Demon
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| - | [[Image:Altar piece at Brixen.jpg|thumb|right|This page '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is part of the [[Satan in popular culture]] series<br> | + | [[Image:The Temptation of St. Anthony by Grunewald.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[The Temptation of St. Anthony (Isenheim Altarpiece detail)|The Temptation of St. Anthony]]'' (detail) from the [[Isenheim Altarpiece]] by Matthias Grünewald]] |
| - | <small>Illustration is "[[Saint Wolfgang Altarpiece|Saint Wolfgang and the Devil]]"</small>]] | + | {| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5" |
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| + | "The origin of [[demon]]s was for many centuries a critical and perplexing problem for theologians. That God might have created them directly was an unpalatable doctrine, though one occasionally presented. However, granting the malefic character of demons, it seemed that to accept God as their creator would be to accept also the belief that evil might flow directly from God, among whose attributes was that of Perfect Goodness. This being the case, and such a contradiction not to be endured, it seemed better to suppose that the demons were creatures [[God and free will|endowed by their Creator with free will]], and who freely chose evil (as human beings are wont to do)."--''[[Eros and Evil]]'' (1962) by Robert Masters | ||
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| + | "The [[human sexuality|sexual impulse]] ... appears as a [[evil|malevolent]] [[demon]] that strives to [[perversion|pervert]], confuse, and overthrow everything" [[the sexual impulse ... appears as a malevolent demon that strives to pervert, confuse, and overthrow everything|[...]]]"-- "[[The Metaphysics of Sexual Love]]" (1844) by Arthur Schopenhauer | ||
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| + | "'For [[Ludovico Maria Sinistrari|Sinistrari d'Ameno]],' observed Durtal, "'the [[Incubus|incubi]] and [[Succubus|succubi]] are not precisely [[demon]]s, but animal spirits, intermediate between the demon and the angel, a sort of [[satyr]] or [[faun]], such as were revered in the time of [[paganism]], a sort of [[imp]], such as were exorcised in the Middle Ages. Sinistrari adds that they do not need to pollute a sleeping man, since they possess genitals and are endowed with [[prolificacy]].'"--''[[Là-bas (novel)|Là-Bas]]'' (1891) by Joris-Karl Huysmans | ||
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| + | "[[Jacques Collin de Plancy]] (1793-1881) followed the tradition of many previous [[Demonology|demonologist]]s of cataloguing [[demon]]s by name and title of nobility, as it happened with [[grimoire]]s like ''[[Pseudomonarchia Daemonum]]'' and ''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]''. In 1818, his best known work, ''[[Dictionnaire Infernal]]'', was published. In 1863, sixty-nine illustrations by [[Louis Le Breton]] were added that made it famous: imaginative drawings concerning the appearance of certain demons."--Sholem Stein | ||
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| + | "We are all [[hysteria|hysterics]], since [[Jean-Martin Charcot |Charcot]], that grand priest of hysterics, that breeder of chamber hysterics, maintains in his model establishment the [[Salpêtrière]] at great expense a number of nervous women among whom he inoculates madness and of whom he makes [[demoniac]]s in no time. One needs to be very ordinary, very common, very reasonable to not be classed among hysterics." --"[[Une femme (Maupassant)|"Une femme"]] (1882) by [[Guy de Maupassant]] | ||
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| - | # An [[evil]] [[spirit]]. | + | A '''demon''' is a [[supernatural]] being, typically associated with [[evil]], prevalent historically in [[religion]], [[occultism]], [[literature]], [[fiction]], [[mythology]], and [[folklore]]; as well as in [[Media (communication)|media]] such as [[comics]], [[video games]], [[movies]], [[anime]], and [[television series]]. |
| - | # A fallen [[angel]] or Satanic divinity; a [[false god]]. | + | |
| - | # One’s inner [[spirit]] or [[genius]], a [[daimon]]. | + | The original Greek word ''[[Daemon (classical mythology)|daimon]]'' does not carry negative connotations. The [[Ancient Greek language|Ancient Greek]] word ''δαίμων'' ''[[Daemon (classical mythology)|daimōn]]'' denotes a spirit or divine power, much like the [[Latin]] ''[[Genius (mythology)|genius]]'' or ''[[numen]]''. The Greek conception of a ''daimōn'' notably appears in the works of [[Plato]], where it describes the divine inspiration of [[Socrates]]. |
| - | # A [[spirit]] or lesser divinity between [[men]] and [[god]]s. | + | |
| - | # A [[foible]]; a [[flaw]] in a person’s [[character]]. | + | In [[Ancient Near Eastern religions]] and in the [[Abrahamic traditions]], including ancient and medieval [[Christian demonology]], a demon is considered a harmful spiritual entity which may cause [[demonic possession]], calling for an [[exorcism]]. In Western [[occultism]] and [[Renaissance magic]], which grew out of an amalgamation of [[Greco-Roman magic]], Jewish [[Aggadah]] and Christian demonology, a demon is believed to be a spiritual entity that may be [[conjuration|conjured]] and controlled. |
| - | #: ''The '''demon''' of stupidity haunts me whenever I open my mouth.'' | + | |
| - | # Someone of remarkable or diabolical [[energy]] or [[ability]]. | + | ==Demoniac== |
| - | #: ''He’s a '''demon''' at the card tables.'' | + | # [[possessed]] or [[controlled]] by a [[demon]] |
| + | # of or pertaining to [[demon]]s; [[demon|demonic]] | ||
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| + | ==In art== | ||
| + | *''[[The Devil Presenting St Augustine With The Book Of Vices]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Les Démoniaques dans l'art]]'' (1887) is a book by Paul Richer and Jean-Martin Charcot | ||
| + | *''[[Demon Seed]]'' (1977) | ||
| + | *''[[The Nightmare]]'' (1781) by Henry Fuseli | ||
| - | In [[religion]], [[folklore]], and [[mythology]] a '''demon''' (or ''daemon'', ''dæmon'', ''daimon'' from [[Greek language|Greek]]: δαίμων [ðaïmon]) is a [[supernatural]] being that has generally been described as a [[malevolent]] [[spirit]], and in [[Christian]] terms it is generally understood as a [[Fallen angel]], formerly of [[God]]. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be [[conjuration|conjured]] and insecurely controlled. The "good" demon in recent use is largely a [[literary device]] (e.g., [[Maxwell's demon]]), though references to good demons can be found in [[Hesiod]] and [[Shakespeare]]. In common language, to "demonize" a person means to characterize or portray them as [[evil]], or as the source of evil. | + | == See also == |
| + | * [[Acheri]] | ||
| + | * [[Archon (Gnosticism)]] | ||
| + | * [[Classification of demons]] | ||
| + | * [[Empusa]] | ||
| + | * [[Erinyes]] | ||
| + | * [[Folk devil]] | ||
| + | * [[Goblin]] | ||
| + | * [[Holy water#Protection against evil]] | ||
| + | * [[Imp]] | ||
| + | * [[List of fictional demons]] | ||
| + | * [[List of theological demons]] | ||
| + | * [[Mara (demon)]] | ||
| + | * [[Spiritual warfare]] | ||
| + | * [[Theistic Satanism]] | ||
| + | * [[Yaoguai]] | ||
| + | * [[Yokai]] | ||
| + | * [[Sexuality in Christian demonology]] | ||
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"The origin of demons was for many centuries a critical and perplexing problem for theologians. That God might have created them directly was an unpalatable doctrine, though one occasionally presented. However, granting the malefic character of demons, it seemed that to accept God as their creator would be to accept also the belief that evil might flow directly from God, among whose attributes was that of Perfect Goodness. This being the case, and such a contradiction not to be endured, it seemed better to suppose that the demons were creatures endowed by their Creator with free will, and who freely chose evil (as human beings are wont to do)."--Eros and Evil (1962) by Robert Masters "The sexual impulse ... appears as a malevolent demon that strives to pervert, confuse, and overthrow everything" [...]"-- "The Metaphysics of Sexual Love" (1844) by Arthur Schopenhauer "'For Sinistrari d'Ameno,' observed Durtal, "'the incubi and succubi are not precisely demons, but animal spirits, intermediate between the demon and the angel, a sort of satyr or faun, such as were revered in the time of paganism, a sort of imp, such as were exorcised in the Middle Ages. Sinistrari adds that they do not need to pollute a sleeping man, since they possess genitals and are endowed with prolificacy.'"--Là-Bas (1891) by Joris-Karl Huysmans "Jacques Collin de Plancy (1793-1881) followed the tradition of many previous demonologists of cataloguing demons by name and title of nobility, as it happened with grimoires like Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and The Lesser Key of Solomon. In 1818, his best known work, Dictionnaire Infernal, was published. In 1863, sixty-nine illustrations by Louis Le Breton were added that made it famous: imaginative drawings concerning the appearance of certain demons."--Sholem Stein "We are all hysterics, since Charcot, that grand priest of hysterics, that breeder of chamber hysterics, maintains in his model establishment the Salpêtrière at great expense a number of nervous women among whom he inoculates madness and of whom he makes demoniacs in no time. One needs to be very ordinary, very common, very reasonable to not be classed among hysterics." --""Une femme" (1882) by Guy de Maupassant |
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A demon is a supernatural being, typically associated with evil, prevalent historically in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, anime, and television series.
The original Greek word daimon does not carry negative connotations. The Ancient Greek word δαίμων daimōn denotes a spirit or divine power, much like the Latin genius or numen. The Greek conception of a daimōn notably appears in the works of Plato, where it describes the divine inspiration of Socrates.
In Ancient Near Eastern religions and in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered a harmful spiritual entity which may cause demonic possession, calling for an exorcism. In Western occultism and Renaissance magic, which grew out of an amalgamation of Greco-Roman magic, Jewish Aggadah and Christian demonology, a demon is believed to be a spiritual entity that may be conjured and controlled.
Demoniac
- possessed or controlled by a demon
- of or pertaining to demons; demonic
In art
- The Devil Presenting St Augustine With The Book Of Vices
- Les Démoniaques dans l'art (1887) is a book by Paul Richer and Jean-Martin Charcot
- Demon Seed (1977)
- The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli
See also
- Acheri
- Archon (Gnosticism)
- Classification of demons
- Empusa
- Erinyes
- Folk devil
- Goblin
- Holy water#Protection against evil
- Imp
- List of fictional demons
- List of theological demons
- Mara (demon)
- Spiritual warfare
- Theistic Satanism
- Yaoguai
- Yokai
- Sexuality in Christian demonology
