A BRIEF HISTORY OF DEMMONS
1. The Gallu (3500 BCE), were demons who inhabited the Sumerian underworld. Their role was to haul unfortunate victims off into the Abyss, where they were brought to judgement by the goddess of death, Ereshkigal.
2. The Asuras (1700 BCE), were superhuman beings from the Hindu scriptures who were in constant enmity with the Devas (a race of benevolent gods). They are described as having both good and bad qualities. The worst of the these were the Rakshasas, who had a bestial appearance and a taste for human flesh. They were capable of flying, turning invisible, and could assume the form of any creature.
3. Zoroastrianism (1100 BCE) was adapted from the same root as Hinduism (proto-Vedism), but seemingly reversed the roles of demons and gods. Ahura came to mean ‘supreme god’, and the Devas became known as Daeva (false gods). They were noxious creatures who resided in the netherworld, promoting chaos and evil. They collectively rush out at nightfall to inflict pain and suffering in the world, such as drought, murder and earthquakes.
4. The Shedim (950 BCE) were demonic spirits from Jewish folklore, who had a similar function to the Daevas. They were regarded as false gods and descended from the serpents of Eden. Legend says God intended for them to be human, but was unable to finish his creation. They remained on Earth as bestial creatures, with baser drives toward greed, murder and fornication.
5. The Lords of Xibalba (250 BCE) ruled over the Mayan underworld, known as Xibalba (Place of Fright). It is described in the Popol Vuh as a court below the surface of the Earth associated with death and judgement. The Lords would often entertain themselves by sending people into a pit full of tests and traps to kill or humiliate them. Occasionally, they would head to the world of the living where they would spread misery and disease upon the local populace.
6. In Christianity, deities of other pagan religions were often interpreted as "demons". They are often described as ugly and monstrous beings who entice humans to sin. It is also believed these demons torment people during their life through possession, by showing themselves before strangers to frighten them, or by provoking visions that could induce people to commit a crime. Demons are also believed to tempt people into abandoning the faith, commit heresy or apostasy, or turning them to the veneration of false idols.
7. The Oni (550 CE) are humanoid creatures with razor-sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. They possess unnatural features such as an odd number of eyes, extra fingers and toes, or red/blue skin. Originally, these beings were experienced as an invisible force, causing tsunami's, drought, and disease; However, with the advent of Buddhism, they began to take on a more physical and monstrous demeanour, with a taste for human flesh.
8. The Yaoguai (550 CE) were lesser life-forms who populated the Chinese hell (Diyu), such as spiders, trees or skeletons. They were obsessed with power and wished to achieve immortality by serving the gods, stealing their elixirs, or devouring their flesh. Legend says they were once celestial beings who fell from grace and acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. Their one most desire is to restore their god-hood and to rule over the cosmos.
9. The Fomorians (600 CE) are hostile and monstrous beings from Irish mythology who come from the sea or underground. They are portrayed as giants and sea raiders who possessed harmful and destructive powers, bringing darkness, death, blight, and drought into the world. This race is often depicted as ugly and demonic, with the head of a goat or a horse. Some also had one eye, one arm or one leg. They exacted taxes from the Irish settlers sometimes cutting off the noses of those who did not pay their dues.
10. The Shayateen (620 CE) are devils from Islamic scripture, said to be the descendants of Iblis, (fallen angels). They were exceptionally ugly creatures, capable of assuming human form, though their feet always remained as hooves. They eat excrement and use disease as their main weapon. They are said to exist on the borderline between light and darkness. They often whisper evil suggestions into men’s ears but have no real power over them, and their success depends on their ingenuity.
11. The Tzitzimitl (1200 CE) are skeletal like demons who live in the darkness. Their ultimate goal is to wait until both humans and gods can no longer maintain order in the cosmos, whereby they will attack the world and destroy humankind. They are also associated with the stars and would attack the Sun during a solar eclipse. During these periods of cosmic instability, the Tzitzimitl would descend to the earth and devour as many human beings as possible.
12. The Eldjötnar were fire giants, who lived in Muspelheim (a realm of fire). They were described as Múspellssynir (sons of Muspell), and Rjúfendr (doomsday destroyers). The role of the Fire Giants is very specific in Norse mythology - they are the destroyers of the nine worlds at Ragnarök (Doom of the Gods). Their leader Surtr is considered the personification of volcanic activity. The Prose Edda states that during the final battles of Ragnarök, the weapons and armour of the Eldjötnar shine brilliantly, and Surtr’s own flaming sword will burn “brighter than the sun”.
The common characteristics that unite these malevolent beings are that they all tend to inhabit an underworld realm and possess a cruel and malevolent disposition. Whereas most gods in world mythology bring balance and order to the cosmos, demons typically invoke chaos and mayhem. In many of the world's legends, they are responsible for the natural disasters, disease, solar eclipses and human suffering. Most disturbing of all, they all seem to be linked to an end of days event, where it is prophesied that they will be help bring our world to an end.
Note: This work is collected from Human Odyssey
ARTWORK
1. Gallu, Nicolas Thomas
2. Rakasha, Yulia Misyul
3. Daeva, Mike Azevedo
4. Shedim, Blaz Porenta
5. Lords of Xiblba, Adrian Meribault
6. Demons, Stepan Alekseev
7. Oni, Tatiana Vetrova
8. Yaoguai, Johnny Morrow
9. Formorian’s, Raymond Swanland
10. Shayateen, Stjepan Sejic
11. Tzitzimitl, Ignacio Bazán Lazcano
12. Surtur, Svetlin Velinov
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