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Asmodai
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{{context|February 2006}}
'''Asmodai''' (also '''Asmodeus''', '''Asmodaeus''') is a semi-
Bible Biblical demon mostly known thanks to the
deuterocanonical books 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
Achaemenid dynasty Achaemenids' rule over the
Jews.
The Persian Asmodai
In
Zoroastrianism 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 language 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 (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 and Eve 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 worshiped as gods because men do not know the names of the angels who rule over us.''"
- Testament of Solomon 5:4-5
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 the Apostle 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 (demon) 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 (symbolism) serpent tail, three heads (one of a man spitting fire, one of a
sheep ram, and one of a
Cattle bull), riding a
lion with
dragon wings and neck, all of these creatures being associated with either lasciviousness, lust or revenge.
''Other spellings'': Æshma (Old Persian), Æshma-dæva, Ashmadia, Ashmedai (Hebrew), Asmodaios (Greek), Asmoday, Asmodée (French), Asmodee, Asmodei, 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.
''See also'' ''
The Lesser Key of Solomon'', ''
Ars Goetia''.
Asmodai in fiction
*In ''
Dungeons & Dragons'',
Asmodeus (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
LuÃs 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 (Wheel of Time) Forsaken, near-immortal men and women of magical might and political influence who serve the Dark One.
*''
In Nomine (role-playing game) In Nomine'' as Asmodeus, one of the Demon Princes.
*''
Shadow Hearts 2 Shadow Hearts: Covenant'' as Asmodeus, a demon. He was summoned by Rasputin.
*''
Terranigma'' as Asmodeus, the disease that ravaged the surface world.
*''
Megatokyo'' as Asmodeus, archenemy to Seraphim
*
Gene Roddenberry's ''
Spectre (movie) Spectre'' has a fictional cult devoted to the worship of him.
*In the arcade/
Nintendo 64 fighting game ''
Mace: The Dark Age'', 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''
computer and video games 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 ''
Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'', Asmodeus is the demon the titular character must defeat in the Temple of Solomon.
*In the comic series ''
RFU (comic) RFU'', Asmodeus is the clearly evil leader of the Pointy Hat Guys, responsible for orchestrating many of the series' events. Despite his obvious duplicity (which he makes no effort to hide), the eventual revelation of his identity still manages to catch the entire moronic cast by surprise.
*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 ''
Esbae: A Winter's Tale'', Chuck Holmes summons the demon Asmodeus to help him pass his college classes.
*In ''
Robot Alchemic 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 (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 (Warhammer 40,000) Dark Angels Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000) Space Marine chapter in the tabletop wargame
Warhammer 40,000.
Category:Fictional kings
Category:Demons
Category:Jewish demons
de:Asmodis
es:Asmodeo
fr:Asmodée
he:×?שמד×?×™
ja:アスモデウス
pl:Asmodeus
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