recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Nāga

Nāgas are semi-divine entities in Hindu mythology typically with the head of a human and the body of a serpent. They have precious stones in their heads.

## Origin

The Nāgas were originally a tribe from Sri Lanka and southern India, notable for worshipping serpents. They were demonised by early Hindu groups, along with the Rakshasas and Yakshas.

## Myths

The Nāgas were originally born to Kadrū and Kaśyapa, with the intention being for them to inhabit Pātāla (the Kashmir Valley).

While they are not predisposed to antagonising humans, nāgas retaliate when harmed. They are immortal (and can grant immortality to others), and also have a deadly venom.

In the *Mahābhārata*, the story of Hanamejaya is recounted, wherein he attempted to destroy the nāgas through a great snake sacrifice before being talked out of it.

The nāgas live in the underwater city of Bhagavati, with its jewel-encrusted palaces. Around the city there are flowers, dancing, and city. The women are beautiful, well-dressed, and incredibly knowledgeable and charming. They are known to occasionally marry mortals, with many (minor) royal families in southern and western India and Pakistan claiming descent from a *nāgīnī*.

In the Buddhist tradition, the Buddha's almsbowl was a gift from the nāgas, and the Nāga Rājā Mucilinda protected him from a storm.

In the *Jātaka* and *Kathā Sarit Sāgara*, the nāga kings are Takshaka and Vāsuki. Another nāga is Śesha, a thousand-headed nāga who either serves as Vishnu's couch and canopy, or supports the world with his thousand hoods. Śesha is also depicted as being able to assume the form of a human called Balarāma. The mortal enemy of the nāgas is Garuda.

Vāsuki had leprosy, so his daughter acquired some amṛita, and cured his whole body save for his thumb. When she went to get more to cure his thumb, she was abducted by the Pāṇḍavas, causing his thumb to remain leprous. This serves as an explanatory story for why leprosy was historically common in the Punjab.

In Nepal, there is a legend about King Gunkāmdeva who conquered the nāgas. Each gave him a self-portrait drawn in their own blood, and told him that worshipping the portraits would cause rain, leading to the tradition that has survived into the present of worshipping nāga pictures during droughts. St. Gorakhnāth sealed nine nāgas in a hill, causing a twelve-year drought. In the modern day, the naga king Kārkoṭaka is believed to control the weather.

In India, and Bangladesh, serpents are associated with life, and are worshipped in many Hindu and Buddhist regions. Nāga statues are often placed at the entrances of temples to serve as door guardians. The Gaddī of the Punjab make offerings of beestings, male goat kids and lambs, and the first fruits to the nāgas. In Mysore, cobra effigies are placed at the entrances of most towns.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Unknown. (1972). "nāga", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.780
Ingaevo

Ingaevo (reconstructed name) is the mythical founder of the Ingaevones, a group that comprised many Germanic tribes in what is modern day northern Germany and Denmark.

## Comparative Mythology

Ingaevo is thought to be linked to Yngvi, later an epithet of Freyr. He seems to be in some part at least a reflex of the Proto-Indo-European Yemo.

## References

1. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.2
Scox

Scox is a Duke and Marquis of Hell. He is a notable liar. When given orders and told to fulfil them immediately, he will obey, but otherwise doesn't necessarily do so. He commands thirty legions.

## History

Scox is said to steal money from homes, returning it only after 1,200 years. He also steals horses.

## Appearance

When summoned, he takes the form of a stork with a hoarse voice.

## Summoning

When summoned using a ritual triangle, Scox will tell the truth for as long as he is in the triangle.

## Knowledge

When summoned (and within the summoning triangle), Scox can teach his summoner the following:

* Supernatural things
* Locations of hidden treasures not guarded by evil spirits

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.601
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.602
Pursan

Pursan is a King of Hell who is obeyed by twenty two legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, he appears in the form of a human with a somewhat leonine head. He holds a snake, rides a bear, and is constantly preceded by the sound of a trumpet.

## Knowledge

Pursan can teach his summoner the following:

* The present, past, and future
* Where things are buried, such as treasure

## Other Abilities

Pursan can fly without needing wings.

He can provide his summoner with good familiars.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.564
Forrest James Ackerman

Forrest James Ackerman was a science fiction and horror writer and editor.

## Biography

Forrest James Ackerman was born in Los Angeles in 1916. In 1932 he cofounded *The Time Travelers*, the first sci-fi magazine. He went to the University of California at Berkeley from 1934 to 1935, then had a number of jobs and spent three years in the military.

He was a member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Science Fiction League, one of the earliest sci-fi fan clubs, and in 1939 attended the first sci-fi fan convention. In 1947 he founded the Ackerman Science Fiction Agency, and then spent his life promoting both sci-fi and horror, both as books and films. He was often seen as a behind-the-scenes mover in the development of the genres in the 20th Century. As well as writing his own works, he also acted as an agent for a number of other writers.

In 1953, he was awarded the first Hugo Award as the number one sci-fi fan personality.

He is most well-known by the public for his work as editor and writer of *Famous Monsters of Filmland*, a magazine that started in 1958 when monster movies became more prominent. The magazine was published for 25 years. Ackerman sold the rights to the magazine to James Warren, and was originally meant to be a one-off publication, and only became a regular magazine due to its popularity.

In both 1963 and 1966 he was awarded the Ann Radcliffe Award by The Count Dracula Society.

He is also notable for being the co-creator of Vampirella, based on Barbarella, in 1969, which has since gone on to become one of the most successful vampire comic books of all time, with a number of revivals.

He was given a special award at the Dracula '97: A Centennial Celebration in Los Angeles for his lifetime of service to the horror genre.

Throughout his career, he accumulated a notable collection of literature and artifacts, which he housed at his Ackermansion in Hollywood. Included in this collection were Bela Lugosi's Dracula cape and over 200 different editions of Bram Stoker's *Dracula*.

## Famous Quotes

> "A vampire a day keeps the doctor away" ~Dr. Acula, *Monsters Are Good for You* (*Famous Monsters of Filmland #1*)
>
>

## Works

### Literature

* *Famous Monsters of Filmland* (1958-1983)
* *London After Midnight Revisited* (1981)

### Film Roles

* *Dracula vs. Frankenstein* (1971) - Dr. Beumont
* *Queen of Blood* (1966) - Farraday's aide

## See Also

* Roger Vadim
* Tod Browning

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.1-3
Moloch

Moloch is a powerful demon who was once a god worshipped by the Ammonites.

The seven cabinets within the statue of Moloch worshipped by the Ammonites caused him to get conflated with Mithra and his seven gates with seven chambers.

## History

Inside the statue of Moloch worshipped by the Ammonites were said to be seven cabinets: one contained flour, another doves, a third sheep, a fourth a ram, the fifth a calf, the sixth and ox, and the final cabinet was for a child. When a sacrifice was to be performed, a fire was lit in the statue, and music was played around it to avoid hearing the screams of the sacrifices trapped in the cabinets.

## Appearance

As a god, he was worshipped as a bronze statue on a bronze throne. He had the head of a calf, and wore a crown. His arms were extended to receive the children who were to be sacrificed to him.

As a demon, he is covered in the cries of mothers and the blood of children.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.470
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Apepi

Apepi, also known as Aapep and Apophis, is the leader of the demons in their conflict with the sun god in Egyptian mythology.

## Legends

Apepi was considered the embodiment of the storm and darkness due to his nightly wars with the sun god, either Horus, Rā, or Osiris, depending on the time and place. The sun god always defeated Apepi and his demonic forces during his voyage from west to east.

## Appearance

Apepi was represented in three main forms:

* A dragon-like crocodile with a hideous face
* A serpent with many coils
* A human-headed snake

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Unknown. (1972). "Apepi, Aapep, or Apophis", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.66
Lung Wang

Lung Wang is the Chinese Dragon King.

He serves as the origin of Chi Lung Wang, the Fire-Engine Dragon King.

## Legends

Lung Wang is said to be the creator of waterspouts.

## Worship

During dry seasons, his image is brought from temples to show him the damage done by the drought.

In Beijing he is worshipped at the Big Bell Temple.

## Powers and Abilities

Lung Wang could control the weather, bringing rain and storms. He could also control bodies of water up to and including the sea.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jameson, R.D. (1972). "Lung Wang", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.654
2. ↑ Unknown. (1972). "Chi Lung Wang", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.219
Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a Roman politician who eventually gained absolute control of Rome shortly before his assassination. He was posthumously deified.

## History

He wrote an account of his wars in Gaul, a campaign in which many Romans died

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.29
2. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.37
Picollus

Picollus is a demon and a god once worshipped in Prussia.

## History

The head of a dead man would be consecrated to him in his temple, and tallow would be burned.

He would appear towards the end of the lives of important people. If he wasn't treated well, he would come back as necessary. If he appeared a third time, he could only be appeased with bloodshed.

It is said that he could be heard laughing in his temple when happy.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.539
Nickar

Nickar is an aspect of Odin which he takes when he wants to be an evil or destructive spirit.

## History

He inhabits Scandinavia's lakes and rivers, and from them creates storms and hurricanes.

In the dark lake around the island of Rugen, he capsizes the boats of sinners and occasionally throws the ships to the tops of the fir trees.

He is the origin of the Teutonic water-men and water-women, nymphs who were worshipped in pre-Christian Germany, particularly the nymphs of the Elbe and Gaal. The nymph of the Elbe was worshipped in Magdeburg/Megdeburch and inspired fear in some. She was said to often go to the market in the guise of a noble-born girl who could be recognised by a wet corner of her apron.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.492
Asmodee

Asmodee is a powerful demon with many names and titles. He is a lord of destruction and causes others to make mistakes. He commands seventy two legions.

## History

When he was summoned by Solomon, he dethroned Solomon for a time, before Solomon managed to defeat him, bind him in irons, and forced him to build the Temple of Jerusalem.

According to Tobit, Asmodeus fell in love with the girl Sarah, and possessed her. The rabbis used smoke from the burning of a fish spleen to exorcise him, after which he fled to Egypt, where he was imprisoned by the angel Raphael. Paul Lucas claims to have seen him imprisoned in Egypt at Akhmin. Supposedly, according to the *Courrier de l'Egypte*, he was still worshipped at a temple in the desert of Ryanneh, where he supposedly could cut himself to pieces and vanish for a time.

Some claim Asmodee was the serpent or dragon who seduced Eve in Eden, leading him to be titled the Prince of Demons. Despite his great power, he is a direct subordinate of Amaymon.

He was one of the demons who possessed Madeline Bavent.

He was the protagonist of *The Lame Devil* by Le Sage.

## Appearance

In his true form, Asmodee looks like a regal, kingly man with three heads: one of a bull, one of a man, and one of a ram. He has the tail of a snake, the feet of a goose, and can breathe fire.

When summoned, he rides a dragon and carries a standard and spear.

## Summoning

As part of the summoning ritual for Asmodee, the following special requirements are needed:

* The summoner must be standing, with their feet firmly on the ground.
* His name must be called.

## Knowledge

Asmodee can give the following knowledge to his summoners:

* How to turn invisible
* Geometry
* Arithmetic
* Astronomy
* Mechanical arts
* Locations of treasures (he can be compelled to acquire them for his summoner)

## Other Abilities

Asmodee can forge magical rings with power relating to certain constellations.

## References

1. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.54
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.55
3. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.13
Belphegor

Belphegor is a demon of discovery and invention, who is also the god of the Moabites, who worshipped him on Mount Phegor. He is associated with toilets, and accepted offerings in the form of human sacrifices (who his priests would eat on his behalf) and excretions. He was worshipped in caves, and offerings would be thrown through air holes.

## Appearance

When he is summoned, he generally takes the form of a young woman.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.89
Eurynome

Eurynome is a powerful demon associated with death. He was known to the Ancient Greeks, and a statue of him was supposedly present in the Temple of Delphi. According to Pausanias, his role was to eat carrion and corpses.

## Appearance

Eurynome has long, sharp teeth, a body riddled with wounds, and a fox skin as clothing.

The statue of him in Delphi supposedly gave him dark skin and made his teeth wolf-like, as well as giving him a vulture skin to sit on.

## References

1. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.253
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.254
Vāsuki

Vāsuki is one of the nāga kings in Hindu mythology who rules over Pātāla.

## Myths

During the Churning of the Ocean, Vāsuki was the serpent who was twisted as a rope around Mount Mandara.

Vāsuki made a deal with Garuda when he was slaughtering the nāgas, whereby Vāsuki would send a single nāga each day to the shore of the southern sea for Garuda to eat, and Garuda would only eat that single nāga each day.

In a local legend of the Punjab, Vāsuki was stricken with leprosy, so his daughter went to fetch the amrita to cure him. She rubbed it all over him, but didn't have enough for his thumb, meaning the leprosy was still present there. She went to get more amrita, but was kidnapped by one of the Pāṇḑavas on the way and forced to marry him. Vāsuki's leprous thumb is supposedly why there have historically been many outbreaks of leprosy in the region.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Unknown. (1972). "Vāsuki", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.1155
Bees

Bees are a type of insect that are reputed to have a number of roles in the occult.

## Legends

Some claim that if a witch had eaten a queen bee before being caught, she would be more likely to resist the tortures of a confessor.

In parts of Brittany, it was said that bees were sensitive to the emotions of their owners, and that they will do poorly if their owner doesn't tell them about events which interest their household. As part of this same belief, when there is a death, a piece of black cloth is attached to the hive, and if there is a wedding or some other feast, a piece of red cloth is attached to it.

The Circassians honour Merieme/Melissa, who de Plancy equates to Mary, as the patroness of bees. They believe she saved their species by keeping one of their queens in her sleeve on the day when storms threatened to wipe them out. De Plancy also states that the Circassians make a good amount of money from their hives, and are thus grateful for the species surviving.

According to Isidore's *The Origins* and other texts, bees cannot live in Ireland, those taken there soon die, and if Irish soil is taken to another land and scattered, bees will abandon the region. Father Lebrun, in his *Histoire critique des superstitions* explains that this is a mistake, since there are many bees in Ireland. The origin of this belief is unknown.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.2
Wall

Wall is a powerful Duke of Hell. He was formerly an angel of the Order of Powers.

## Appearance

When summoned, he most often appears as a dromedary.

When he takes human form, he speaks Egyptian Arabic.

## Knowledge

When summoned, he can teach his summoner the following:

* The past, present, and future

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.699
Torngarsuk

Torngarsuk is a god worshipped in Greenland primarily by fishermen. He is the head of their pantheon.

## History

When a person falls ill, an anguekkok (medicine man/shaman) asks an oracle of this god, who they have the ability to see. Each of these anguekkoks has a familiar spirit granted by this god who serves as the oracle. Other anguekkoks teach the means for happiness.

## Appearance

Torngarsuk is represented either as a bear, a one-armed man, or as a giant finger.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.661
Azazel

Azazel is a demon of the second order. At the Feast of Atonement, celebrated by the Jews on the tenth day of the seventh month, two goats would be drawn by lot and taken to the high priest, who would sacrifice one to God, and the other had the sins of the people present confessed to it and laid upon it, before being driven into the wilderness for Azazel to claim, so their sins may be laid on him.

"Azazel" is also the title of honour given to the demon who serves the heretic Mark.

## References

1. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.68
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.69
Kāliya

Kāliya is the five-headed naga king.

## Legend

From the river Yamaunā/Jumnā, Kāliya devastated the local countryside.

Kṛishṇa, still a child, climbed a tree and dived into the naga's home. Kāliya and his army challenged Kṛishṇa. Kṛishṇa was constricted by Kāliya, but then used his divine power to escape and dance on Kāliya's head until Kāliya yielded. Kṛishṇa then banished Kāliya to the ocean, but promised that Garuda, enemy of the nagas, would not kill him.

## Appearance

Kāliya is described as having five heads and commanding the bejewelled nagas, suggesting that he too was bejewelled to an extent.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Unknown. (1972). "Kāliya", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.568
Deumus

Deumus is a demonised form of the Indian goddess Durga, who de Plancy claims is only masquerading as a goddess.

## Appearance

Deumus, as she normally appears as a demon, has a crown, four horns on her head, and four hooked, serpent-like teeth. She has rooster legs ending in hooked talons, which she uses to hold souls she's preparing to devour.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.208
Dragon Cult

The Dragon Cult is an offshoot of ancestor worship in China, owing to the association between dragons and longevity.

## Beliefs

One of the earliest beliefs is that in the 4th millennium BCE, a dragon granted the bagua trigrams to a legendary Chinese ruler, leading to the inception of daoism and taoism. The dragon itself was considered to be a manifestation of Yang, or the male element.

Supposedly, it was during the Xia Dynasty when the dragon cult became an offshoot of ancestor worship. This occurred when one of the Xia kings was visited in his palace by two of his ancestors in the forms of dragons. He collected foam from these dragons' mouths and put it in a box. At the end of the reign of King Li of the Zhou Dynasty (842/841 BCE), the box was opened, causing foam to spread throughout his palace before turning into a black dragon and entering the women's apartments. The king told his wives to stand naked before it, and it impregnated them. This later led to the dragon being associated with the imperial family.

In 1110 CE, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty divided all Chinese dragons into five clans:

* Blue Dragons - associated with compassion
* Red Dragons - associated with lakes
* Yellow Dragons - associated with oaths
* White Dragons - associated with virtue and purity
* Black dragons - associated with mysterious lakes

Furthermore, dragons were divided into two main groups: spirit dragons who live in Heaven, and earthly dragons who live underground and guard treasure.

These dragons were all associated with pools of water, and it was believed they could disguise themselves as carp.

They have been influenced over time by Hindu lore about nagas, rakshasas, and other similar creatures.

## History

Zhou scholars collected as much early dragon lore as they possibly could, but were notably vague about them, making them open to reinterpretation during the Hundred Schools era, leading to the vast range of dragon beliefs in China.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Jameson, R.D (1972). "Dragon Cult", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.323
Apalala

Apalala is a water dragon or serpent who lived at the source of the Swat River.

## Legends

Apalala was converted to Buddhism by the Buddha. This scene is commonly depicted in Buddhist art.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Unknown. (1972). "Apalala", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.66
Separable Soul

"Separable Soul" is a folklore motif that appears across the world.

## Concept

Typically the soul is considered to dwell within the heart. The concept behind this motif is the idea that a soul need not dwell within the heart, but can instead exist in a number of other things, typically for safekeeping.

The three main variants of this motif have the soul manifesting as a different creature or plant, the soul being hidden in another creature or plant, or moved to another body part aside from the heart.

## Basic Features

* A person's soul is not in the usual place (the heart).
* A woman they trust finds the location and betrays them.

## Examples

* King David's soul was bound in a bundle of life kept safe by God.
* *Giant with no Heart in his Body* story from Norway, where the giant's heart (containing his soul) is hidden in an egg inside a duck in a well in a church on an island in a far-off lake.
* The Greek story of King Nisus of Megara has his soul residing in a purple hair hidden amongst the rest of his hair, which his daughter Scylla plucked out when she fell in love with his enemy, king Minos of Crete.
* Samson's power (instead of his soul) residing in his hair, only for it to be cut under Delilah's orders.
* The Irish *Cano, Son of Gartnan* has Cano give Cred a stone containing his life, with the promise that they could be together when he was king. When he was king, she went to visit him, and saw him being attacked by a man she rejected. Seeing Cano's wounds, she killed herself by hitting her head against a rock, causing her to drop the stone, which broke, killing Cano.
* *The Heart in the Acacia Flower*, based on the earlier Egyptian *Tale of Two Brothers*.

## See Also

* Acacia
* Bush Soul
* Dream Soul
* Life Token

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Unknown. (1972). "separable soul", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.996
2. ↑ Unknown. (1972). "acacia", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.5
Tiamat

Tiamat is the primordial dragon goddess of chaos and the sea in Babylonian mythology. She is most prominently depicted in the *enuma elish*.

## Origin

Tiamat is believed to have been the personification of the sea, chaos, or the Milky Way (making her the Babylonian parallel of the Egyptian Nut).

## Myths

Tiamat and her husband Apsu had a number of children, the gods.

In some myths, the movement and dancing of the gods annoyed her, so she worked with her husband and her favoured son Mummu to kill them.

In other versions, the gods plotted against Tiamat and her husband because, with their constant production of children threatening to fill up all of existence, order couldn't be brought to reality.

Ea used a spell to kill Apsu, and later tried (and failed) to defeat Tiamat. Anu also tried to fight Tiamat using a greater spell created by all the gods, and also failed. Marduk (in other versions Enlil or Bel) fought against her with the power of all the gods.

Marduk defeated Kingu, Tiamat's second husband to whom she had given the Tablets of Destiny, and then threw a net over Tiamat herself. When she opened her mouth to shout and devour him, he used the winds to hold her mouth open, before he shot his arrows through her open mouth and into her heart, killing her. Marduk then used his mace to smash her skull, shed her blood (which the wind carried to the other gods to show proof of his victory), and then he cut her in half, using one half to make the sky, and the other half to make the earth, whereupon the gods had their palaces built.

## Analysis

The myth is thought to be a ritual statement about Mesopotamia's annual spring floods, whereupon the water is dispersed by the sun and winds, leaving fertile soil behind. It is thought that the myth contains a pattern of seasonal drama: combat, assumption of sovereignty, installation in palace, feast of the gods, and sacred marriage, though some of these elements are more prominent in some versions of the myth than others.

It has been suggested that this myth is one of the earliest sources of the common dragon-slaying story, with Marduk killing Tiamat after she opens her mouth being considered a prototype of the idea of a dragon possessing a fatal weak spot.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Unknown. (1972). "Tiamat", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.1112-1113
Angelieri

Angelieri, also known under the pen-name Livio Betani, was a Sicilian author from the seventeenth century.

## Works

* *Magical Light of the Academy, the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Infernal Origin, Order, and Subordination of All Things, as to Their Existence, Becoming, and Operations, Divided into Twenty-Four Volumes* - 2 volumes published

## Further Reading

* Mongitore, A. *Bibliotheca Sicula, Sive de Scriptoribus Siculis qui tum Vetera, tum Recentiora Saecula Illustrarunt, Notitae Locupletissimae*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.34
Leonard

Leonard is a demon of the first order, and presides over the sabbath. He is taciturn and melancholic, but when he is obliged to appear, he shows himself well and with gravity.

## History

As part of the events of the sabbath, sorcerers hold green candles and kiss his lower face.

## Appearance

When he presides over the sabbath, Lenoard has the lower body of a man, and the upper body of a goat. His head has three horns, the ears of a fox, spiky hair, inflamed eyes, a goat's beard, and a face on his butt.

At other times, he looks like a greyhound, ox, a big black bird, or a tree trunk with a dark face. He has also been recorded as using these other forms occasionally at the sabbath.

Whatever form he takes at the sabbath, with the exception of the tree trunk, he has the feet of a goose.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.404
Ulysses

Ulysses was a Greek hero famed for creating the Trojan Horse and his later travels on his way home to Ithaca.

## Legends

Tacitus recalls that some claimed that Ulysses reached the North Sea on his wanderings, visited Germania, and founded the city of Asciburgium on the banks of the Rhine. Supposedly, by Tacitus' time, there was an altar there bearing the names of Ulysses and his father, Laertes, and that monuments on barrows along the border between Germania and Rhaetia had Greek letters on them. Tacitus didn't know if this was truth or fiction.

## References

1. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.3
Anemia

Anemia is a blood disorder that, in some places, is associated with vampirism.

It is caused by a reduction in the proportion of red blood cells or haemoglobin compared to other substances that make up blood.

## Symptoms

Anemia causes a pale complexion, tiredness, and, in extreme cases, fainting.

## Vampires

All the symptoms of anemia are associated with vampire attacks.

In Bram Stoker's *Dracula*, Dr. John Seward hypothesized that Lucy Westenra's illness, in its early stages at least, was her suffering from anemia. It was only later that, instead of her suffering a lack of red blood cells, it was a total lack of blood. Dr. Abraham Van Helsing agreed with this. Van Helsing does clarify though that she was not anaemic, thus dismissing the link between anemia and vampiriam in this work at least.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.13-14
Needles

## Needle Divination

Twenty-five needles are placed in a plate of water. The number of needles that stick together indicates the number of enemies the person performing the divination has.

## Binding Newlyweds

Supposedly, a needle that was used to sew the shroud of a corpse could be used to bind newlyweds, though the method of doing so has not been recorded out of fear of it becoming common practice.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.11
Barkers

In Brittany and several other places, there was an unexplained phenomena that caused people to bark like dogs. Some are said to have communicated through barking, while others were merely reduced to unintelligible barking and never spoke again.

According to Dr. Champouillon, it was caused by a violent fright. As evidence, he cited a case from 1853, where a conscript was called before the Board of Review and demanded exemption due to barking. He claimed that, while working on a coaster, he had been thrown overboard by the wind, and had been so terrified that the breathing difficulties his terror caused prevented him from speaking for a week, and when he was able to speak again, his sentences would be interspersed with cries and later with barks. For this he was discharged.

Some people in Brittany are said to be born with this affliction, with some claiming it to be the result of an evil spell cast on the family.

One man is said to have died in agony, after three days of pain. For those three days, he was able to communicate only by barking. This man was said to have taken part in the desecration of churches in 1793 by locking his dog in a tabernacle.

There is also a reported case where a mute couple had a number of children. They were unable to teach their children how to speak, and so the children could only communicate with inarticulate cries.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.3
Sesha

Śesha is a nāga king and ruler of Pātāla in Hindu mythology.

## Appearance

Śesha is depicted as having a thousand heads and wearing purple clothes while holding a plough and pestle. He supports either the Earth or the Pātālas.

He also has the ability to take on a humanoid form known as Balarāma.

## Mythology

Śesha is a servant of Vishṇu, who either sleeps on him, or stands beneath a canopy formed by Śesha.

At the end of each kalpa (eon) of 1,000 yugas (ages), he destroys the world with his fire. He causes earthquakes by moving his heads.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Unknown. (1972). "Śesha", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.999
Windigo

Windigos, also known as wendigos and wiendigos are man-eating monsters from the myths of the Algonquian and Ojibwa Native Americans.

## Legends

In the Algonquian legends, it is believed that any hunter who gets lost in the forest, runs out of provisions, becomes animalistic and consumes human flesh in an act of cannibalism becomes a windigo. Windigos are said to be fearsome, dangerous, inhuman creatures who are considered enemies of mankind.

To the Ojibwa, windigos are a type of ogre used to frighten naughty children.

## Further Reading

* *Naskapi: The Savage Hunters of the Labrador Peninsula* (1935, 1977), by Frank G. Speck

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Voegelin, E.W. (1972). 'Windigo, wendigo, or wiendigo", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.1178
Beyrevra

Beyrevra is depicted in the Dictionnaire Infernal as an Indian demon. He brings souls from the air to be changed into air demons.

## History

When Brahma insulted a higher-ranking god, Beyrevra was charged with punishing him, so he cut off one of his heads, causing him to beg for forgiveness.

## Appearance

He looks like a man with long, crooked nails.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.97
Kobolds

Kobolds are a type of elfin spirit. In Germany, they are honoured by valets, servants, and cooks, who whom they clean the horses, clean the house, keep the kitchen running smoothly, and make sure things aren't being neglected.

## Appearance

They look like dwarves with mismatched clothes, and a red bonnet on their head.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.488
Hermin

Hermin was one of the sons of Mannus and founder of the Herminones, a group of Germanic tribes from what is modern day central, southern, and eastern Germany, western Czech Republic, and northern Austria.

## Comparative Mythology

Hermin was later incorporated as an aspect of Odin under the name Irmin. He is likely a reflex of the Proto-Indo-European hero Trito.

## References

1. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.2
Roy Ward Baker

Roy Ward Baker was a film director who directed the Hammer Films vampire movies in the 1970s.

## Biography

Roy Ward Baker was born in London. In 1934, he became an assistant director at Gainsborough Studios, working there until 1940 when he left to become an officer in the British Army. While in the army, he directed films for the Army Kinematograph Service. After WWII, he directed for a number of studios, including four films for 20th-Century Fox in the early 1950s.

He started working for Hammer Films in the late 1960s, and in 1969 directed *The Anniversary, Quartermass and the Pit*, part of the studio's Quartermass films. In 1970, he was assigned to his first vampire film by the studio, *The Vampire Lovers*, the studio's first adaption of Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla. This film starred Ingrid Pitt, and is generally considered one of the studio's best films. After *The Vampire Lovers*, Baker directed Christopher Lee's film *The Scars of Dracula*, wherein a young man went to Castle Dracula and dies, being avenged later by his brother and girlfriend, leading to Dracula's ultimate demise. The film was successful in both Britain and America. Afterwards Baker continued working on other Hammer horror films, such as 1971's *Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde*.

Baker's final vampire film with Hammer Films was *The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires*, also known as *The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula*, a joint effort by Hammer Films and the Hong Kong-based Shaw Brothers. This film was both a vampire horror and a martial arts film, and was made because Hammer Films was struggling financially. In this film, Abraham Van Helsing, played by Peter Cushing, went to China in search of Dracula. All the combat scenes became martial arts demonstrations. Cushing's acting and Baker's directing couldn't salvage the nonsensical plot, leading Warner Bros. to refuse to release it in America, resulting in Hammer Films going bankrupt in 1975.

After his time with Hammer Films, Baker directed another vampire horror film: 1981's *The Monster Club*, starring John Carradine as Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes. This anthology film contained one vampire story. Vincent Price helped Carradine introduce this film's different episodes and played Eramus the vampire.

## Further Reading

* *Cinematic Vampires*, Flynn, J.
* *The World Encyclopedia of Film*, Smith, J.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.29
Gomory

Gomory is a Duchess of Hell, and commands twenty six legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, she takes the form of a beautiful woman wearing a ducal crown and riding a camel.

## Knowledge

Gomory can teach her summoner the following:

* The present and past
* The locations of hidden treasures

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.307
Astarte

Astarte was a middle-eastern deity known by a variety of names throughout the region, with the biblical Ashtaroth literally meaning "goddesses" due to the sheer number of different versions of her. She was a goddess of sex, war, fertility and motherhood, and was associated with cattle. Her association with cattle also led some to consider her a moon goddess due to the association between cattle horns and the crescent moon.

## Legends

In early times, Astarte was offered sacrifices of fruits, new-born animals, and first-born children in an attempt to promote fertility.

Worship of Astarte spread to Israel after the conquest of Canaan, as mentioned in the biblical *Book of Judges* and *Books of Samuel*, and the Philistines also adopted her worship.

Worship of her spread from Phoenicia across the Mediterranean, to Greece, Rome, Malta, and Sicily, and even beyond the Mediterranean as far as Britain. The cult of Atargatis was a powerful religious entity in Syria, and seems to have subsumed worship of other aspects of this deity in the area. Her overall influence and the spread of her religion throughout the classical world has led to her being identified with a number of other fertility goddesses, such as Aphrodite, Danu, Freya, Hathor, and Indrani.

As well as the cow being her sacred animal in Phoenicia, in Mecca the gazelle was considered sacred to her, and in Eryx the dove and myrtle were considered sacred to her.

## Appearance

In Arbela, she wore a robe of flames, and was armed with a sword and bow. In Assyria and Babylonia, she is often depicted caressing or blessing a child held in her left hand.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Unknown. (1972). "Astarte, Ashtart, or Ashtoreth", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.84
Caym

Caym is a demon who serves as a President of Hell, famed for his sophistry which he could use to win in an argument with anyone. He was once an angel. He now commands thirty legions.

## History

He is said to have had a famous dispute with Martin Luther, of which Luther did not record the details.

## Appearance

When summoned, he most often appears as a blackbird.

When he decides to appear in human form, he answers questions from within a great fire. He carries a slender sword. Occasionally, he wears an egret headdress adorned with a peacock's tail.

## Knowledge

Caym can teach his summoner the following:

* How to understand birds, cattle, and dogs
* How to understand the waves of the sea
* The future

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.146
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.147
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was a physician and philosopher, and a contemporary of Erasmus.

## Life

He was born in Cologne in 1486, and died in 1535 in Grenoble with the receiver general, though rumours claim he died in Lyons and/or in a hospital, and rumours that he had faked his death and still lived persisted until the reign of Louis XIV.

He was an associate of many famous figures and princes during his lifetime, and was responsible for a number of political negotiations, which caused him to travel widely.

According to Thevet, in his *Lives of Illustrious Men*, he had mental health problems that caused him to travel widely, trick people, become recognised, and then be chased away.

He was taught a number of (what were considered in his day) esoteric sciences while at university, and became obsessed with neo-Platonic theory, started calling himself the "Heir to the School of Alexandria", and trying to perform magic.

He was known to attempt alchemy, but with little success, leading him to be in poverty when he died.

He is said to have tried a part-time career as a diviner while also working as the doctor of Louise of Savoy, and during this time gave the constable of Bourbon a prediction that he would have success against François I.

He was persecuted for his *Occult Philosophy*, which belongs to the neo-Platonic tradition. Amongst occultists, he was attributed the authorship of many questionable pamphlets.

## Further Reading

* *Infernal Legends*
* *Magic in the Nineteenth Century*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.10
Tiu

Tiu was a Germanic war god. The Romans identified him with Mars.

Like other Germanic gods, he was not worshipped in a temple, but instead in a grove or the woods.

## History

According to Tacitus, priests of Tiu were authorised to whip, imprison, execute, and sacrifice individuals, not just on the orders of their leaders, but also in obedience to Tiu.

Tacitus also says that the Germans would take figures and statues from Tiu's sacred groves with them into battle.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.9
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.7
Buer

Buer is a second-class demon who serves as a President of Hell. He commands fifty legions.

## Appearance

His body looks like a star or a five-spoked wheel, and he moves around by rolling.

## Knowledge

Buer can teach his summoner the following:

* Philosophy
* Logic
* Medicinal herbs

## Other Abilities

When summoned, Buer can bestow on his summoner good servants.

Buer can cure the sick.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.123
Jean d'Amant

Jean d'Amant was a 13th century doctor specialising in poisons.

## Biography

He created a medicine that he claimed could either lengthen or shorten a persons life. For this, he was accused of magic, and reported to the Bishop of Fréjus. His fate after being reported is unknown.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.24
Forcas

Forcas is a knight and President of Hell, and commands twenty nine legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, he appears as a well-built man with a long beard and white hair, riding on a large horse and wielding a sharp throwing spear.

## Knowledge

Forcas can teach his summoner the following:

* Virtues of herbs
* Powers of gemstones
* Logic
* Aesthetics
* Palmistry
* Pyromancy
* Rhetoric
* How to become invisible
* How to be ingenious
* How to appear more handsome
* How to find lost things
* Where to find treasures

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.280
Appearance of a Vampire

The appearance of vampires has changed drastically over the last two centuries, and can generally be divided into three phases: folklore, classic vampires, and modern vampires.

## Folklore

The vampires of Eastern European folklore were bloated corpses with drum-tight skin and sharp claws. They wore burial clothes and stank of death. Their fingers and toes occasionally showed sign of having been eaten away. These vampires were not horrifying because they were monsters, but because they were disgusting and semi-decayed.

## Classic Vampires

Classic vampires, for the most part, look like fanged humans, to the point that they can successfully pass as members of human high society. Classic vampires are, in short, modern vampires with some of the more monstrous features of folkloric vampires.

Dracula, in Bram Stoker's novel, is described in great detail - he wore black clothes, had long hair (including eyebrows and moustache), had pale skin, hair on the palms of his hands, and long, claw-like fingernails. He also had notably long canines that protruded over his lower lip when his mouth was closed. His eyes were blue, but flashed red when he got emotional. He was elderly initially, though got visibly younger as the novel progressed. John Carradine's portrayal is likely the most novel-accurate.

Other vampires who fit into this classical style include Carmilla, Lord Ruthven, and Varney the Vampyre.

## Modern Vampires

For the most part, vampires as people understand them in the modern day, generally look like humans with long fangs which may or may not be retractable.

The typical vampire's appearance is based on that of Dracula, more specifically the versions portrayed by Hamilton Deane and Bela Lugosi. Deane's portrayal in particular is notable for normalising the version of Dracula who becomes an acceptable attendee of Victorian Britain's evening entertainment, with evening clothes, opera cape, and high collar. Deane's image was added to by Lugosi giving Dracula an Eastern European accent, swept-back, slick hair, and a prominent widow's peak. This image was complete by Christopher Lee in *Horror of Dracula*, giving the character prominent fangs. To a lesser extent, Lee giving Dracula red eyes has also become fairly standard with film vampires at the very least. Since Lee's portrayal, the image of the vampire has been rather set in stone: fangs and cape are main indicators that a character is a vampire, with evening clothes, red eyes, and a widow's peak being used for extra emphasis. These are most evident on cards and the artwork of comic books.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.19-21