Talk:List of demons

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Is there really a demon of folklore named Leonard?

Any context to this list? What source/culture/fiction does this list apply to?

Seems to be "all of them": I've seen demons from ebraic culture (such as Lilith, if I recall correctly), greek (kerberus), european (succubi and incubi), mesopothamic (Pazuzu) as well as fiction (jubilex, from chtulu mythos); and this is just a first glance. Also I'm not so sure if they're all demons, or some of them could be considered a god or something like that by some.
Maybe the list could become useful anyway if some reference was given to the source/culture/fiction of each demon, since some occultist seem to consider all of them together somehow. Valhalla 11:08 27 Jun 2003 (UTC)

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The list does not specify religions or mythologies, but I'm according to Valhalla in some concepts. Fictional demons have nothing to do with specific demons. Some gods were removed from this page, like Balor, Lugh, and others, but the Asuras were placed there again. Besides, somebody listed some demons with every different spelling he/she found, so there are lots of them repeated once and again. Besides, some demons like Bifrons, Seir, Vine, Tannin and Wall (? maybe a misspelling for Vual) were linked to other definitions concerning different things, and they were changed into "Vine (demon)", as an example, because it is ridiculous that some one clicks on Vine and finds a plant instead of a demon. Many of the articles on the demons give references to the books or authors that mentioned them. The Warlock 07:44 28 Jun 2003 (UTC)

I had forgotten to say that many of those demons were taken from The Lesser Key of Solomon and Pseudomonarchia Infernalis.The Warlock 10:37 28 Jun 2003 (UTC)
That's useful information, thank you! Could you please add this source info to the individual demon articles, please? That would really help the NPOV policy, in which controversial information is attributed to who makes the statement or has the belief. It would be useful to know who believes in these demons, whether different sects/sources believe the same things, etc. 217.158.106.44 10:41 28 Jun 2003 (UTC)

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Maybe the page would make more sense if there were also other names of the said demons (maybe only the (or a) main one with a link, and the other without, unless an article already exists for both names), as well as a short note of context.

I'll try and add such notes for the few ones I know, but I'm afraid that some ones will have to make most of the work. If at the end it is decided that they aren't needed feel free to remove them.

Also, I don't think that fictionary demons should be removed, only properly contextualized. Valhalla 20:52 28 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Until what I could, the page is contextualised. If more information is available, more contextualisation will be added. The Warlock 10:27, 30 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I removed Juiblex because it was the only fictional demon listed; if someone wants to create a list of fictional demons - that is, demons that have not been historically believed to be real - they can include him there instead of here. -Sean 02:15, 22 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Why is Allah on this tlist as it is a synonym for God? -Macarro

Contents

[edit] lucifer?

lucifer is an angel, not a demon. he got kicked out of heaven, but that doesnt make you a demon. he may have become a demon afterwards, but he was no longer lucifer by then. on the other hand (as everything in the christian mythology) lucifer is stolen from other mythologies and such, and lucifer was some sungod in some tribes. he may have been a demon in certain contexts, but in christian mythology lucifer was the top angel that may have become satan in a much later stage. it should be edited or removed--Lygophile 04:54, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

Since this page exists to list demons in a broad variety of settings, (from Judeo-Christian-Islamic through ancient civilizations like Assyria and Egypt) Lucifer is certainly an applicable inclusion, as per your statement, "he may have been a demon in certain contexts." Doubtless, according to Christian mythology Lucifer was an exalted angel, but just as doubtless, according to Christian mythology an angel that is kicked out of Heaven becomes a demon. Zahakiel 20:41, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
i doubt that. being kicked out of heaven is just getting your wings clipt, theres a lot of room between ultimate good and ultimate evil. and the point is..i wouldnt know if the term 'lucifer' is ever officially used to mean a demon. if it is then ok, but only if it is.--Lygophile 01:47, 9 December 2006 (UTC)
also shouldnt say 'christian demonology' then01:50, 9 December 2006 (UTC)
You wrote, "i doubt that. being kicked out of heaven is just getting your wings clipt, theres a lot of room between ultimate good and ultimate evil." Not in Christian thought when dealing with spiritual beings. I do not know of any source recognized in orthodox Christianity that speaks a "middle ground" for spirits, outside of perhaps Origen; and especially not this spirit. Lucifer does officially refer to the leader of the demons in almost every modern mainstrean Christian resource of which I am aware. See the entry on Demons (In the New Testament and Christianity), which includes the phrase, "It should be noted that some denominations asserting Christian faith also include, exclusively or otherwise, fallen angels as de facto demons," therefore the "Lucifer" entry more than qualifies for this particular list. Zahakiel 23:52, 15 December 2006 (UTC)
Actually in "Christian mythology", as you guys term it, Lucifer was an archangel along with Michael and Gabriel. When Lucifer was kicked out along with the angels that followed him, they became demons with him as their leader. He then became known as Satan. Also, being kicked out of heaven DOES make the angels demons. Deflagro 01:37, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

just goes to show how stupid christian mythology is. but it totally fits in the christian ideology, they see everything in black and white. being a 'virtuous' jew, a 'virtuous' moderate scepticist christian, an imbicil or an unbaptised flawless christian are the only ways to be in the middle i think. and then they claim all men are created equal..:/--Lygophile 15:36, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Uvall

Uvall is disambiguation, linking it to Vual would only be natural though i dont know which name is more appropriate, just wanted to point this out so someone with expertise can decide what to do. --AlexOvShaolin 04:59, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

Good call. I've directed the wiki-link to Vual, but I have preserved the existing spelling in the list that is actually displayed, since I believe that is the more common term... it's hard to tell, and lists like this where there are many a.k.as and variant spellings have the potential to be confusing. ◄Zahakiel► 18:42, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Demons and gods

Hi folks, I wanted a tidy list of demons for a random word experiment and came here to find this list. Many of these listed demons are actually Gods.

This list needs to have the Gods removed from it because they are not demons, they are gods. If you click on the names many lead to pages that define them clearly as gods of history.

I didn't want to edit your list right away but it definitely should be trimmed or re-thought if it is to have any accurate meaning.

I think being clear about exactly what you mean by the word 'demon' would be quite helpful in this case. for instance if you are specifically listing what would be considered demons in Christianity you can lump every god, spirit or entity other than those specifically described as sanctioned by Jesus or Jehovah into the demonic category.

If you prefer the Hellenist daemon you are then more or less describing things like Greek Genii, the genius of a person or location.

If on the other hand you mean, 'malevolent spirit' then again there are questions as to which gods would belong in that category and much debate over whether Jehovah and or Jesus would be included.

It does indeed seem that your list is biased toward the Abrahamic religions and against others and probably you could change the title to 'Christian Demons'. Of course then you might include a very many more.

Here is my scratching-the-surface list of errors:

    Ammut - questionable, almost always a goddess of evil turned good and restrainer of evil.
    Anzu A god.
    Astarte a goddess, equivalent of Ishtar. Not a demon at all.
    Chemosh - a god of Moab
    Chimera, a monster not a demon
    Chupacabra - a monster
    Dagon - Fish headed God of the philistines.
    Deicide - Deicide means murder of god, nothing to do with any demon whatsoever.
    Eurynome  greek mnythology, never a demon sometimes a daughter of a god, etc
    Hantu - classical Chinese writing according to the wiki, no reference to any demons
    Jaydeep - no reference cited.???
    Mojo - is a bag or hand from hoodoo nothing to do with a demon
    Ninurta  - a major Sumerian god, not a demon at all
    Nix - again not demons, not considered demons.
    Osiris A major Egyptian deity. Not a demon in the least.
    Riku  - what is this?
    Set - a major Egyptian god, to label Set as a demon since he destroyed Osiris would be similar to labeling Jehovah demonic because he destroyed Baal. Fine if you include all murderous gods as demons, which would be most of them.

I have not checked every single listing. No doubt there are more errors. Thotheros 22:30, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

You make a good point in some of what you've said, but in modern use "demon" (see the Wikipedia entry) does primarily bring to mind the Abrahamic view, and would thus merit the inclusion of "heathen" deities; these are seen as decidedly malevolent from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. Some like Astarte and Chemosh merit particular mention. If you look at the entry for God, for example, you will see that it is strongly representative of the monotheistic view, since that is the most common connotation today. Essentially, if you can find a valid source to verify that these entities were called "demons," they do belong in this list. Astarte, for example, describes the goddess and then goes on to point out that she/it is considered a demon by Judaic and western religions. Since this is a general list of demons, that must be taken into account or that tradition must be ignored entirely. Since the Abrahamic tradition is one of the main bodies of work that defines what a demon is, that is not a feasible approach, and you are naturally going to find that viewpoint strongly reflected. This is not a matter of bias so much as the state of the field. ◄Zahakiel► 22:54, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

1) ".... in modern use "demon" ... does primarily bring to mind the Abrahamic view..."

Ok so this is primarily a list of Abrahamic demons?

2) "..., and would thus merit the inclusion of "heathen" deities; these are seen as decidedly malevolent from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. Some like Astarte and Chemosh merit particular mention..."

So in a list of Abrahamic or Judaic demons these warrant attention, and so would every god ever named that is not Allah/Yaweh/Jehovah or Jesus. Should the Kaballists names for god be included as well, though it is the same god?

3) "...If you look at the entry for God, for example, you will see that it is strongly representative of the monotheistic view, since that is the most common connotation today...."

The definition of God is irrelevant to the definition of a list of demons unless you are stipulating the demons of a particular god. If you are pointing out that because Jehovah or Jesus are popular that any list having to do with a common theme of religion must be dominated by their believers beliefs or their texts, well that seems wrong. The facts are now popular facts? The title should maybe switch to 'popular demons'?

4) "Essentially, if you can find a valid source to verify that these entities were called "demons," they do belong in this list..."

That makes sense but what is to be considered valid? Every book by Hal Lyndsey or any Judaic cult of the 20th century? There would likely be hundreds of new demon names. The book series Xanth by Piers Anthony with lists dozens of demons?

5) I see your point with Astarte if it is a list of Judaic demons or 'mostly Judaic but sometimes otherwise demons'.

6) ... "Since this is a general list of demons," that must be taken into account or that tradition must be ignored entirely... "

This seems to be the crux of the matter, is it a general list or a specific list? If it is general then at least some orthodox or traditional source should call the alleged demon a demon or malevolent supernatural entity. Fictional demons will not fit that category and neither will 'every deity outside the Judaic (tri)monotheism', even though Judaism does include all of those as 'evil and demonic'.

7)"Since the Abrahamic tradition is one of the main bodies of work that defines what a demon is, that is not a feasible approach, and you are naturally going to find that viewpoint strongly reflected. This is not a matter of bias so much as the state of the field. ◄Zahakiel► 22:54, 7 July 2007 (UTC)"

Ok, I get that you are saying it's a general list dominated by the religion that created the word. However many religions have names for the same concept and some of them are included. (Japanese, Norse, Slavic, Egyptian etc...) At last some historical religions would very likely include all external deities as competitive and malevolent. That would place the jUdaic gods int he list too.

Could then, the list be pared down and added too only for those demons whom are named in reasonably orthodox or reasonably traditional sources as a demon?

I have never for instance seen the Sumerian Ninurta listed in any Judaic text as a demon. It is implausible, if he is to be included all external deities should just be thrown in the list.

I am just trying to make some sense of it of course. There must be some reason or rule or the exceptions to the general should be pointed out.

Thanks for elcucidating. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thotheros (talk • contribs)

  • Reply follows:
Those are all really good questions to ask when looking this list over. I've done a lot of work maintaining it from vandals and others who add any entity they think "might" fit the bill, to the degree where I've wondered if it should be semi-protected at times. But with that in mind, I realize also that this is one of the difficulties an article like this, the title of which may have several legitimate definitions, faces. Some of the questions you ask have relevance to this idea. For example you ask:
  • Ok so this is primarily a list of Abrahamic demons?
In a way... Just from observation, it seems that this is a list of "demons" as defined by characteristics commonly attributed to the Abrahamic entities thus identified. In other words, the Yokai from Japan are from an entirely different tradition, and are not always strictly "evil," but they share enough characteristics with the Western conception to have the term for them translated to "demon" by notable sources, and thus are included.
  • So in a list of Abrahamic or Judaic demons these warrant attention, and so would every god ever named that is not Allah/Yaweh/Jehovah or Jesus. Should the Kaballists names for god be included as well, though it is the same god?
Well, we have to remember that there is both a "consensus" and a "notability" element at work here also, which is not the same as "popularity" (see my comment on your later question below). In general non-Judeo-Christian-Islamic gods would be seen as demons by default in these worldviews, but as you rightly point out, including everything that is valid "by default" would result in an untenable list. Thus we would want to have only those figures that are directly identified as demonic in the appropriate literature, and that general readers of this list would understand to be accurately described by the list's topic. This is actually something you suggest below, so I'll say more about it there.
  • The definition of God is irrelevant to the definition of a list of demons unless you are stipulating the demons of a particular god. If you are pointing out that because Jehovah or Jesus are popular that any list having to do with a common theme of religion must be dominated by their believers beliefs or their texts, well that seems wrong. The facts are now popular facts? The title should maybe switch to 'popular demons'?
You have a point, of course, in the last thing you say - but one that is already taken into account by Wikipedia's policies. As I've mentioned, I have done a lot of removing spurious entries on this list, because somebody's artistic streak led them to invent a demon for a drawing they did during recess, and they want the name listed here. My statement about the definition of God was relevant in that I was showing the state of the discussion re: spiritual entities. The religions that have the most to say about them are going to get more "airtime" in listing them or describing them. I could just as easily have used the demon article or the angel article to the same effect. That having been said, this does not mean that every minor spirit will be listed either. Rather than "popular demons," the list should be about "notable demons," and this is exactly what every list on Wikipedia should (at least ideally) contain - notable elements. What we need to do is hold it to that standard, and this has not always been consistently done in the article's history.
  • [Finding a valid source to verify that these entities were called "demons"] makes sense but what is to be considered valid? Every book by Hal Lyndsey or any Judaic cult of the 20th century? There would likely be hundreds of new demon names. The book series Xanth by Piers Anthony with lists dozens of demons?
I think that also takes care of itself re: the "notability" clause. As long as we do not use the reasoning that "Since it's not God/Allah/Jehovah it's a demon," but find specific sources that classify it as such, and only include those covered by multiple sources (or extensively covered in one really notable one) we should be fine. In general, I think it's best that every element on this list have its own individual Wikipedia entry so that these sources can be presented there for anyone doing research (which is the point of all this anyway, to provide a reasonable resource for further study). It would also ensure no misunderstandings, for example with the Yokai issue. Interested readers would go to that entry and see the shades of meaning present there that are quite distinct from the "epitome of evil" that other names here might bring to mind. Having individual entries would also ensure that each element of the list meets the criteria I'm suggesting (that seems to have been semi-followed de facto already) here. Hal Lyndsey is Evangelical, I believe, and so he's not going to be inventing "new" demons, while an obscure Judaic cult could not do anything to merit so find-grained a discussion of its theological views on the spiritual world. If it did, it would no longer be obscure :)
  • I see your point with Astarte if it is a list of Judaic demons or 'mostly Judaic but sometimes otherwise demons'.
In reply to your first comment I gave what appears to be the overall theme of the list, and Astarte definitely qualifies there. This figure has been featured in numerous, extensive works that classify her as a "demon" in the primary tradition that uses that term in a way that would be understood by the Western mind. Now, the rules of engagement about "demons" might be different in the Japanese or Mediterranean Wikipedia, but avoiding systematic bias does not mean we ignore the effect of culture on our word definitions. It can be a fine line at times, and I appreciate that... we just have to be careful to define our criteria, and I think you are understandably concerned that we do this well.
  • This [the nature of the list] seems to be the crux of the matter, is it a general list or a specific list? If it is general then at least some orthodox or traditional source should call the alleged demon a demon or malevolent supernatural entity. Fictional demons will not fit that category and neither will 'every deity outside the Judaic (tri)monotheism', even though Judaism does include all of those as 'evil and demonic'.
Agreed and agreed. It is a general list, and this means we have to be diligent to be discerning (even, perhaps, exclusivist) in our approach. Fictional demons are generally the first to be deleted, and non-notable non-Judaic demons are next. There are, as always, exceptions; if a literary figure. (e.g., Errtu) has received a lot of coverage and is explicitly defined as a demon in the literary world with which it is involved, then there will be no controversy as to whether or not it is a "demon" when it is discussed in its own context. The (sources) comment associated with each name identifies literary demons from those of religious traditions, and I don't know of anyone that this has confused.
  • Ok, I get that you are saying it's a general list dominated by the religion that created the word. However many religions have names for the same concept and some of them are included. (Japanese, Norse, Slavic, Egyptian etc...) At last some historical religions would very likely include all external deities as competitive and malevolent. That would place the Judaic gods in he list too.
If not the religion that "created" the word, certainly the one that has made the most verifiable, notable use of it. You're certainly right that an ancient Babylonian would see Elohim/Yahweh as a competitive deity that led a people antagonistic to his values and cultures, but I don't think you're going to get consensus in the English Wikipedia to list "God" as a demon. Mere competition is not enough, for in the ancient world the Hebrews were fairly unique in identifying the gods of other nations as demonic. There were, in fact, individuals who worshipped demons from a number of countries just to make sure they hit the right one. Monotheism is quite different in this respect, and that is one of the reasons why Monotheistic traditions have the most to say about this matter.
  • Could then, the list be pared down and added too only for those demons whom are named in reasonably orthodox or reasonably traditional sources as a demon?
I think that's a reasonable approach, but you have to be very careful there, because none of us know everything. For example...
  • I have never for instance seen the Sumerian Ninurta listed in any Judaic text as a demon. It is implausible, if he is to be included all external deities should just be thrown in the list.
Ninurta is discussed in heavily-referenced resources like Dictionary of Deities and Demons in The Bible by van der Toorn, Becking and van der Horst, where it is identified with Kaiwan and Nisroch, both of which appear in the Biblical cannon. I hope all that clarifies further. ◄Zahakiel► 17:03, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Zahakiel, you have made the nature of the list very clear now and I think it would be great if you could consolidate your very lucid answers into a concise description prepended to the list. That would aid those who would like to use, add or omit listings and alleviate you from having to re-explain the character of the list to people like me. I had actually made edits, thinking no one had replied to my queries and then realized you had responded. I undid my edits and read your first response and realized at that time, I had better be more careful and cautious before modifying anything in Wikipedia.

I thank you you for your well thought out answers and laud you for your excellent work. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thotheros (talk • contribs)

[edit] Deicide - one last thing here

I cannot find Deicide as a demon name and it is not an egyptian word. It means to kill god. I had forgotten to mention that entry. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thotheros (talk • contribs)

Quite right. I've removed that one. Thanks. ◄Zahakiel► 14:59, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fictional demons

Shouldn't there be a list of fictional demons? TheBlazikenMaster 16:29, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Missing Demon: Titivillus

Name: Titivillus Rank: Minor Imp duties: Patron demon of scribes and calligraphers

In the middle ages, (prior to the invention of the printing press) the Holy Bible could only be duplicated by means of hand-copying the entire text. (!) In popular medieval belief, Satan kicked Titivillus out of hell each morning with an empty sack and told the imp he couldn't come home until the sack was full of transcription errors.

Current status: Not on the demons listing.

He does, however, have his own wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titivillus —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.135.72.129 (talk) 00:52, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Suspicious redlink Kwantomm

I find this entry suspicious:

Kwantomm (romanian demonology)

All the google hits are taken from this page, and it looks like a misspelling of "quantum". Unless someone can come up with evidence for it, I'll remove it. --Jamoche 17:24, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Damien?

Um, I'm, pretty sure Damien isn't part of christian mythology, but just simply the name of the supposed "son of the devil" in "The Omen" 71.114.71.169 22:16, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Picture of a Saint On List of Demons Page

Don't we have enough Christian art on Wikipedia? Why should there be a picture of a saint/angel on the list of demons page? I am removing this image from the page as I know the Christian mindset behind the insertion of such an image, disgusting. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.80.208.250 (talk) 08:13, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Most vandalized?

I wonder if there is a list somewhere of "most vandalized pages on Wikipedia." I think this one would be in the running. ◄Zahakiel► 02:41, 4 March 2008 (UTC)