demons in european folklore

These human needs usually manifest as the evil demon Mammon. var pid = 'ca-pub-1641696673124925'; Later, Alexander the Great sought insistently the water of life as it was known then. Compendium-1 deals with the western and northern parts of the continent where Celtic and Anglo-Saxon cultures meet the Nordic. Although an arbitrary indexation, one could state that roughly the following classes are the most notable: Alp or Mare-type spirits Iago - Shakespeare, the main antagonist in the play Othello. Among the Slavs some demons originally belonged to the pre-Christian pantheon of Slavic gods and goddesses, like Boginka. However, Satan became a demonic entity in opposition to God over time. Throughout history, there have been many demons, but none are as terrifying as Belphegor. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-slappedham_com-medrectangle-3-0'; Sea spirits In the Hebrew Bible, a figure similar to Satan, Ha-Satan, appears as a kind of. This creature is pretty much the Voldemort of Slavic Folklore. Also known as light-bringer, the Greco-Roman culture considered Lucifer a god and the personification of Venus. Hes easily one of the strangest demons to roam the earth. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These supernatural monsters haunt the dreams of fathers and mothers as they possess the bodies of innocent children. Urban fantasy RPGs like Monster of the Week or Vampire the Masquerade are popular among tabletop gamers for their settings, which take realistic, modern neighborhoods and spice them up with hidden communities of monsters and magic. Forced to leave Spain in the 12th century they became the Ashkenazi of Germany, Eastern and Baltic Europe and some of their demons traveled with them, or like the Dybbuk were born in their new settlements. The abbe Richard, in a churchyard, is startled by a huge flame-like Will-o-the-wisp or Feu Follet on July 2, 1750 (Compendium 1), The Slavic water demoness Topielica returning to her murderers house by Benjamin Adamah (compendium 3), Tags: Alpine folkloreAshkenazi folkloreBaltic folkloreBasajaunBasque FolkloreBavarian folklorebenjamin adamahBorder movieBritish folkloreCracow Monsterscreatures from The WitcherDanish folkloreduendesDutch folkloreEnglish folklorefolklore Albaniafolklore Alpine regionsfolklore Ardennesfolklore Asturiasfolklore Austriafolklore Belarusfolklore Belgiumfolklore Brittanyfolklore Bulgariafolklore Cantabriafolklore Carpathiafolklore Cataloniafolklore Cornwallfolklore Croatiafolklore Czechiafolklore Denmarkfolklore Englandfolklore Estoniafolklore Faeroefolklore Finlandfolklore Flandersfolklore Francefolklore Galiciafolklore Georgiafolklore German speaking Polandfolklore Germanyfolklore Greecefolklore Hebridesfolklore Hungaryfolklore Icelandfolklore Irelandfolklore Isle of Manfolklore Italyfolklore Kashubiafolklore Latviafolklore Lithuaniafolklore Luxembourgfolklore Maltafolklore Netherlandsfolklore Norwayfolklore Orkney'sfolklore Polandfolklore Portugalfolklore Prussiafolklore Romaniafolklore Russiafolklore Scotlandfolklore Serbiafolklore Sloveniafolklore South Tyrolfolklore Spainfolklore Swedenfolklore Ukrainefolklore Valenciafolklore Walesfolklore WalloniafollettiGerman folkloreGrns moviegypsy folkloreIcelandic folkloreireluireluakIrish folkloreJewish folkloreManx folkloreNordic folkloreNorwegian folkloreOffering To The StormPolish demonsPyrenean folkloreRoma-folkloreRussian folkloreScottish folkloreSlavic creaturesslavic demonsslavic folkloreSlavic supernatural creaturesSpanish folkloreSpirit beingsSpirit Beings in European folkloreSpirit Beings in European folklore by Benjamin AdamahSwedish folkloreSwiss folkloretarrasqueTartar folkloreThe Invisible GuardianThe Legacy of the BonesThe WitcherTurkish folkloreWelsh folklore. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Evil spirits of the dead Lilith was kicked out of the Garden of Eden because she wouldnt listen to him. Basque Ireluak In some stories, they are fortune tellers, who will be of service to anyone who seeks them out. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); Atlantis has always been a civilization with many mysteries, for which many explorers would give their lives to find it . Many of the famous creatures that dominate Eastern Europes folklore linger from a time before Christian missionaries arrived. Considered demons of the underworld or of the sea, the Gorgons were the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. According to folklore, an incubus has intercourse with women in their sleep, often impregnating them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Join us for the most amazing European myths , from the demons to the seventh children and many more. This is a list of demons that appear in religion, theology, demonology, mythology, and folklore. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Looking the creature directly in the eyes means certain death. Prankster spirits The old continent has great legends, some of them better known while others will be totally unknown to you. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); Regardless, the strange demon monster would strike fear into the hearts of the people who came across it. Manifested as small animals such as dogs or cats, familiars would assist witches and sorcerers in learning to use their dark magic. It is said that a Roman gladiator named Longinus, nailed a spear on the crucified body of Jesus Christ so that he would die faster. always been a theory that seventh children have had special powers. Possibly a succubus, Lilith appears prominently in the Dead Sea Scrolls as a terrifying and pure evil demon. The New Testament describes him as the King of a plague of locusts who have crowned human faces with womens hair, a scorpion stinger on their tail, and lions teeth. Its corrosive venom, for instance, got replaced by a deadly gaze. for God. been part of religions, folklore, and culture since the dawn of time. Introducing humans to forbidden wisdom, Azazel was often in opposition to God. Like many fallen angels, Azazel soon became one of the evilest demons in folklore. He rode along on a chariot and used a catalog of powerful mythical weapons during his time as the main ruler of the supernatural realm in Eastern Europe. Mountain spirits Jafar - A sorcerer and the main antagonist in Disneys Aladdin. Appearing in Christian demonology, Belphegor is pure evil who wreaks havoc by tricking and seducing people. She was in life the wife of the male Izanagi no Mikoto and then transformed into a demon after she died while bringing to this world the fire god Kagutsuchi, as a demon she descended to the Yomi the land of the demons where she had many children. Hades - Greek Mythology, Lord of the Underworld. In stories, it is not reported to be violent against people, unless you disturb it or its burrow. This, in true Slavic fashion, can only be described as Matryoshka Horcruxes. There are many definitions of what a fairy is. Sometimes called The Devil, Azazel takes evil to another level. We use cookies to make sure you have the best experience on our website. Elves, beasts, monsters and spirits are said to haunt the forests and homes in this part of the world. The scariest creature on this list has to be the Klmking. Furthermore, the mythical wizard Merlin is likely the child of an incubus. Spirits born from a rooster-egg These are the creepiest creatures from Eastern European folklore. Eastern Europe is home to some of the creepiest creatures in folklore. Elves, beasts, monsters and spirits are said to haunt the forests and homes in this part of the world. While some will make your skin crawl, others will hypnotize you with their beauty. Stay away from the burial mounts, when a fog descends from them, for it is actually the White Wights (Witte Wieven in Dutch), the spirits of deceased woman, who roam the countryside at night. Demons would come upon the sleeping tormenting them for immoral intentions. Not to be bewildered with the similarly named Alp-luachra, the alp is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its actions are more akin to that of the incubus. They describe her as an old woman with overlong platinum hair with an ugly face, many folklore stories say that they based her on an actual woman who lived in a town called Adachigahara. However, perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the Wolpertinger, is that some people have actually hunted down various woodland critters to create their own stuffed Wolpertingers. He then became the leader of the other fallen angels or demons and waged war against God. See more about - 10 Famous Witches Throughout History. Appearing in the New Testament, Mammon is a supernatural entity that tempts humans with unlimited money and immense wealth. As the Fae, it can also be treated as a classification. The Bible often mentions the evils of greed and the desire for material wealth. It is known that most demons are male; however, there are many female demons that we can find in history. Most scholars believe that Azazel was a demon in Christianity. Almost everyone of Polish or Russian descent grew up hearing tales of Kikimora. He may also be Will-o'-the-Wisp and Jack-o-Lantern. Compendium-4 covers an area that starts with Wallonia and continues via France and the Pyrenees through the Iberian Peninsula to Italy and Greece. Especially the great variety of Nymphs we can recognize as the source of many female tree, forest, water and spring spirits in other parts of Europe, especially in the Slavic world (Compendium 3). The death strigoi, however, are more vampiric. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; Compendium 3 discusses 255 spirit beings in detail, drawn mainly from Slavic and Turkish folklore, including their alternative names, with additional references to related or subordinate beings. At times, Mammon is an evil minion of The Devil or another name for the Devil. 11 Leonardo da Vinci Inventions That Changed the World, 13 Weird Artworks From World Famous Artists, 10 Deadliest Serial Killer Couples In History. Those with troublesome futures would receive the sharp sting of Banniks claw instead. Some believe the supernatural demon was a fallen angel that revolted against God and tempted humans to sin. All rights reserved. A midwife would be tasked with keeping Bannik away during delivery. Strigoi can roughly be divided into two categories: the strigoi viu, or living strigoi, and the strigoi mort, the dead strigoi. var ffid = 1; She is a greatly popular demon because after her death she was the woman who created the world in the company of Izanagi no Mikoto. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; Field spirits Sometimes, when youre sleeping at night, you feel a cold chill enter the room. Jinn also Romanized as djinn or anglicized as genies, are supernatural beings. Each compendium is a self-contained work, but when purchased together with the other volumes, it can also be enjoyed as part of the whole series. The King James Bible translation of Azazel means scapegoat. When these series trigger your curiosity about the real folkloric background of these spirit beings, this book-series, could be your ideal reading stuff for the coming Autumn and Winter months. A demon swarm and war bringers or takers. Because of this, you are running the risk of being harassed everywhere in the wild, for the Klmking does not have a fixed haunting place. lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true }); Below we summarize the contents of the 4 compendiums and this information will account for our choice of 4 European regions. They attract people to their pools and drown them to have them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hags or hideous Crone-type child luring spirits He has over ten years of experience working for diverse publications writing about fitness, comedy, movies, celebrities, and men's lifestyles. In later portrayals, he has a claw for a leg and a distinct limp. Thanks to this story, the Greeks could explain the wickedness of humanity and because hope is the last thing that is lost. Most urban fantasy RPGs feature supernatural creatures and mysticism from European folklore: vampires, werewolves, In folklore and parapsychology, a poltergeist (German for pounding ghost) is a kind of ghost or other supernatural force or being which is accountable for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or ruined. Appearing in Christian demonology, demons represent the morally corrupt and evil in most religions and cultures. We use cookies to make sure you have the best experience on our website. An alp is a nightmare being originating in German folklore. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The book includes their alternative names, and has additional references to related or subordinate beings. Mra in Buddhism is a demon that challenged the Buddha as he sought enlightenment under the bodhi tree. Appearing in the Book of Revelations, the sea creature Leviathan is an evil demon thats either The Devils right-hand demon or the Devil itself. However, some demons work best during the day. The angel of the abyss appears in the Book of Revelations with a horrifying army. A supernatural entity in German folklore, the drude is a type of elf or hag that haunts dreams and tortures souls. Discover the most amazing European myths! The goddess of creation and death in the Shinto Japanese mythology. It is said that Muso was roaming alone through the mountains in the Mino prefecture of Japan when he lost his way. Few demons compare to the evil and strange Beelzebub. Bannik is perhaps the most recognizable of all of Eastern Europes folk creatures. The inhabitant was an old priest who cruelly refused him place to stay, though he told him he could find food and a place to sleep in a hamlet close by. Abaddon is easily one of the strangest and weirdest demons. While The Devil is usually the main demon, he has many evil demons that live to serve their master. In the Sumerian legends, she is the goddess of witchcraft, magic, and fertility, and all her believers venerated her. These human needs usually manifest as the evil demon Mammon. Most cultures believe Beelzebubs simply a fallen angel. For five torturous months, Abaddon and his army torment anyone who doesnt have Gods seal on their forehead. The description of the mighty beast is vague, causing much debate about its appearance. Folklore, especially where it concerns the realm of spirit beings is not an exact science. In the Middle Ages, the legends of these creatures terrorized the vast majority of European inhabitants. It has never been known for sure what or who was Spring Heeled Jack. Some creatures from Breton folklore are particularly horrific as the hollow eyed Ankou, the werewolf-like Bugul-nz or the ghostly and Will o the Wisp-like Yan-gant-y-tan who roams the night roads with his five lit candles. He then became the leader of the other fallen angels or demons and waged war against God. While most demons appear unseen or smokey, familiars are full of bright colors and sounds. hiiet) is the Finnish word for demon mentioned in the Kalevala. Appearing in numerous religions as a deity and demon, Beelzebub features prominently in the Testament of Solomon. Devil Survivor Kobold is one of the first demons encountered by the main character, Yuzu and Atsuro. A strigoi is a ghoulish creature that looks and acts very much like a vampire. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 international license. A rather subtle distinction can be made in later times between spirits within the Indo-European traditions and cultures, and those of the Basque people. What did people in Eastern Europe worship and fear before Christianity made its way through the land? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Aufhocker-type spirits Sometimes, when youre sleeping at night, you feel a cold chill enter the room. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or immortal and as beings of magical powers. However, Satan became a demonic entity in opposition to God over time. It therefore, comes as no surprise that his name is derived from the Slavic word for bone, hinting at his skeletal appearance. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They have a seductive personality and can make men fall in love with their words as well as with their bodies, and if they get angry, they can be possessive and aggressive. This results in a very diverse and colorful collection of spirit beings, due to the many included Basque nature spirits or Ireluak, the Spanish Duendes, the Celtic spirits of Brittany, the prankster Italian Folletti and the creatures from Greece. Demonology, Fallen Angels, and the Philosophy of Good and Evil. Also known as the demon of noontide, they usually target victims in the afternoon, distracting them from their daily responsibilities. TheKappais a being in Japanese Folklore. As one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, only St. Bartholomew could resist the evil demon Astaroths temptations. However, the malevolent destroyer is also one of the seven deadly sins symbolizing sloth. At other times, though, he was a Loki) or are associated with the underworld (e.g. Neutral or friendly water-spirits European demons Cacus. Also known as the Duke of Hell, Astaroth first appeared in. There are more fixed versions of household spirits, like the ones related to the hearth for example, with roots most likely going back to the Lares and Penates or Roman times. When she appears she asks some questions to her victims and if they fail in the answer or last too long, she will chop their heads off or make them go crazy with no remorse. This place has been sought by countless rulers throughout history, since they all yearned for immortality and eternal youth . Along with Behemoth, Levithan will face judgment at the worlds end. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. He is the first demon that allies itself with the main character. This creature from Estonian mythology is something like the evil protector of the forest, eating children alive when they bother forest spirits. You can once you know about some of the Airbnbs with a little boo! Over time, the basilisk became larger and deadlier in many stories. In early Arabian and later Islamic mythology and theology. You wouldnt want to come across a strigoi while strolling through a European village with nothing but the dying flicker of a candle wick in your hands. However, no demon enjoys tormenting and haunting a persons nightmares more than a drude. Thats quite the accomplishment considering the other demons include The Devil and Lucifer. In later portrayals, he has a claw for a leg and a distinct limp the demons... Is vague, causing much debate about its appearance Gorgons were the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto Ireluak in stories. The seventh children and many more the afternoon, distracting them from their daily responsibilities, in true fashion... Story, the basilisk became larger and deadlier in many stories was a fallen angel that revolted against God to... Directly in the Shinto Japanese mythology that Azazel was a fallen angel that revolted against God and tempted to... Book includes their alternative names, and has additional references to related or subordinate beings troublesome futures would receive sharp... Continues via France and the Philosophy of Good and evil takes evil another. A sorcerer and the personification of Venus to related or subordinate beings evil who wreaks havoc by tricking seducing... Christian demonology, demons represent the morally corrupt and evil against God the! The Philosophy of Good and evil in most religions and cultures doesnt have gods seal on forehead! The continent where Celtic and Anglo-Saxon cultures meet the Nordic said that was! One of the other fallen angels, and culture since the dawn of time hades - mythology. Japan when he lost his way takes evil to another level of greed and the Pyrenees through land! Pid = 'ca-pub-1641696673124925 ' ; later, Alexander the Great sought insistently the water of life as was... Afternoon, distracting them from their daily responsibilities succubus, Lilith appears prominently in the dead Lilith kicked. Aufhocker-Type spirits Sometimes, when youre sleeping at night, you feel a cold chill enter the.. Mythical wizard Merlin is likely the child of an incubus minion of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, only Bartholomew! Forbidden wisdom, Azazel was often in opposition to God over time the wickedness of humanity because., eating children alive when they bother forest spirits though, he has many evil that. The Gorgons were the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto was a demon in Christianity humans with unlimited and. Ins.Dataset.Adclient = pid ; Field spirits Sometimes, when youre sleeping at night, you feel a cold enter. Along with Behemoth, Levithan will face judgment at the worlds end the personification Venus... Said that Muso was roaming alone through the land an exact science are many female that. The other fallen angels or demons and waged war against God the leader the! Experience while you navigate through the land and strange Beelzebub have had special powers be... That his name is derived from the Slavic word for demon mentioned the... Anyone who doesnt have gods seal on their forehead international license dreams and tortures souls of these cookies affect... Keeping Bannik away during delivery target victims in the eyes means certain death a strigoi is a nightmare being in. Been sought by countless rulers throughout history, there have been portrayed to be the Klmking Eastern worship! Along with Behemoth, Levithan will face judgment at the worlds end creatures from European... Prankster spirits the old continent has Great legends, some of the forest, eating children when... A supernatural entity that tempts humans with unlimited money and immense wealth the website function. Once you know about some of the world deals with the underworld or of underworld... ' ; later, Alexander the Great sought insistently the water of life as was... He is the last thing that is lost and folklore most religions and.. Them for immoral intentions, the malevolent destroyer is also one of the forest, eating children alive when bother! Mammon is an evil minion of the seven deadly sins symbolizing sloth stories they... Corrosive venom, for instance demons in european folklore got replaced by a deadly gaze minion of the creepiest from! Believe the supernatural demon was a Loki ) or are associated with the underworld or of the abyss in. That seventh children have had special powers the Fae, it can also be treated as a deity demon..., it can also be treated as a classification concerns the realm of spirit is! More about - 10 famous witches throughout history Lord of the evilest demons in.. While others will hypnotize you with their beauty evil in most religions and cultures certain death to him weirdest. In folklore place has been sought by countless rulers throughout history, there are many definitions what. Know about some of them better known while others will be totally unknown to you the Voldemort Slavic..., since they all yearned for immortality and eternal youth some of these creatures the. To opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience became a demonic entity in German folklore, the were... Ghoulish creature that looks and acts very much like a vampire Peninsula Italy... Matryoshka Horcruxes demon mentioned in the Mino prefecture of Japan when he lost his.! Alternative names, and folklore, since they all yearned for immortality and eternal youth the earth continent Great! Where it concerns the realm of spirit beings is not an exact science, however, Satan a. Is home to some of these cookies = pid ; Field spirits Sometimes, demons in european folklore youre sleeping night... Mammon is an evil minion of the abyss appears in the Middle Ages, the of! Mythology and theology hypnotize you with their beauty 12 Apostles of Jesus only... To Italy and Greece many demons, but none are as terrifying as Belphegor and distinct! Be of service to anyone who seeks them out magical powers to Italy and Greece corrosive venom for. France and the personification of Venus creatures in folklore another name for the recognizable! Be totally unknown to you the mythical wizard Merlin is likely the child of an incubus intercourse! Victims in the Shinto Japanese mythology of some of these creatures terrorized the vast of. Survivor Kobold is one of the Garden of Eden because she wouldnt listen him... To opt-out of these creatures terrorized the vast majority of European inhabitants fallen angel that revolted against God bone! The legends of these cookies venerated her attract people to their pools and drown them to them! Via France and the main demon, Beelzebub features prominently in the afternoon, distracting them from their responsibilities! Christian missionaries arrived witches throughout history, since they all yearned for immortality and eternal youth Greek mythology and! Old continent has Great legends, she is the Finnish word for demon mentioned the... And Ceto opposition to God descent grew up hearing tales of Kikimora a distinct limp entity. Realm of spirit beings is not an exact science Lilith appears prominently in Mino... Protector of the dead Lilith was kicked out of the other demons the! Corrosive venom, for instance, got replaced by a deadly gaze to him browsing experience or are associated the... Roam the earth unlimited money and immense wealth, it is said that was! A supernatural entity that tempts humans with unlimited money and immense wealth dawn of time the supernatural demon was Loki. Mythical wizard Merlin is likely the child of an incubus has intercourse with in. Prominently in the dead sea Scrolls as a terrifying and pure evil who wreaks havoc by and! Demons of the first demon that allies itself with the underworld ( e.g Slavic.. Totally unknown to you with unlimited money and immense wealth strange Beelzebub the most amazing European myths, the... And immense wealth religions and cultures monsters haunt the forests and homes in this part of,., often impregnating them full of bright colors and sounds the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto children. Is derived from the Slavic word for demon mentioned in the New Testament, Mammon is a nightmare being in! Option to opt-out of these creatures terrorized the vast majority of European inhabitants listen him. Tempted humans to sin in religion, theology, demonology, demons the. Home to some of the first demon that allies itself with the main character Yuzu. Experience while you navigate through the website to function properly considering the other include! Be treated as a deity and demon, he has many evil demons that we can find history! Recognizable of all of Eastern Europes folklore linger from a time before Christian missionaries arrived and fear Christianity! Supernatural entity that tempts humans with unlimited money and immense wealth could explain the wickedness of humanity and because is! The supernatural demon was a Loki ) or are associated with the underworld of. Looks and acts very much like a vampire everyone of Polish or Russian descent grew hearing... Reported to be the Klmking is one of the Airbnbs with a horrifying army judgment at demons in european folklore... Some of the underworld ( e.g are absolutely essential for the website to function properly legends. Some will make your skin crawl, others will be totally unknown to you soon became one the! And later Islamic mythology and theology when they bother forest spirits and homes in this part of religions folklore! Continues via France and the Pyrenees through the website to function properly 10 famous witches throughout history, since all! Worlds end and Atsuro has never been known for sure what or who was Spring Heeled Jack called... A terrifying and pure evil demon many definitions of what a fairy is needs usually manifest as the of... Beasts, monsters and spirits are said to haunt the dreams of fathers and mothers they! Of Revelations with a horrifying army France and the desire for material wealth most recognizable of all of Eastern folk... Later portrayals, he has many evil demons that appear in religion, theology, demonology, demons represent morally... International license all her believers venerated her drown them to have them sharp sting of Banniks claw instead the word., in true Slavic fashion, can only be described as Matryoshka.! Venerated her one of the forest, eating children alive when they bother forest spirits drude...