Editing Archdemon

{{Short description|Evil counterparts of the archangels}}
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{{More citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Original research|date=May 2016}}
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[[File:Asmodis Rennes.JPG|thumb|The figure of archdemon [[Asmodeus]] in [[Rennes-le-Château]]]]
In some [[occult]] and similar writings, an '''archdemon''' (also spelled '''archdaemon'''), '''archdevil''', or '''archfiend''' is a spiritual entity prominent in the [[Hell|infernal]] hierarchy as a leader of [[demons]].<ref>Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Demons, 2010</ref> Essentially, the archdemons are the evil opponents of the [[archangel]]s.

==Christian traditions==
Archdemons are described as the leaders of demonic hosts, just as archangels lead [[Hierarchy of angels|choirs of angels]]. Based upon the writings of [[Saint Paul]] (Col. 1:16; Eph. 1:21) the angelic court had been constructed by [[Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite]] and comprised nine orders of angels with three orders each to three hierarchies.

The first hierarchy consists of [[seraph]]im, [[cherub]]im and [[Throne (angel)|thrones]]. The second hierarchy consists of [[Domination (angel)|dominations]], [[Virtue (angel)|virtues]] and [[Power (angel)|powers]].  The third hierarchy consists of [[Principality (angel)|principalities]], [[archangel]]s and [[angel]]s.  This system of classifying angels has been accepted by the majority of Christian scholars.  However, no similar consensus has been reached on the 
[[classification of demons]].  This is largely due to the fact that, historically, the definition of what an archdemon is and the names of those demons has varied greatly over time.

One common medieval classification associate the [[seven deadly sins]] with archdemons:<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica: Macropædia'' 1991 {{ISBN|978-0-852-29529-8}} page 411</ref>
* [[Lucifer]]: Pride
* [[Mammon]]: Greed
* [[Asmodeus]]: Lust
* [[Leviathan]]: Envy
* [[Beelzebub]]: Gluttony
* [[Satan]]: Wrath
* [[Belphegor]]: Sloth<ref>Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology, By Rosemary Guiley, p. 28-29, Facts on File, 2009.</ref>

In the [[occult]] tradition, there is controversy regarding which demons should be classed as archdemons. During different ages, some demons were historically "promoted" to archdemons, others were completely forgotten, and new ones were created. In ancient [[Judaism|Jewish]] lore, many of the [[Paganism|pagan]] gods of neighboring cultures were identified as extremely pernicious demons in order to prevent Jews from worshiping them.

Therefore, the pagan deity [[Baal|Ba'al]] was reinterpreted as the archdemon [[Baal (demon)|Bael]] or [[Beelzebub]], and the pagan deity [[Astarte]] was reinterpreted as the archdemon [[Astaroth]].  These two in particular were seen as some of the worst enemies of [[God]].  By the Middle Ages, these pagan deities were no longer worshiped, so their characterizations as archdemons were no longer important, but they still persisted anyway. New archdemons were invented over time, most of them revolving around [[Satan]] and the [[Antichrist]].

==Islamic tradition==
[[File:Book of Wonders folio 32a.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Maymūn, the demon king of Saturday]] 

According to Middle Eastern Folkmagic usually, seven kings of the jinn are assigned to each day of the week. Although they can do, unlike the [[Angels in Islam|spirits of heavens]], both good and evil, they have responsibility given by [[God in Islam|God]] regarding the affairs of the earth. In some reports, they are rather [[Ifrit|infernal demons]] (''ʻIfrīt'') than explicitly [[jinn]]. A [[hadith]] from [[Wahb ibn Munabbih]] reports that the archetypes of the jinn are like air, differing from the regular jinn, they don't need to eat, drink and they do not produce offspring.<ref>Sharpe, Elizabeth Mari ''Into the realm of smokeless fire: (Qur'an 55:14): A critical translation of al-Damiri's article on the jinn from "[[Hayat al-Hayawan al-Kubra]]"'' The University of Arizona 1953</ref> Since they do not move themselves, they send subordinate devils (''shayāṭīn''). They are mentioned in several Muslim treatises, such as the [[Book of Wonders]]. 

The [[Islam and magic|Muslim occultist]] [[Ahmad al-Buni]] sets four of these kings named ''Mudhib'', ''Maimun'', ''Barqan'' and ''al-Ahmar'', in opposition to the four [[Archangel#In Islam|archangels]] of [[Islam]].<ref>Robert Lebling ''Robert Lebling'' I.B.Tauris 2010 {{ISBN|978-0-857-73063-3}} page 86-87</ref> They frequently appear inscribed in [[talisman]]s. According to Muslim astrology, one needs to get permission of the king of the jinn for the corresponding day to perform a spell. When the jinn-king is summoned together with the name of the angel responsible for the day, it would be impossible for the jinn-king to deny an order of the sorcerer.<ref>Mommersteeg, Geert. “‘He Has Smitten Her to the Heart with Love’ The Fabrication of an Islamic Love-Amulet in West Africa.” Anthropos, vol. 83, no. 4/6, 1988, pp. 501–510. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40463380. Accessed 13 June 2020.</ref>

According to [[Mas'udi]]'s "Annals of Time", four Afarit carry the throne of [[Iblis]], analogue to the [[Bearers of the Throne|Hamlat al Arsh]] carrying the throne of God.<ref>el-Zein, A. (1995). The evolution of the concept of the Jinn from pre-Islam to Islam. p.190</ref>

== Middle Eastern tales ==
In some Middle Eastern legends, an order of [[Zabaniyah|nineteen angels of hell]] exists, each commanding a host of devils. Among them is the Quranic guardian of hell-fire [[Maalik]]. Another Quranic member is the [[fallen angel]] [[Iblis]], who is also their leader. However, most individual members are not based on the Quran, but integrated to [[Islamic views on sin|Muslim understanding of sin]]. One member of the infernal council is responsible for distracting during prayer, one advocates [[Bid'ah|illicit innovations in religious affairs]], yet another one incites [[lust]] (etc.). These devils are not thought to fulfill the requests of a sorcerer, but serve as means of punishment in the hereafter or as adversaries of the prophet [[Solomon in Islam|Solomon]]. According to the corresponding legend, both Solomon and the arch-devils struggle for their reign over the [[jinn]] and [[Div (mythology)|div]].<ref>Joseph Hammer Purgstall; Rosenöl. 971 original: 1813 Georg Olms Verlag. pp. 184, 320</ref>

==Zoroastrianism==
According to [[Zoroastrian]] [[Dualism (cosmology)|dualism]], the world is created by two opposing forces. The ''good'' deity [[Ahura Mazda]] created  everything good, but for everything good created [[Ahriman]] created an evil opposite. These results in the existence of seven Archdemons, who in return command a countless numbers of [[Daeva|demons]]. These archdemons stay in exact opposition to the [[Amesha Spenta]].<ref>S. A. Nigosian, Solomon Alexander Nigosian
 ''The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research'' McGill-Queen's Press 1993 {{ISBN|9780773511446}} p.86</ref>

==Demon Kings of the ''Ars Goetia''==
''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]'', an anonymous 17th century grimoire, lists 72 of the most powerful and prominent demons of Hell in its first part, the ''Ars Goetia''. Satan himself is not mentioned among them considering his overall dominion of Hell as the ''Prince of Darkness''. Below him, the ''Ars Goetia'' suggests, are the four kings of the cardinal directions who have power over the seventy-two, next the kings, and onward with other demons with lower monarchic titles. The four kings of the cardinal directions are the primary point of contention between different editions and translations, and occultist writers. The common composition of the kings is:

* King of the East: [[Amaymon]]
* King of the West: [[Corson (demon)|Corson]]
* King of the North: [[Ziminiar]]
* King of the South: [[Gaap]]
* King [[Baal (demon)|Bael]]
* King [[Paimon]]
* King [[Beleth]]
* King [[Purson]]
* King [[Asmodeus|Asmodey]]
* King [[Baal (demon)|Viné]] 
* King [[Balam (demon)|Balam]]
* King [[Zagan (demon)|Zagan]]
* King [[Belial]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
*{{Citation
  | last1 = Bane | first1 = Theresa
  | title = Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures
  | publisher = MacFarland
  | year = 2010
  | isbn = 978-0-7864-6360-2 }}

==Further reading==
*{{Citation
  | last1 = Robbins | first1 = Rossell
  | title = The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology
  | publisher = Crown Publishers Inc.
  | year = 1959
  | isbn = 0-600-01183-6 }}

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[[Category:Demons]]
[[Category:Ifrits]]