Belphegor

For other uses, see Belphegor (disambiguation).

Belphegor illustration from the Dictionnaire Infernal

In demonology, Belphegor (or Beelphegor, Hebrew: בַּעַל-פְּעוֹר‎ baʿal-pəʿōr) is a demon, and one of the seven princes of Hell, who helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich. According to some 16th century demonologists, his power is stronger in April. Bishop and witch-hunter Peter Binsfeld believed that Belphegor tempts by means of laziness. Also, according to Peter Binsfeld's Binsfeld's Classification of Demons, Belphegor is the chief demon of the deadly sin known as Sloth in Christian tradition.

Belphegor originated as the Assyrian Baal-Peor, the Moabitish god to whom the Israelites became attached in Shittim (Numbers 25:3), which was associated with licentiousness and orgies. It was worshipped in the form of a phallus. As a demon, he is described in Kabbalistic writings as the "disputer", an enemy of the sixth Sephiroth "beauty". When summoned, he can grant riches, the power of discovery and ingenious invention. His role as a demon was to sow discord among men and seduce them to evil through the apportionment of wealth.^{[citation needed]}

Belphegor (Lord of the Opening) was pictured in two different fashions: as a beautiful young woman or as a monstrous, bearded demon with horns and sharply pointed nails; the former form, according to most sources, was his earthly disguise when invoked by mortals. According to De Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, he was Hell's ambassador to France. Belphegor also figures in Milton's Paradise Lost and in Victor Hugo's The Toilers of the Sea.^{[citation needed]}

According to legend, Belphegor was sent from Hell by Pluto to find out if there really was such a thing on earth as married happiness. Rumor of such had reached the demons but they knew that people were not designed to live in harmony. Belphegor's experiences in the world soon convinced him that the rumor was groundless. The story is found in various works of early modern literature, hence the use of the name to apply to a misanthrope or a licentious person.^{[citation needed]}

Popular culture

• Belphegor is the name of a blackened death metal band from Salzburg, Austria. The band also has an eponymous song: Belphegor - Hell's Ambassador, which describes the role of the demon Belphegor as a bringer of ingenious inventions.
• Belfagor arcidiavolo aka Il demonio che prese moglie is a short story written in 16th century by Niccolò Machiavelli.
• Belphégor is a 1927 horror novel by Arthur Bernède.
• In the webcomic Megatokyo, Belphegor is a cat who works for the main character's "anti-conscience".
• Belphegor appears as a recurring demon in the Shin Megami Tensei series of occult-themed RPGs. The demon is depicted as a purple skinned demon sitting on a toilet.
• In Dominions 3: The Awakening, he is a demon lord associated with seducing people to evil.
• In the game Heroes of Newerth, Balphagore is a playable hero.
• In RF Online, Belphegor is a boss monster living inside a volcano at Volcano Cauldron.
• Belphégor, a film made in 1927 and directed by Henri Desfontaines.
• Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre in 2001.
• Belphegor is the name of a character from the 2004 manga series Katekyo Hitman Reborn! He represents the sin of Sloth. He is the Storm Guardian of the Varia.
• Belphemon is a character in the Digimon franchise based on Belphegor
• Ottorino Respighi's opera of 1923 is called Belfagor.
• Belphegor is one of the Seven Sisters of Purgatory in the murder mystery visual novel Umineko no Naku Koro Ni.