In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon (or daemon, dæmon, daimon from Greek:ðaïmon]) is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, and in Christian terms it is generally understood as a Fallen angel, formerly of God. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled. The "good" demon in recent use is largely a literary device (e.g., Maxwell's demon), though references to good demons can be found in Hesiod and Shakespeare. In common language, to "demonise" a person means to characterise or portray them as evil, or as the source of evil.****************As the Iranian Avestan and Vedic traditions as well as other branches of Indo-European mythologies show, the notion of 'demons' [Daewan] has existed for many millennia. Ancient Egyptians also believed in demonic monsters that might devour living souls while they travelled towards the afterlife, although demons per se did not exist in Ancient Egyptian belief. The Greek conception of a daemon (<_20_da3f_c2b5_3f_3f_20_daimon29_20_appears20_in20_the20_works20_of20_plato20_and20_many20_other20_ancient20_authors2c_20_but20_without20_the20_evil20_connotations20_which20_are20_apparent20_in20_the20_septuagint20_translation20_of20_the20_hebrew20_bible20_and20_in20_the20_greek20_originals20_of20_the20_new20_testament.20_the20_mediaeval20_and20_neo-mediaeval20_conception20_of20_a20_22_demon22_20_in20_western20_civilisation20_28_see20_the20_mediaeval20_grimoire20_called20_the20_ars20_goetia29_20_derives20_seamlessly20_from20_the20_ambient20_popular20_culture20_of20_late20_28_roman29_20_antiquity3a_20_greco-roman20_concepts20_of20_daemons20_that20_passed20_into20_christian20_culture20_are20_discussed20_in20_the20_entry20_daemon2c_20_though20_it20_should20_be20_duly20_noted20_that20_the20_term20_referred20_only20_to20_a20_spiritual20_force2c_20_not20_a20_malevolent20_supernatural20_being.20_the20_hellenistic20_22_daemon22_20_eventually20_came20_to20_include20_many20_semitic20_and20_near20_eastern20_gods20_as20_evaluated20_by20_christianity.20_20_the20_supposed20_existence20_of20_demons20_is20_an20_important20_concept20_in20_many20_modern20_religions20_and20_occultist20_traditions.20_in20_some20_present-day20_cultures2c_20_demons20_are20_still20_feared20_in20_popular20_superstition2c_20_largely20_due20_to20_their20_alleged20_power20_to20_possess20_living20_creatures.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_in20_the20_contemporary20_western20_occultist20_tradition20_28_perhaps20_epitomised20_by20_the20_work20_of20_aleister20_crowley29_2c_20_a20_demon2c_20_such20_as20_choronzon2c_20_the20_22_demon20_of20_the20_abyss22_2c_20_is20_a20_useful20_metaphor20_for20_certain20_inner20_psychological20_processes2c_20_though20_some20_may20_also20_regard20_it20_as20_an20_objectively20_real20_phenomenon.20_aleister20_crowley20_also20_contacted20_the20_abysmal20_demon20_kokomo20_through20_the20_use20_of20_a20_ouija20_board20_and20_had20_nightly20_conversations.20_crowley20_often20_said20_his20_22_pet20_demon22_20_kokomo20_threatened20_death20_upon20_mockery20_and20_destroying20_the20_board.20_crowley20_died20_shortly20_after20_burning20_his20_ouija20_board20_in20_an20_attempt20_to20_become20_possessed20_by20_demons.20_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_20_some20_scholars20_believe20_that20_large20_portions20_of20_the20_demonology20_28_asmodai29_20_of20_judaism2c_20_a20_key20_influence20_on20_christianity20_and20_islam2c_20_originated20_in20_zoroastrianism2c_20_and20_were20_transferred20_to20_judaism20_during20_the20_persian20_era.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_zoroastrianism20_is20_the20_religion20_and20_philosophy20_based20_on20_the20_teachings20_ascribed20_to20_the20_prophet20_zoroaster20_28_zarathustra2c_20_zartosht29_.20_mazdaism20_is20_the20_religion20_that20_acknowledges20_the20_divine20_authority20_of20_ahura20_mazda2c_20_proclaimed20_by20_zoroaster20_to20_be20_the20_one20_uncreated20_creator20_of20_all20_28_god29_.20_20_as20_demonstrated20_by20_zoroastrian20_creed20_and20_articles20_of20_faith2c_20_the20_two20_terms20_are20_effectively20_synonymous.20_in20_a20_declaration20_of20_the20_creed20_e28094_20_the20_fravarane20_e28094_20_the20_adherent20_states3a_20_22_e280a6_i20_profess20_myself20_a20_devotee20_of20_mazda2c_20_a20_follower20_of20_zarathustra.22_20_28_yasna20_12.22c_20_12.829_20_20_some20_scholars20_have20_suggested20_that20_zoroastrianism20_was20_where20_the20_first20_prophet20_of20_a20_monotheistic20_faith20_arose2c_20_claiming20_zoroastrianism20_as20_being20_22_the20_oldest20_of20_the20_revealed20_creedal20_religions2c_20_which20_has20_probably20_had20_more20_influence20_on20_mankind20_directly20_or20_indirectly2c_20_more20_than20_any20_other20_faith22_.20_20_zoroastrianism20_was20_once20_the20_dominant20_religion20_of20_much20_of20_greater20_iran.20_as20_of20_200720_the20_faith20_has20_dwindled20_to20_small20_numbers3b_20_some20_sources20_suggest20_that20_it20_is20_practiced20_by20_fewer20_than20_2002c_00020_worldwide2c_20_with20_its20_largest20_centres20_in20_india20_and20_iran.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_angra20_mainyu20_is20_the20_avestan20_language20_name20_of20_the20_persona20_of20_the20_22_destructive20_spirit22_.20_the20_middle20_persian20_equivalent20_is20_ahriman. _da3f_c2b5_3f_3f_="" _daimon29_="" appears="" in="" the="" works="" of="" plato="" and="" many="" other="" ancient="" _authors2c_="" but="" without="" evil="" connotations="" which="" are="" apparent="" septuagint="" translation="" hebrew="" bible="" greek="" originals="" new="" testament.="" mediaeval="" neo-mediaeval="" conception="" a="" _22_demon22_="" western="" civilisation="" _28_see="" grimoire="" called="" ars="" _goetia29_="" derives="" seamlessly="" from="" ambient="" popular="" culture="" late="" _28_roman29_="" _antiquity3a_="" greco-roman="" concepts="" daemons="" that="" passed="" into="" christian="" discussed="" entry="" _daemon2c_="" though="" it="" should="" be="" duly="" noted="" term="" referred="" only="" to="" spiritual="" _force2c_="" not="" malevolent="" supernatural="" being.="" hellenistic="" _22_daemon22_="" eventually="" came="" include="" semitic="" near="" eastern="" gods="" as="" evaluated="" by="" christianity.="" supposed="" existence="" demons="" is="" an="" important="" concept="" modern="" religions="" occultist="" traditions.="" some="" present-day="" _cultures2c_="" still="" feared="" _superstition2c_="" largely="" due="" their="" alleged="" power="" possess="" living="" _creatures.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_in="" contemporary="" tradition="" _28_perhaps="" epitomised="" work="" aleister="" _crowley29_2c_="" _demon2c_="" such="" _choronzon2c_="" _22_demon="" _abyss22_2c_="" useful="" metaphor="" for="" certain="" inner="" psychological="" _processes2c_="" may="" also="" regard="" objectively="" real="" phenomenon.="" crowley="" contacted="" abysmal="" demon="" kokomo="" through="" use="" ouija="" board="" had="" nightly="" conversations.="" often="" said="" his="" _22_pet="" _demon22_="" threatened="" death="" upon="" mockery="" destroying="" board.="" died="" shortly="" after="" burning="" attempt="" become="" possessed="" demons.="" _2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_="" scholars="" believe="" large="" portions="" demonology="" _28_asmodai29_="" _judaism2c_="" key="" influence="" on="" christianity="" _islam2c_="" originated="" _zoroastrianism2c_="" were="" transferred="" judaism="" during="" persian="" _era.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_zoroastrianism="" religion="" philosophy="" based="" teachings="" ascribed="" prophet="" zoroaster="" _28_zarathustra2c_="" _zartosht29_.="" mazdaism="" acknowledges="" divine="" authority="" ahura="" _mazda2c_="" proclaimed="" one="" uncreated="" creator="" all="" _28_god29_.="" demonstrated="" zoroastrian="" creed="" articles="" _faith2c_="" two="" terms="" effectively="" synonymous.="" declaration="" _e28094_="" fravarane="" adherent="" _states3a_="" _22_e280a6_i="" profess="" myself="" devotee="" follower="" _zarathustra.22_="" _28_yasna="" _12.22c_="" _12.829_="" have="" suggested="" zoroastrianism="" was="" where="" first="" monotheistic="" faith="" _arose2c_="" claiming="" being="" _22_the="" oldest="" revealed="" creedal="" _religions2c_="" has="" probably="" more="" mankind="" directly="" or="" _indirectly2c_="" than="" any="" _faith22_.="" once="" dominant="" much="" greater="" iran.="" 2007="" dwindled="" small="" _numbers3b_="" sources="" suggest="" practiced="" fewer="" _2002c_000="" _worldwide2c_="" with="" its="" largest="" centres="" india="" _iran.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_angra="" mainyu="" avestan="" language="" name="" persona="" _22_destructive="" _spirit22_.="" middle="" equivalent=""></_20_da3f_c2b5_3f_3f_20_daimon29_20_appears20_in20_the20_works20_of20_plato20_and20_many20_other20_ancient20_authors2c_20_but20_without20_the20_evil20_connotations20_which20_are20_apparent20_in20_the20_septuagint20_translation20_of20_the20_hebrew20_bible20_and20_in20_the20_greek20_originals20_of20_the20_new20_testament.20_the20_mediaeval20_and20_neo-mediaeval20_conception20_of20_a20_22_demon22_20_in20_western20_civilisation20_28_see20_the20_mediaeval20_grimoire20_called20_the20_ars20_goetia29_20_derives20_seamlessly20_from20_the20_ambient20_popular20_culture20_of20_late20_28_roman29_20_antiquity3a_20_greco-roman20_concepts20_of20_daemons20_that20_passed20_into20_christian20_culture20_are20_discussed20_in20_the20_entry20_daemon2c_20_though20_it20_should20_be20_duly20_noted20_that20_the20_term20_referred20_only20_to20_a20_spiritual20_force2c_20_not20_a20_malevolent20_supernatural20_being.20_the20_hellenistic20_22_daemon22_20_eventually20_came20_to20_include20_many20_semitic20_and20_near20_eastern20_gods20_as20_evaluated20_by20_christianity.20_20_the20_supposed20_existence20_of20_demons20_is20_an20_important20_concept20_in20_many20_modern20_religions20_and20_occultist20_traditions.20_in20_some20_present-day20_cultures2c_20_demons20_are20_still20_feared20_in20_popular20_superstition2c_20_largely20_due20_to20_their20_alleged20_power20_to20_possess20_living20_creatures.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_in20_the20_contemporary20_western20_occultist20_tradition20_28_perhaps20_epitomised20_by20_the20_work20_of20_aleister20_crowley29_2c_20_a20_demon2c_20_such20_as20_choronzon2c_20_the20_22_demon20_of20_the20_abyss22_2c_20_is20_a20_useful20_metaphor20_for20_certain20_inner20_psychological20_processes2c_20_though20_some20_may20_also20_regard20_it20_as20_an20_objectively20_real20_phenomenon.20_aleister20_crowley20_also20_contacted20_the20_abysmal20_demon20_kokomo20_through20_the20_use20_of20_a20_ouija20_board20_and20_had20_nightly20_conversations.20_crowley20_often20_said20_his20_22_pet20_demon22_20_kokomo20_threatened20_death20_upon20_mockery20_and20_destroying20_the20_board.20_crowley20_died20_shortly20_after20_burning20_his20_ouija20_board20_in20_an20_attempt20_to20_become20_possessed20_by20_demons.20_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_20_some20_scholars20_believe20_that20_large20_portions20_of20_the20_demonology20_28_asmodai29_20_of20_judaism2c_20_a20_key20_influence20_on20_christianity20_and20_islam2c_20_originated20_in20_zoroastrianism2c_20_and20_were20_transferred20_to20_judaism20_during20_the20_persian20_era.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_zoroastrianism20_is20_the20_religion20_and20_philosophy20_based20_on20_the20_teachings20_ascribed20_to20_the20_prophet20_zoroaster20_28_zarathustra2c_20_zartosht29_.20_mazdaism20_is20_the20_religion20_that20_acknowledges20_the20_divine20_authority20_of20_ahura20_mazda2c_20_proclaimed20_by20_zoroaster20_to20_be20_the20_one20_uncreated20_creator20_of20_all20_28_god29_.20_20_as20_demonstrated20_by20_zoroastrian20_creed20_and20_articles20_of20_faith2c_20_the20_two20_terms20_are20_effectively20_synonymous.20_in20_a20_declaration20_of20_the20_creed20_e28094_20_the20_fravarane20_e28094_20_the20_adherent20_states3a_20_22_e280a6_i20_profess20_myself20_a20_devotee20_of20_mazda2c_20_a20_follower20_of20_zarathustra.22_20_28_yasna20_12.22c_20_12.829_20_20_some20_scholars20_have20_suggested20_that20_zoroastrianism20_was20_where20_the20_first20_prophet20_of20_a20_monotheistic20_faith20_arose2c_20_claiming20_zoroastrianism20_as20_being20_22_the20_oldest20_of20_the20_revealed20_creedal20_religions2c_20_which20_has20_probably20_had20_more20_influence20_on20_mankind20_directly20_or20_indirectly2c_20_more20_than20_any20_other20_faith22_.20_20_zoroastrianism20_was20_once20_the20_dominant20_religion20_of20_much20_of20_greater20_iran.20_as20_of20_200720_the20_faith20_has20_dwindled20_to20_small20_numbers3b_20_some20_sources20_suggest20_that20_it20_is20_practiced20_by20_fewer20_than20_2002c_00020_worldwide2c_20_with20_its20_largest20_centres20_in20_india20_and20_iran.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_angra20_mainyu20_is20_the20_avestan20_language20_name20_of20_the20_persona20_of20_the20_22_destructive20_spirit22_.20_the20_middle20_persian20_equivalent20_is20_ahriman.>