Yes, I’m still making my way through the list of demons that was compiled by Leonard Ashley and then screwed up by fundamentalist Christian Jon Watkins. See also the first and second parts of this series…
Karau – A demon who is known for causing death in the world, he effects people by tragedies & illness.
Apparently, this is a being from the folklore of the South American Yupa people, and is mentioned in Johannes Wilbert’s 1974 book Yupa Folktales.
Kasdeya – She is a demon an old demon who appears young. She specializes in poisons.
Kasdeya or Kasdeja is a fallen angel mentioned in the Book of Enoch: “And the fifth is called Kasdeja: he has taught the children of men all the wicked smitings of spirits and demons, and the smitings if the embryo and the babe, that it may pass away, and the smiting of the soul, the bites of the serpent, and the smitings which befall at noon, the son of the serpent, named Taba’t.” I’m not sure what text Watkins based is description on.
Keron-Kenken – A Incubus from Patagonia who is said to eat newborn babies & drink the fallen tears of the mothers mourning their loss.
This spirit is mentioned in Herbert Henry Gowen’s 1934 book A History of Religion. I’m not sure where Watkins got the idea that Keron-Kenken is an incubus – Gowen makes no association between the spirit and sex – but other than that, the two descriptions tally up.
Kobal – A demon who was originally created as the angel of laughter was banished from Heaven and began the demon of mockery. He likes to make evil appear humerus. Causing people to find things like death, gore, illness, lying, cheating, ect funny.
Kobal belongs to a hierarchy of demons described by the French writer Alexis-Vincent Charles Berbiguier de Terre-Neuve du Thym, who named him as – rather curiously – the demon in charge of hell’s theatres. This hierarchy later made it into English-language works including Robert Chambers’ Book of Days (1864) and Arthur Edward Waite’s Book of Black Magic and Pacts (1910). Amusingly, Watkins’ description of the demon appears to have been lifted from the role-playing game In Nomine.
Kok-Lir – A succubus demon from Borneo, she prays on wondering men.
Pantheon.org, citing Herbert Hope Risley’s 1894 Gazetteer of Sikhim, says of this figure: “A goddess of the Iban Dayak of Sarawak (northwestern Borneo.). She harms men but not women.” I suspect that this was the source that informed Ashley and by extension Watkins.
Legion – The demons in Luke 8:30 – And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. A legion was between 4000 to 6000 roman soliders.
Since Legion is in the New Testament – a body of work well within Watkins’ comfort zone – we shouldn’t be surprised that he manages to get it right. Bonus marks for the historical tidbit about the size of a Roman legion.
Leonard – A demon skilled in black magic, he is known for guiding Incubus’. His appearance is that of a three horned goat with a dark, black like face.
Leonard is the traditional name for the demon said to manifest at witches’ Sabbaths, although I’ll admit that I’m hazy as to where this tradition originates. Most online sources indicate that the earliest reference to this demon by name is in Collin de Plancy’s Dictionnaire Infernal (1863); however, Thomas Potts’ Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster (1845) also discusses Leonard, citing ther work of Pierre de Lancre (1553-1631). The physical description provided by Watkins is lifted from de Plancy, while his reference to incubi is possibly just a case of him throwing this term around willy-nilly – see also Keron-Kenken, above.
Leviathan – He is the demon said to have been responsible for seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Leviathan is, of course, a being mentioned in the Bible and has been interpreted as everything from an alternative name for Satan to an antiquated description of a hippopotamus. Oddly, instead of discussing Leviathan as portrayed in canonical scripture, Watkins focuses on an obscure association between Leviathan and the serpent of Eden. To the best of my knowledge, this connection goes back to ancient discourse surrounding the Gnostic sect of the Ophites, who (according to outsiders) venerated the serpent of Eden and incorporated Leviathan into their symbolism. I can’t help but wonder if Watkins was thinking of Lilith, the next demon in the list, whose traditional association with the Edenic serpent is stronger.
Lilith – The first wife of Adam (before Eve) who become cursed by God, and became a succubus. Also known as “Lilitu”. For more information on Lilith, please read “The Queen Of The Night” & also take a look at what “the owl” symbolizes & its ties into worshiping her.
One of the most famous figures in demonology, Lilith needs little introduction – although I must note how bizarre it is that a fundamentalist like Watkins is repeating the apocryphal narrative of her marriage to Adam as though it’s gospel truth. Strictly speaking, Lilith and Lilitu are distinct entities, the latter being a Sumerian term for a female spirit, although the two are generally agreed to be connected etymologically. “The Queen of the Night” is the name of a relief depicting Lilith; Watkins is possibly referring to Dominique Colton’s 2005 book of the same title, which is about the image in question.
Lima – A demon worshiped in Haiti known for causing suffering & emotional pain. Also views as or like “Lingelson”.
Lima and Lin-gelson are two figures listed in Ashley’s section on Haitian spirits. I can find very few other written references to either being, and it seems safe to say that the above description is just Watkins letting his imagination run away.
Mammon – A well known demon by many cultures who specializes in greed, gluttony & wealth. He causes great injustice in governments & groups.
“Mammon” is the Hebrew word for money, although – thanks in large part to Jesus’ injunction that you cannot serve both God and mammon – the term entered idiom and demonology as a personification of avarice.
Mary – In Catholicism apparitions of the virgin Mary are seen. This is merely a Masquerading Demon deceiving millions of adherents of the Mary Cult!
This is Watkins’ personal addition to the list and reflects his anti-Catholic viewpoint.
Masquerading Demon – Is a demon taking on any form and is a liar. It will tell you what you want to hear.
Another addition by Watkins, which he seems to have included to elaborate upon his Mary entry.
Mastema – He is a demon who tests people’s faith. In Hebrew his names means “hatred” & “hostility”. He causes great divides over cultures and thoughs who follow religious beliefs.
Mastema is mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Jubilees; this text identifies him as the prince of the evil spirits who, amongst other things, led astray “the children of the sons of Noah”. Notably, certain acts attributed to God in the Bible – including the testing of Abraham – are attributed to Mastema in Jubilees. Mastema is an interesting figure in the development of Judeo-Christian demonology, although you wouldn’t know from reading Watkins’ potted description. (His name is indeed derived from the Hebrew word for hatred or hostility, so the etymology here is sound).
Melchom – A demon known as the Treasurer of Hell, he manipulates with greed & strife. He causes people to love money & wealth.
This demon, and his description, are lifted from de Plancy’s Dictionnare Infernal. The website DeliriumsRealm theorises that his name comes from the Ammonite god Milcom.
Merihim – A demon known as the prince of pestilence, he is known to cause panic and wide spread disease.
According to a number of sources I’ve looked at, Francis Barrett’s 1901 book The Magus lists Merihim as one of nine chief devils, is area of rule being spirits of pestilence. I have yet to find an online copy of the book that contains this passage, however – I’ll admit that my research came up a bit short.
Moloch – Is a demon from Judaism who appears as a lizard type man & feeds off of sacrificing children.
The Old Testament identifies Moloch as a foreign deity whose worshippers perform child sacrifices. Watkins’ description of Moloch as lizard-like possibly comes from his portrayal in the 1914 film Cabiria, in which his statue had a somewhat reptilian head (the statue in question is now on display in Turin’s Museum of Cinema, with photos easily accessible online). Most modern depictions give him a cow’s head, presumably in reference to the golden calf of Exodus.
Mullin – A demon who answers to Leonard. He sees out his plans & takes part in black magic.
Thomas Potts’ Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster (see the entry for Leonard, above) states that Leonard is accompanied by an assistant devil named Master John Mullin.
Murmur – He is known as the demon of music, using sound & voice to mislead and control victims. His powers are very prevalent in today’s music industry. Many “famous” rappers & singers have made packs with him to become famous, doing his bidding of subliminal messaging through music.
Murmur is a demon mentioned in Weir’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and Mathers’ Goetia, which claim that Murmur can teach philosophy and help to conjure the souls of the dead. These texts also say that Murmur is accompanied by two ministers who blow trumpets. Watkins appears to have latched onto this brief reference to musical instruments as an excuse to dream up a bizarre conspiracy theory involving rappers.
Doris V. Sutherland 