From the earliest times, mythical demons have inhabited all faiths and religions but Christianity really grasped the nettle whole-heartedly, with various writers recording ever-more elaborate inhabitants of Hell and going to great lengths to explain their roles and where specifically they resided. The Spanish Franciscan Catholic Bishop, Alphonso de Spina, recorded in 1467 that demons could be classified in the following ways:
- Demons of fate
- Goblins
- Incubi and succubi
- Wandering groups or armies of demons
- Familiars
- Drudes
- Cambions and other demons that are born from the union of a demon with a human being.
- Liar and mischievous demons
- Demons that attack the saints
- Demons that try to induce old women to attend Witches’ Sabbaths
A hundred years later, Peter Binsfield, a German bishop, honed these vague categories and aligned them to the seven deadly sins, hence, the seven princes of Hell looked like this:
- Lucifer: pride
- Mammon: greed
- Asmodeus: lust
- Leviathan: envy
- Beelzebub: gluttony
- Amon or Satan: wrath
- Belphegor: sloth
Another theologist, Johannes Wierus, recounted the evidence as he saw it and proclaimed that when Lucifer fell from Heaven, he took 2400 evil angels with him; when they arrived at Hell, there were eleven princes of Hell, each commanding 6,660,000 demons each. Hell was essentially the mirror image of Heaven, so whilst Cherubim and Arch Angels featured for the good, ‘downstairs’, Lucifer (most often agreed to be the head of all the demons) appointed many of the most evil angels to preside of different areas of the Underworld.
Abaddon (the destroyer)
His early career as the angel sent to collect the earth which was used to create Adam, he later took up the role of angel of the bottomless pit. Chief of the human-faced, scorpion-tailed, horse-bodies demon locusts
Adramelech (king of fire)
Great minister of Beelzebub’s Order of the Fly. Adramelech became the President of the Senate of the demons. He is also the Chancellor of Hell and supervisor of Satan’s wardrobe. Being generally depicted with a human torso and head, and the rest of the body of a mule (or sometimes as a peacock).
Asmodeus
Asmodeus takes charge of the casinos of Hell, specialising in all things related to greed and illicit pleasure. Sporting three heads (bull, ram and human), he leads mortals to squander their wealth of frippery and tempt them into wildly inappropriate relationships.
Astaroth (Treasurer of Hell)
Riding around on a dragon and carrying a serpent like a staff, Astaroth is a mentor to newer demons joining the ranks
Azazel
Referenced in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, Azazel was one of the first angels to fall from Heaven and lists amongst his achievements, leading men to create and take-up weapons and women to apply make-up. Bit sexist.
Baal
Baal is the demon most heavily related to idleness. Situated in Eastern Hell, he has the arms of a spider and three heads – human, cat and toad.
Beelzebub
Chief of staff and second only to Lucifer in the rankings, even attempting coups in Hell. Presiding over the Order of the Fly, Beelzebub often takes the form of a fly and is notorious for inspiring heresy and tempting humans with sin, envy and pride. Witch trials often attempted to coerce those under suspicion to confess to worshipping Beelzebub.
Behemoth (devil’s cupbearer)
Appearing, variously, as a crocodile, elephant, whale or a hippo, this demon, obviously, lent his name to describing anything huge. Employed as night watchman of Hell, he also serves as the Devil’s cook.
Beleth
Responsible for eighty-five legions of demons, he announces his appearance with great fanfares of trumpets upon a pale horse.
Belial (prince of arrogance and deceit)
Dervied from the Hebrew for ‘worthless’, Known to be a great speaker, he is depicted as being particularly vicious and vocal against the work of God. Belial is said to already have been in Hell when Lucifer fell and tempts mortals into acts of rebellion and disloyalty. Also the name of the little chap in the film Basket Case.
Belphegor
One of the seven princes of Hell, who helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich. According to some 16th-century demonologists, his power is stronger in April. Often appearing as an attractive young woman, he spends his time outside of Hell in Paris.
Carnivean
Invoked during Witches’ rituals, he is the patron devil of lewdness, lasciviousness and obscenity.
Crocell
Speaking in dark and mysterious way, Crocell leads 48 legions of demons and when summoned by humans can teach mathematics and geometry. Can control the sound and temperature of water at will.
Dagon
Often depicted as a fish or fish/human hybrid, Dagon in the pantry chef of Hell and is the God of Philistines. Adopted by H.P. Lovecraft in his tales.
Dommiel
Gatekeeper of Hell and responsible for terror and trembling
Forcas
Teacher of maths and logic in the realms of eternal fire. In charge of Lucifer’s stables.
Furculor
Appears as a winged human.
Gaap
Governor of Southern Hell, in charge of 66 legions. Human-like, apart from massive bat wings.
Gressil
The mirror of Saint Bernard, Gressil tempts mortals into acts of impurity and sloth.
Hornblas
Demon of musical discord, his tuneless blasts summon the denizens of Hell together.
Leviathan
As his name suggests, responsible for the infernal navy and on stand-by to devour all the unsaved on Judgement Day. Created on the same day as Behemoth.
Mammon (demon of averice and greed)
Mammon is heavily associated with England and is ranked amongst the most influential of all the princes of Hell. Bent double from the speed of his fall from grace, he spends his days staring at the ground, tempting men into acts of jealousy for material goods.
Mephistopheles (the destroyer/prince of deceit)
Now used to describe any act of pretence or falsehood, he has been known to try to lead even God astray and leads humans to selling their souls
Misroch (Lucifer’s cook)
With the head of an eagle, Misroch now serves the Devil fruit he has cursed from the Tree of Immortality.
Moloch (Chief of Hell’s army)
“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Moloch”. Moloch is a frightful sight, covered in the blood of murdered children and drenched in the tears of their grieving mothers. Anxious to start immediate warfare against God
Paimon
Depicted as a camel-riding young woman, Paimon is utterly loyal to Lucifer and as a reward controls over 200 legions. Regularly invoked in rites and ceremonies, Paimon knows all Earthly secrets…for a price.
Rimmon
Although his name derives from the Hebrew for the innocent pomegranate, he is associated with Russia and is the only doctor in Hell. Largely involved in the creation of storms and thunder.
Rosier (demon of seduction)
Although considered a lesser-demon, Rosier still leads humans into being seduced against their will and is linked with tainted love, putting frothy, foolish words on the lips of smitten lovers.
Sammael (devil of death)
Accused by some of being the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Sammael crosses over into the same character as Lucifer in some texts. Demon of the arts.
Satan (Vice president of Hell, demon of anger)
Perhaps a slightly low rank for such a familiar name, Satan is a demon of destruction, appearing throughout the Old Testament, from the Garden of Eden to annoying Jesus in the desert. Assuming such a high rank in Heaven that he sported twelve wings, he finally met his match in a battle against the angel, Uriel.
Xaphan
Known for causing chaos, Xaphan attempted to raise troops into setting Heaven on fire, a plot that was rumbled leading to eternal damnation, fuelling the fires of Hell with a set of bellows.
During the 16th century, it was believed that each demon had more strength to accomplish his mission during a special month of the year. In this way, he and his assistants’ powers would work better during that month.
- Belial in January
- Leviathan in February
- Satan in March
- Belphegor in April
- Lucifer in May
- Berith in June
- Beelzebub in July
- Astaroth in August
- Thammuz in September
- Baal in October
- Asmodai in November
- Moloch in December
For more demonic fun, pick up The Devil by Tom and Genevieve Morgan
Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia
