Demons in Arabic mythology. Demons are believed to have their roots in Mesopotamian religion and mythology because they have similar traits to Gallu demons. The connection is believed to come from the nomads of Arabia who interacted with Mesopotamian civilization and commercial stories, such as the Antichrist. Gallu demons were known to be part of the underworld and were believed to take their victims to the land of the dead to devour them. Demons in Arabic mythology have very similar characteristics.
Regardless of how demons came to be in Arab tradition, much of what is known about these creatures comes from the work “Arabian Nights.” This series of stories offers an interesting perspective on these creatures and their origin. Furthermore, it is important to note that the translation of Arabian Nights by European authors was not entirely faithful to the nature of the stories recorded in the work. Because of this, demons were transformed in a way that led to many modern interpretations of the creature.
The overlap between the two perspectives tends to agree that demons are humanoid creatures and tend to frequent areas that are largely abandoned by humans, such as cemeteries. They were known to eat flesh and drink blood, although surprisingly the source of these things differs depending on which version of the legend is followed.
Early Arab Demons
The earliest stories of demons come from Arab legend. The myth of the demon predates Islam, but because the demon is mentioned in the Quran, the creature remains a source of terror in Arab culture today. There are several theories as to why the demon appears in the Quran. Some hypothesize that the widespread belief in Jinn (creatures responsible for the myths of genies believed to inhabit a parallel world) leads to the natural application of demons in the Islamic religion.
Others believe that early practitioners of Islam used stories that were familiar to their culture to convert people to their new beliefs. Regardless of how demons were introduced into Arab tradition, there are several key facts that remain prominent in early legends about demons.
One of the most important facts covered by early macabre mythology is that these creatures appear to have been born from Iblis (the Islamic equivalent of Satan), which technically makes them jinn. Iblis was thought to be part of a race of creatures called jinn—creations of Allah who lived in a world separate from ours. However, although they were part of a different world, they were able to interact with ours. It is believed that when Allah created man, Iblis became jealous that man was more favored than his own kind and refused to bow down to him.
He would have been killed for his crime, but Allah spared his life until the Day of Judgment. Unfortunately, Iblis is using this time to take revenge on humans. This is probably why the creation of demons is attributed to Iblis. After all, a creature that feeds on human flesh and delights in their torture is a likely form of revenge for a fallen genius.
Demons in ancient Arab tradition were also known to live in desert areas. People traveling near cemeteries and abandoned buildings or through desert lands were warned to be especially vigilant against these creatures. They were believed to be bipedal—albeit with a hunched form—and were known to crawl (and sometimes run) on all fours like an animal. They preferred to feed on small children (presumably because of how easy they were to kill), but they would feed on any human they had the opportunity to cannibalize.
Demons were also thought to have the ability to change shape. They could appear as beautiful women who preyed on lustful men by luring them to a secluded area, or as an animal in the desert such as a hyena. They were known to remain in these forms until they had the opportunity to attack their victim and devour them. Demons were believed to be particularly fond of attacking travelers (solo travelers or small groups in particular). Some stories say that they lit fires on well-traveled roads in order to lure a single traveler into a trap and devour them.
Another interesting feature of the demons in early legends is that they were not particularly associated with eating the dead. They were known to prefer fresh meat, and although they would not refuse a corpse if no other source of food was available, they certainly preferred a living victim. They were also known to enjoy drinking blood and stealing coins. Early demons were also known to be carriers of skin diseases, which may have been due to the types of places they were believed to inhabit.
Demons in European legends
Demons were unknown in Europe until Antoine Galland (a French writer) translated “The Thousand and One Nights” (also known as Arabian Nights). While the translation of the text was a wonderful adventure into the rich Arab culture, the texts were tainted by Galland’s free interpretation of the texts. In fact, he is believed to have created several characters and added stories that were not part of the original work.
One of these characters was Amina, a woman who enjoyed the company of demons that inhabited a cemetery rather than spending time with her new husband. This version of demons introduced the idea that creatures frequented cemeteries specifically to feast on the dead, which in turn had a huge impact on how Europe grew to perceive the legend of demons.
The text of “Arabian Nights” continued to grow in popularity throughout Europe and, in turn, inspired many stories about the demon that affect the modern interpretation of the creature. Some of the most famous writers in history were inspired by these legends and eventually added their own perspective on the creature and its motivations.
What do demons look like?
The physical appearance of a demon is similar in both Arab and European depictions of the creature, although there are some notable differences that should be noted.
Early Arabic appearance
In many ancient myths, there are descriptions of demons that are quite hairy. This is possibly because they are known to have canine features. Having an appearance that is similar to that of a dog, it would be natural to conclude that the rest of the creature’s appearance would have been similar to that of an animal.
However, it is also important to note that there are demons in these primitive myths that have the power to shape-shift. They are known to transform themselves into beautiful women who lead men astray and into isolated areas. When the man was sufficiently distracted, the demon (and sometimes its pack) would pounce on the lustful men and devour them.
There are stories of demons transforming into other animals. Although it was possible for a demon to transform into any type of animal, it seems that a popular choice was to transform into a hyena. The demon would use the form of a hyena to lure a person into the desert. When they were far enough away from civilization, the rest of the pack would appear and pounce on the victim. They would then quickly devour the victim.
It is important to note that in addition to having a canine-like face, the first demons were also thought to have humanoid bodies and hoof-like feet. These were characteristics that were used to identify the presence of demons, especially the hooves. It was said that when a demon was nearby, the hoof prints of the creatures were easy to see.
It was also characteristic to identify a demon by seeing a humanoid in the distance that suddenly threw itself on its hands and feet to flee. Demons were known to prefer crawling on all fours, although they were capable of walking on two feet.
Appearance according to Europeans
European descriptions of demons are interesting, as in some ways they resemble the demons of Arabic folklore, while in others they have changed completely. The new demons still retained their canine features and hooves, but instead of having a hairy exterior, they transformed into pale creatures with rubbery-looking skin. These creatures are sensitive to light, although not to the same extent as vampires. Although light can cause them pain, it cannot kill them.
In addition to being pale, these modern demons are also capable of shape-shifting. An interesting feature, however, is that these demons seem to have even greater shape-shifting abilities than the early demons. Recent literature has grown to suggest that demons are capable of transforming themselves into the form of the last victim they have devoured, regardless of whether the human was alive or dead when they feasted on their flesh.
Furthermore, it has been suggested that these demons can also access the memories of the person they devoured by eating their brain, effectively allowing them to blend into society undetected.
Finally, it is said that although some demons have a rather fierce and serious appearance, others are able to blend into human society quite well. Angels are exchanged with human children at birth and grow up in human homes without being noticed. It is unclear whether the angels’ features are less harsh because they grow up in a less harsh and evil environment than the one they were born into or because they are genetically predisposed to have more humanistic traits. Either way, they are able to pass relatively easily.
Where do demons live?
Demons tend to live in isolated areas that are separated from most of society. They are often found in deserted lots, abandoned buildings, and cemeteries. However, contrary to common belief, a demon does not necessarily prefer to reside in a cemetery because it seeks to eat corpses—it simply appreciates the isolation.
More recent stories about demons suggest that the creatures have moved their operations largely underground. They are said to frequent basements and cellars in abandoned buildings, and there are even rumors that they have an underground network of tunnels that they use to travel. They may also have connections to the subway and are believed to sometimes eat the remains of subway accident victims before paramedics arrive.
Can a demon be killed?
There are ways to fight a demon, although it is important to be very precise. Any mistake on the part of the individual fighting a demon will certainly result in death. The most common method of killing these creatures is decapitation. Ancient myths about demons claim that a ghost can be killed using a sword. It is imperative, however, that the attacker only use one strike to kill the beast.
Two or more strikes will resurrect the creature and almost certainly spell the death of the person fighting the demon. Because only one strike can be used to kill a demon, decapitation is the preferred method to ensure that the beast dies quickly. More recent mythology tells us that there are several other ways in which a demon can be dealt with. One of these methods is the use of fire.
However, the use of fire can be tricky, as you will need to be able to heat the element to extreme temperatures in order to char the demon to ashes. Electrocution and exposure to concentrated acids are also believed to kill demons. This has to be done thoroughly—if a demon is not dead, it could regenerate and come back to finish you off.
Finally, although light is not fatal to demons, it is worth mentioning that sunlight is painful to demons and that more concentrated types of light can be especially harmful to their eyes.
Famous demons in literature
From the original tales of demons that were written in Arabic literature to the modern interpretation of these creatures, there have been many authors who have recorded the legend of demons.
The story of Gherib and his brother Agib
This story appears in ‘The Thousand and One Nights’ and is one of the original stories that includes demons that were not manipulated by Antoine Galland.
In ‘The Story of Gherib and His Brother Agib,’ Gherib is sent on a journey to win the hand of his beloved, Mahdiyyaa, in marriage. On the way, he encounters Sa’dan the demon—the master of a castle he must overcome to continue his quest. He defeats the creature and his children and converts them to Islam. Sa’dan the demon is described as a cannibal, making him appear to have at least some human traits.
The Nameless Offspring
This is a short story written by Clark Ashton Smith in 1932. He was probably inspired by “The Thousand and One Nights” and added some interesting myths to the legend of the demon. The nameless offspring remains faithful to the macabre legend in the sense that it does not change the supposed dwelling place of these creatures (cemeteries) and does not attempt to change the characteristics of the creature.
It still shows that it has pale, whitish skin, a face with features resembling those of a canine animal, long claws, and feet that look like hooves. It refers to a demon’s favorite food of corpses, but that is to be expected since Clark Ashton Smith was influenced by European translations that had been altered by Galland.
What is interesting about this particular text is that it offers a hypothesis as to how these creatures were able to survive. It is proposed that demons mate with humans who have been mistakenly buried, but that their descendants remain demons and do not appear to be hybrids. This idea inspired many who studied macabre legends.
Pickman’s Model
Pickman’s Model is a short story about demons written by the famous author H. P. Lovecraft. This piece details a man’s encounter with an artist named Pickman, who has taken up a fascination with the idea of demons and devilish creatures.
The text goes on to describe the many paintings Pickman has created. In the end, it is suggested that Pickman himself is more than human (probably a mutant) and that demons still exist alongside humanity in forgotten underground tunnels and passages.
How are demons created?
There are many theories about how demons are created, although many are simply born from imagination and observation of demon behavior.
Standard procreation
One of the simplest explanations for how a demon can be born is simply the mating of a male and a female. This would be the simplest explanation, although curiously it does not seem to be the most widely used in mythology. Instead, it seems that most demons that procreate together have a tendency to eat their offspring shortly after birth. This could be the result of weak genetic diversity, a problem that several other hypotheses attempt to explain.
Demonic Hybrids
There were some theories that emerged in demon mythology that claimed these creatures could mate with humans—often humans who had been mistakenly buried. In this way, demons were able to maintain stronger human genes in their own gene pool and continue to produce offspring.
Descent into Ghouldom
There are some who theorize that demons are so difficult to destroy completely because they do not actually procreate—instead, they are former humans who have been transformed into demons due to their evil nature. There are several ways this could have been done. The first is when a person lives such an evil life that their actions cause them to rise from the dead and live as a demon. The second occurs when a human cannibalizes another person. Both transformations are permanent and reflect the repugnant soul of the afflicted person turned demon.
Outbreak
Finally, there are those who believe that demons are created by some kind of genetic abnormality—something that could occur through an infectious disease. This process is usually transmitted when a person is bitten by a demon or comes into contact with biological fluids that seep into the skin. This causes the afflicted person to gradually turn into a demon, or die and then return from the dead as a demon.
The origin of the demon myth
The demon myth probably has its roots in Mesopotamia. However, there is also the possibility that the macabre myth arose to give an example of the wrath of Iblis when he realized that he would not be allowed into paradise because he refused to submit to man.
Because demons tend to target travelers and lustful men, the story of demons could also have been used to explain the sudden disappearance of a person, whether they died or simply ran off with another woman.
It is also worth noting that demons are said to carry disease on their skin. This could be symbolic. These creatures are known to inhabit abandoned buildings and cemeteries. It is possible that macabre myths were created to keep people away from areas that were more likely to contain germs and viruses that would be deadly to large populations. This could have helped keep large civilizations healthy by keeping citizens away from areas most prone to contamination.
