Asmodai
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Asmodai (Asmodeus, Asmodaeus, pronounced Ashmed or Ashmedai in Hebrew, also Chammadai, Sydonai) is a semi-Biblical demon mostly known thanks to the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit; he is also mentioned in some Talmudic legends and in demonology, as he is a leading figure in the construction efforts of the Temple of Solomon. Amongst critical scholars, legends about Asmodai are thought to derive from Zoroastrianism, and incorporated into Judaism (and hence Christianity) during the Persian Achaemenids' rule over the Jews.
Spelling Variations
Æshma (Old Persian), Æshma-dæva, Ashmadia, Ashmedai (Hebrew), Asmodaios (Greek), Asmoday, Asmodée (French), Asmodee, Asmodei, Ashmodai, Asmodeios, Asmodeo (Spanish, from a Latin declination), Asmodeius, Asmodeus (Latin, as he is known in most translations of the Book of Tobit), Asmodi, Chammaday, Chashmodai, Sidonay, Sydonai.The Persian Asmodai
In Mazdeism, Æshma-deva (Asmodai) is the chief of all demons, a personal being under direct command of Angra Mainyu, the principle of evil, and the enemy of Sraoscha, one of the suras or angels that serve Ahura Mazdah, the principle of good (see dualism). Æshma's mission is to fill the hearts of men with anger and vengeful desires, and to create all evil on Earth. He incites men to abandon the path of good and follow that of evil. Avestan Æshma is cognate with modern Persian kheshm.Asmodai in Judaism
In Judaism Asmodai appears in the Book of Tobit and the Talmud. Note, however, that the Book of Tobit is not part of the established Jewish canon.In the Book of Tobit, Asmodai falls in love with Sarah, daughter of Raguel, and kills her husband each time she gets married. In this way, he killed seven men on their wedding nights, thus impeding the consummation of the sexual act. After this, Sarah becomes engaged to a young man called Tobias. Tobias is menaced by the demon and receives the aid of the angel Raphael. Raphael teaches Tobias how to deal with the demon, making him catch a fish and put its heart and liver on lit coals. This produces a vapour that makes Asmodai flee to Egypt, where Raphael binds him. More about the demon's fate in this story is unknown, but here he is presented as feeling carnal desire as well as having evil behaviour.
In the Talmud, Asmodai seems not to be the evil creature he is in other books. However, there are some legends concerning Asmodai and King Solomon. One of them tells that King Solomon tricked the demon and obliged him to collaborate in building the temple of Jerusalem. In another legend Asmodai changed place for some years with King Solomon. Yet another legend tells that Asmodai is the king of all demons, comparable to the Christian notions of Satan, and married Lilith after she left Adam.
Asmodai in demonology
The importance given to Asmodai in demonology is less than in Judaism, being considered somewhat lower to other hellish authorities by most Christian demonologists (according to The Lesser Key of Solomon he is the thirty second in rank), but all of them coincide on his duty, which is to exacerbate carnal desire.In the Testament of Solomon (dated 1st - 3rd centuries CE) , Solomon invokes Asmodeus to aid in the construction of the Temple. The demon appears and predicts Solomon's kingdom will one day be divided.
- "My constellation (is like an animal which) reclines in its den in heaven; some men call me the Great Bear, but others the Offspring of a Dragon. Moreover, a smaller constellation accompanies my constellation, for the high position and throne of my father is always in the sky. So do not ask me so many things, Solomon, for eventually your kingdom will be divided. This glory of yours is temporary. You have us to torture for a little while; then we shall disperse among human beings again with the result that we shall be worshipped as gods because men do not know the names of the angels who rule over us."
When Solomon interrogated Asmodeus further, he learned that Asmodeus was thwarted by the angel, Raphael, as well as sheatfish found in the rivers of Assyria. He also admitted he hated water.
In the Malleus Maleficarum (1486), he was considered the demon of lust, to which agreed Sebastian Michaelis saying that his adversary is St. John. To some demonologists of the 16th Century, that assigned each month to a demon, Asmodai's power is stronger in November. According to other demonologists his zodiacal sign is Aquarius but only between the dates of January 30 and February 8, he has seventy-two legions of demons under his command, and is one of the kings of Hell (Lucifer being the emperor). They also add to his mission that of inciting gambling, as he was said to be overseer of all the gambling houses in the court of Hell; and some Catholic theologians compared him with Abaddon. To other authors this demon is considered a prince of revenge and protector of male homosexuals, homosexuality being one of his methods of seduction. In the Dictionnaire Infernal by Collin de Plancy he is depicted with the chest of a man, cock legs, serpent tail, three heads (one of a man spitting fire, one of a ram, and one of a bull), riding a lion with dragon wings and neck, all of these creatures being associated with either lasciviousness, lust or revenge.
It is rumored that the modern-day exorcist Dr. Daniel J. Garguillio has made claims to be the literal son of Asmodeus.
Asmoday
The spelling Asmoday can be seen in the Ars Goetia as a king, and is said to have a seal in gold and is listed as number 32 according to respective rankchapter:Classified List of the 72 Chief Spirits in the Goetia, by S.L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley. He "is strong, powerful and appears with three heads; the first is like a bull, the second like a man, and the third like a ram; the tail of a serpent, and from his mouth issue flames of fire."the Goetia or Lesser Key of Solomon, page 32 Also, he sits upon an infernal dragon, holds a lance with a banner and, "amongst the Legions of Amaymon governs seventy two legions of inferior spirits.Asmodai in fiction
- In Dungeons & Dragons, Asmodeus resides in Fortress Malsheem, located in Nessus, the ninth layer of Baator. He is acknowledged by all baatezu as the king of Baator. His already formidable powers (which rival those of a deity) are augmented by his famous Ruby Rod which has a variety of magical powers.
- El Diablo Cojuelo (The Cripple Devil), by Luís Vélez de Guevara
- Paradise Lost, by John Milton
- In Redwall, by Brian Jacques, he is a giant adder.
- In the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan as Asmodean, one of the thirteen Forsaken, near-immortal men and women of magical might and political influence who serve the Dark One.
- In Nomine as Asmodeus, one of the Demon Princes.
- Shadow Hearts: Covenant as Asmodeus, a demon. He was summoned by Rasputin.
- Terranigma as Asmodeus, the disease that ravaged the surface world.
- Megatokyo webcomic as Asmodeus, archenemy to Seraphim
- Gene Roddenberry's Spectre has a fictional cult devoted to the worship of him.
- In the arcade/Nintendo 64 fighting game , Asmodeus is a demon who wields an unholy relic called the Mace of Tanis. Drawing on its netherwordly power, he supports the Covenant of Seven, an alliance of vicious rulers in the medieval world. In return, these sovereigns constantly war on their neighbouring countries and subject their lessers to the worst kinds of torture imaginable, thus satisfying the dark cravings of the Mace and its master.
- The first Star Ocean video game features the Demon King Asmodeus as the source of the virus that ravaged the planet of Roak.
- In the Ogre Battle Saga, as both Asmodeus and Asmodee, the god of Bane.
- In , Asmodeus is the demon the titular character must defeat in the Temple of Solomon.
- In the comic series RFU, Asmodeus is the leader of the Pointy Hat Guys, responsible for orchestrating many of the series' events.
- In the PC game Diablo, referred to as Azmodan, the Lord of Sin.
- In Anne Perry's Tathea, Asmodeus is the evil counterpart to God.
- In Linda Haldeman's , Chuck Holmes summons the demon Asmodeus to help him pass his college classes.
- In Robot Alchemical Drive, Asmodeus is the Leader of an evil robot race, and the final boss.
- In a Role-Playing Story called the "Yoshi Bodyguards" (located in the Nintendo Nsider Forums), Asmodeus is a Titan made of fire. The story's main character was named Asmodeus as well.
- In a series of novels by Richard Harland called the Heaven and Earth Trilogy, Asmodai is a fallen angel who pretends to repent. He is welcomed back into Heaven, but secretly continues to plot Heaven's fall.
- In the video game Painkiller, Asmodeus is the leader of Lucifer's armies. In the expansion, he usurps the throne of Lucifer.
- In Charmed the leader of the demonic group known as the Triad, the leader is named Asmodeus.
- Asmodai is also the name given to the Interrogator-Chaplain of the Dark Angels Space Marine chapter in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe.
- In Raven's Gate, by Anthony Horowitz, Jayne Deverill, a witch, has a cat called Asmodeus.
- In the action videogame Max Payne, the psychotic mafia goon Jack Lupino mentions Asmodeus in his deluded worship of various demons and other malevolent figures.
See also
References
Sources
- S. L. MacGregor Mathers (ed.), Samuel Liddell (trans.), The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King. York Beach, ME : Samuel Weiser (1995) ISBN 087728847X.
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