Jump to content

Cacodemon: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
→‎Games: Doom Eternal is out, no need to specially highlight it
Dfdooger (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
{{Infobox mythical creature
|name = Cacodemon
|name = Cacodemon
Line 15: Line 16:
|Similar_creatures =
|Similar_creatures =
}}
}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2007}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}


A '''cacodemon''' (or '''cacodaemon''') is an evil [[spiritual being|spirit]] or (in the modern sense of the word) a [[demon]]. The opposite of a cacodemon is an ''[[agathodaemon]]'' or ''[[Eudaemon (mythology)|eudaemon]]'', a good spirit or [[angel]]. The word ''cacodemon'' comes through Latin from the Ancient Greek κακοδαίμων ''kakodaimōn'', meaning an "evil spirit", whereas ''[[daemon (classical mythology)|daimon]]'' would be a neutral spirit in Greek. It is believed to be capable of [[shapeshifting]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Spence|first=Lewis |authorlink=Lewis Spence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOcoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84|title=An Encyclopædia of Occultism
A '''cacodemon''' (or '''cacodaemon''') is an evil [[spiritual being|spirit]] or (in the modern sense of the word) a [[demon]]. The opposite of a cacodemon is an ''[[agathodaemon]]'' or ''[[Eudaemon (mythology)|eudaemon]]'', a good spirit or [[angel]]. The word ''cacodemon'' comes through Latin from the Ancient Greek κακοδαίμων ''kakodaimōn'', meaning an "evil spirit", whereas ''[[daemon (classical mythology)|daimon]]'' would be a neutral spirit in Greek. It is believed to be capable of [[shapeshifting]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Spence|first=Lewis |authorlink=Lewis Spence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOcoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84|title=An Encyclopædia of Occultism
Line 31: Line 30:


===Games===
===Games===
[[File:Cacodemon_(Doom).png|thumb|''Cacodemon'' from [[Doom (2016)]].]]
*In the first edition of ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'', "''Cacodemon''" is a seventh level [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)#Magic-User|magic-user]] spell. It was used to summon a type IV, V, or VI [[demon (Dungeons & Dragons)|demon]] to the [[player character]]'s location in the game world. The spell was omitted from the early versions of the second edition of the game, and was later revised in the ''[[Planescape]]'' product line, in which it could summon a variety of powerful [[tanar'ri]] or [[baatezu]]. The spell was eventually phased out in the third edition of the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' game in favor of a more comprehensive creature-summoning spell.
*In the first edition of ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'', "''Cacodemon''" is a seventh level [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)#Magic-User|magic-user]] spell. It was used to summon a type IV, V, or VI [[demon (Dungeons & Dragons)|demon]] to the [[player character]]'s location in the game world. The spell was omitted from the early versions of the second edition of the game, and was later revised in the ''[[Planescape]]'' product line, in which it could summon a variety of powerful [[tanar'ri]] or [[baatezu]]. The spell was eventually phased out in the third edition of the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' game in favor of a more comprehensive creature-summoning spell.
* In the [[fantasy]] [[video game]] ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn]]'', the [[BioWare]] Infinity Engine equivalent of the "Cacodemon" spell is known as "''Cacofiend''".
* In the [[fantasy]] [[video game]] ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn]]'', the [[BioWare]] Infinity Engine equivalent of the "Cacodemon" spell is known as "''Cacofiend''".

Revision as of 10:37, 5 April 2020

Cacodemon
Louis Le Breton's illustration of a cacodemon from the Dictionnaire Infernal (1863)
GroupingEvil spirit
Sub groupingDemon
Other name(s)Cacodaemon

A cacodemon (or cacodaemon) is an evil spirit or (in the modern sense of the word) a demon. The opposite of a cacodemon is an agathodaemon or eudaemon, a good spirit or angel. The word cacodemon comes through Latin from the Ancient Greek κακοδαίμων kakodaimōn, meaning an "evil spirit", whereas daimon would be a neutral spirit in Greek. It is believed to be capable of shapeshifting.[1]

In psychology, cacodemonia (or cacodemomania) is a form of insanity in which the patient believes that they are possessed by an evil spirit. The first known occurrence of the word cacodemon dates to 1593. In William Shakespeare's Richard III Act 1 Scene 3, Queen Margaret calls Richard a "cacodemon" for his foul deeds and manipulations.[2] In John Fletcher's The Knight of Malta, Norandine calls Mountferrat, the play's villain, a "cacodemon" in the final scene.[3] In The Arbatel de Magi Veterum written in 1575 the word Cacodemon is described as one of the Seven. In astrology, the 12th house was once called the Cacodemon for its association with evil.[4][5]

  • In the book and TV series The Magicians by Lev Grossman the main characters each have a Cacodemon magically implanted into their backs.
  • Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld novels feature cacodemons and eudemons, some of whom have produced semi-human-like progeny; in this context eudemons are not so much "good" as "non-chaotic".
  • Deicide's second album, Legion, contains a song called "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon".
  • There is a painting by Paul Klee called Cacodaemonic (1916).[6]
  • There is a boulder in Squamish, Canada called Cacodemon; it is the location of the climb Dreamcatcher, a 5.14d (9a) first climbed by Chris Sharma.

Games

File:Cacodemon (Doom).png
Cacodemon from Doom (2016).

See also

References

  1. ^ Spence, Lewis (2003) [1920]. An Encyclopædia of Occultism. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. p. 84. ISBN 0-486-42613-0.
  2. ^ Shakespeare, William. "Act 1, Scene 3". The Life and Death of Richard the Third. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via shakespeare.mit.edu.
  3. ^ Francis, Beaumont; John, Fletcher (1647). Comedies and Tragedies. London: Printed for Humphrey Robinson, at the three Pidgeons, and for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Armes in St Paul's Church-yard. p. 95.
  4. ^ Wilson, James (1819). A Complete Dictionary of Astrology, in which Every Technical and Abstruse Term Belonging to the Science Is Minutely and Correctly Explained, and the Various Systems and Opinions of the Most Approved Authors Carefully Collected and Accurately Defined. London: Printed for William Hughes, Islington Green, and sold by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster-Row, and by all other booksellers. p. 13.
  5. ^ de Vore, Nicholas (2005) [1947]. Encyclopedia of Astrology. Abingdon, Maryland: Astrology Classics. p. 36. ISBN 1-933303-09-3.
  6. ^ "Cacodemonic, 1916 - Paul Klee". WikiArt. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. ^ Stafford, Greg; Richard, Jeff; Petersen, Sandy (2014). Guide to Glorantha (PDF). Vol. I. Moon Design Publications. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-9777853-7-7.
  8. ^ "Cacodemon". Doom Wiki. Retrieved 25 September 2016.[better source needed]
  9. ^ "Eudemons & Cacodemons". Demonology 101. Kelley Armstrong. Archived from the original on 6 April 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2006.
  10. ^ "Daemon, Cacodaemon" (PDF). Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2. Illustrated by Tyler Walpole (1st ed.). Paizo Publishing, LLC. December 2010. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-60125-268-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ Stewart, Todd (2011). "About Daemons" (PDF). Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Book of the Damned. Vol. 3. Paizo Publishing, LLC. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-60125-373-6.
  12. ^ "Ymir". Official Smite Wiki. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Dread Cacodemon". Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2020.

Further reading