Cacodemon
 |
 Louis Le Breton's illustration of a cacodemon from the Dictionnaire Infernal (1863) | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Cacodaemon |
| Grouping | Evil spirit |
| Sub grouping | Demon |
A cacodemon (or cacodaemon) is an evil spirit or (in the modern sense of the word) a demon. The opposite of a cacodemon is an agathodaemon or eudaemon, a good spirit or angel. The word cacodemon comes through Latin from the Ancient Greek κακοδαίμων kakodaimōn, meaning an "evil spirit", whereas daimon would be a neutral spirit in Greek. It is believed to be capable of shapeshifting.[1] A cacodemon is also said to be a malevolent person.
In psychology, cacodemonia (or cacodemonomania) is a form of insanity in which the patient believes that they are possessed by an evil spirit. The first known occurrence of the word cacodemon dates to 1593.
In William Shakespeare's Richard III Act 1 Scene 3, Queen Margaret calls Richard a "cacodemon" for his foul deeds and manipulations.[2] In John Fletcher's The Knight of Malta, Norandine calls Mountferrat, the play's villain, a "cacodemon" in the final scene.[3]
In astrology, the 12th house was once called the Cacodemon for its association with evil.[4][5] Defined as "a noise-making devil", Jane Davidson has noted an illustrated example of a cacodemon in editions of Ulisse Aldrovandi's Monstrum Historia (Story of Monsters) as late as 1696.[6]
In popular culture
- There is a painting by Paul Klee called Cacodaemonic (1916).[7]
- In the fantasy world Glorantha (1975), Cacodemon is the god of lawlessness and ogres.[8]
- In Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom, Cacodaemons are large red demons encountered on floor 777.[9]
- In the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, cacodaemons are many-eyed, tadpolish daemons used as pets by greater ones and as familiars by spellcasters.[10][11]
- In Magic: The Gathering, Dread Cacodemon is a card from the Commander expansion.[12]
See also
- Ancient Greek religion
- Genius – Divine nature in ancient Roman religion
- Greek mythology
- Jinn – Supernatural beings in Arab culture and Islam
References
- ^ Spence, Lewis (2003) [1920]. An Encyclopædia of Occultism. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. p. 84. ISBN 0-486-42613-0.
- ^ Shakespeare, William. "Act 1, Scene 3". The Life and Death of Richard the Third. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via shakespeare.mit.edu.
- ^ Francis, Beaumont; John, Fletcher (1647). Comedies and Tragedies. London: Printed for Humphrey Robinson, at the three Pidgeons, and for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Armes in St Paul's Church-yard. p. 95.
- ^ Wilson, James (1819). A Complete Dictionary of Astrology, in which Every Technical and Abstruse Term Belonging to the Science Is Minutely and Correctly Explained, and the Various Systems and Opinions of the Most Approved Authors Carefully Collected and Accurately Defined. London: Printed for William Hughes, Islington Green, and sold by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster-Row, and by all other booksellers. p. 13.
- ^ de Vore, Nicholas (2005) [1947]. Encyclopedia of Astrology. Abingdon, Maryland: Astrology Classics. p. 36. ISBN 1-933303-09-3.
- ^ Davidson, Jane (2012). Early Modern Supernatural: The Dark Side of European Culture, 1400-1700. California: Praeger. p. 44.
- ^ "Cacodemonic, 1916 - Paul Klee". WikiArt. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ Stafford, Greg; Richard, Jeff; Petersen, Sandy (2014). Guide to Glorantha. Vol. I. Moon Design Publications. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-9777853-7-7.
- ^ "Eudemons & Cacodemons". Demonology 101. Kelley Armstrong. Archived from the original on 6 April 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2006.
- ^ "Daemon, Cacodaemon". Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2. Illustrated by Tyler Walpole (1st ed.). Paizo Publishing, LLC. December 2010. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-60125-268-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Stewart, Todd (2011). "About Daemons". Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Book of the Damned. Vol. 3. Paizo Publishing, LLC. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-60125-373-6.
- ^ "Dread Cacodemon". Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
Further reading
- Sinistrari, Ludovico Maria (1879). Demoniality: Or, Incubi and Succubi. Paris: Isidore Liseux. OCLC 263027215.