| Belphegor | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Belphegor |
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First Appearance |
Christian Theology (derived from Assyrian mythology) |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Belphegor is, in the Abrahamic religions, a demon associated with one of the seven deadly sins. According to religious tradition, he helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by proposing incredible inventions that will make them rich. According to some demonologists from the 17th century, his powers are strongest in April. The German bishop and witch hunter, Peter Binsfeld (ca. 1540–ca.1600) wrote that Belphegor tempts through laziness. According to Binsfeld's Classification of Demons, Belphegor is the main demon of the deadly sin known as sloth in the Christian tradition.
Belphegor derives from the Assyrian Baal-Peor, a Baal worshipped at Mount Peor, to whom the Israelites were associated in Shittim (Numbers 25:3) and who was associated with intemperance and orgies. It was worshiped in the form of a phallus. As a demon, he is described in Kabbalistic writings as "the one who quarrels", an enemy of the sixth Sefirot "beauty". In stories where he was invoked, he bestows wealth, power to make discoveries and make fantastic inventions. His role as a demon was to sow dispute between people, and to lead them to evil through the distribution of wealth.
The palindrome prime number 1000000000000066600000000000001 is known as Belphegor's prime, due to the superstitious significance of the numbers it contains. Belphegor's prime number consists of the number 666, surrounded on both sides by thirteen zeros and finally one one.
According to De Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, Belfegor was Hell's ambassador to France. As a result, his enemy is St Mary Magdalene, one of the patron saints of France.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of demons from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Belfagor arcidiavolo (1549)
- Paradise Lost (1667)
- Dictionnaire Infernal (1818)
- Key of Solomon (1889)
Public Domain Stage Appearances[]
- Belfagor (1923)
Notes[]
- In One Piece, Magellan, the warden of the prison Impel Down, is heavily based on Belphegor; visually, with distinctive devil horns, and thematically, as the character sits on the toilet for ten hours a day to relieve himself of diarrhea instead of doing his prison duties.