Thamuz - Ambassador of Hell, creator of the holy Inquisition, Inventor of Artillery.

62. Ukobach - Stationary Engineer.

63. Uphir - Demon physician.

64. Valafar - Grand Duke.

65. Verdelet - Master of Ceremonies of the House of Princes.

66. Verin - Demon of Impatience.

67. Vetis - Demon who sepcializes in corrupting and tempting the holy.

68. Xaphan - Stokes the furnace of hell, second order demon.

69. Zaebros - Animal - human combination.

70. Zagan - Demon of Deceit and counterfeiting.

71. Necromancy - The practice of communicating with the dead to obtain knowlege of the future, other's  secrets, ect. An archaic term, the necromaner was said to employ magic spells and conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead.

72. Necronmicon - A grimoire (that is, collection) of ancient sigils and incontations of nebulous origins, discorvered in the 8th century by the "Mad Arb", Abdul Abdul Alhazred, said to be capable of opening a chasm to the "Dead Dimension" and unleashing the wrathful power of the timeless "Elder Gods". Although some occultists believe this tome to be at least derived from genuine (and nefarious) sources, we are fairly confident that it sprang from the fiction of Providence, Rhode Island - born horror author Howard Phillips(H.P.) Lovecraft (b. 1890, d 1937).

Denizens of the "Demonic Realm" - are they invariably of non-human origin or can the human psyche generate such negativity that a soul some how degenerate into the form of what we name a demon? It has been conjectued that demonic "Throught forms could under extraordinary conditions, be cerated by a human being and take on a sort of life or lives of there own. And some contend that they are fallen angels.

This is all speculative, what is certain (That is, what experience has born out) is that in some dimensional reality apart from our own, there exist seething, resentful, debased enities which occasionally make their way into the living world, seeking human subjects to pray upon and torment.

At times these shadow creatures appear attracted to a particular person or location and are inexplicably "just there". In other instances, someone has inadvertantly opened a psychic porthole or chasm, to their  nether world and allowed them access, perhaps by means of a seance or ouija board use, sometimes through reckless magical conjurations (for a demon may not consider itself banished at the close of a ceremony), or even via one's psychological imbalance such as exessive sorrow, hostillity or psychosis. And having achieved a foothold in this plane they can become insidious, formidable adversaries, wholly devoted to inflicting despair and notoriosly difficult to expunge.

One method of dispelling a demonic presence is to remove one self from its presence, from the setting of the  infestation, allowing it to somply dissipate for lack of the psychic energy which provokes through fear and frustration, and upon which it seems to feed. Obvisously  this isn't  always practical, nor do demons always so easyily relinquish their holds. This when intervention and assistance is called for, either from open-minded clergy who accept the existance of such phenomena, or from experienced and competent paranormal  inveatigators.

The investigating team will endeavor to find the source of the trouble, determine the type of haunting(intelligent,residual, or inhuman), log and analyze all available data, they will decide on what measures should be taken to counter the harmful influence(s). If it is judged to be a demonic agent, what must be a personal, one-on-one confrontation with these forces which would be dangerous and most likely ineffective. Never meet the demon for a show down on its own terms, exasperated rage serves only to strengthen them, and most seem adept at bring out the very worst in people. Once they incite conflict within a family or group, cause panic or drive someone to the point of exclaiming "Dam You! What do you want from us? They can have the upper (invisibale) hand.

Remaining as clam and scientific as possible in the midst of a demonic assault it is unquestionabley a trying discipline, but it is developed through experience, and with the esseential support of fellow investigative team members. A paranormal investigator needn't be fearless, or saintly. However, he or she must assess his or her own strengths as well as limitations.

73. Necronomic Spellbook -  A toned - down, elegantly printed companion book to the 'Necronomicon, also by Avon books.

74. Oui - Ja (Board) -  A divining implement consisting of  small round or more  often rectangular platform with letters, numbers and various symbols printed upon it, and a "plancette" which, when the fingers of two participants are lightly place along its edges, is intended to glide across the smooth surface of the inscribed platform and indicate messages. Concieved of as a parlour game in the wake of popular spiritualism, this is potentially a vey dangerous tool for inviting unpredictable, invasive forces.

75. Pact - The belife, prevalent in the late middle ages through the Renaissance, that somone could trade his or her soul in return for worldly gain.

76. Pentacle / Pentagram - The traditional five - pointed star design, with it's interior pentagon dilineated, generally representing both spirituality and protection when pointed "up", when intverted, it is to signify diabolism.

77. Vampire - A demonic (?) entity in the form of a desseased person, which perpetuates itself by draining the blood or psychic energy of the living.

78. Warlock -  Term originally meant "deceiver" or " one who misleads," in more modern parlance has become associated with a male witch.

79. wicca -  Witchcraft as a reconized relizion, the practicioners of which refer to there system as, "The old way" and "The Ancient Religion". Wiccans in their rituals align themselves with elementals and the earth's natural magnetic fields, personified by the names of ancient Greek, Egyptian and Sumerian deities.

80. Witch - Broadly, a parctitioner of the magic arts, specially a women who employs charms, herbs and incantations to effect the workings of her will. Also, a pratitioner of the Wicca craft.

81. Wizard -  A male sorcerer and conjurer who is especially adept and experienced in his craft.