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 "demonize" a person means to characterize 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 traveled 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_medieval20_and20_neo-medieval20_conception20_of20_a20_22_demon22_20_in20_western20_civilization20_28_see20_the20_medieval20_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.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_epitomized20_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.0d_0a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_0d_0a_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_.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_0d_0a_0d_0a_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_.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_centers20_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="" the="" evil="" connotations="" which="" are="" apparent="" in="" the="" septuagint="" translation="" of="" the="" hebrew="" bible="" and="" in="" the="" greek="" originals="" of="" the="" new="" testament.="" the="" medieval="" and="" neo-medieval="" conception="" of="" a="" _22_demon22_="" in="" western="" civilization="" _28_see="" the="" medieval="" grimoire="" called="" the="" ars="" _goetia29_="" derives="" seamlessly="" from="" the="" ambient="" popular="" culture="" of="" late="" _28_roman29_="" _antiquity3a_="" greco-roman="" concepts="" of="" daemons="" that="" passed="" into="" christian="" culture="" are="" discussed="" in="" the="" entry="" _daemon2c_="" though="" it="" should="" be="" duly="" noted="" that="" the="" term="" referred="" only="" to="" a="" spiritual="" _force2c_="" not="" a="" malevolent="" supernatural="" being.="" the="" hellenistic="" _22_daemon22_="" eventually="" came="" to="" include="" many="" semitic="" and="" near="" eastern="" gods="" as="" evaluated="" by="" christianity.="" the="" supposed="" existence="" of="" demons="" is="" an="" important="" concept="" in="" many="" modern="" religions="" and="" occultist="" traditions.="" in="" some="" present-day="" _cultures2c_="" demons="" are="" still="" feared="" in="" popular="" _superstition2c_="" largely="" due="" to="" their="" alleged="" power="" to="" possess="" living="" _creatures.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_in="" the="" contemporary="" western="" occultist="" tradition="" _28_perhaps="" epitomized="" by="" the="" work="" of="" aleister="" _crowley29_2c_="" a="" _demon2c_="" such="" as="" _choronzon2c_="" the="" _22_demon="" of="" the="" _abyss22_2c_="" is="" a="" useful="" metaphor="" for="" certain="" inner="" psychological="" _processes2c_="" though="" some="" may="" also="" regard="" it="" as="" an="" objectively="" real="" phenomenon.="" aleister="" crowley="" also="" contacted="" the="" abysmal="" demon="" kokomo="" through="" the="" use="" of="" a="" ouija="" board="" and="" had="" nightly="" conversations.="" crowley="" often="" said="" his="" _22_pet="" _demon22_="" kokomo="" threatened="" death="" upon="" mockery="" and="" destroying="" the="" board.="" crowley="" died="" shortly="" after="" burning="" his="" ouija="" board="" in="" an="" attempt="" to="" become="" possessed="" by="" demons.="" _2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_="" some="" scholars="" believe="" that="" large="" portions="" of="" the="" demonology="" _28_asmodai29_="" of="" _judaism2c_="" a="" key="" influence="" on="" christianity="" and="" _islam2c_="" originated="" in="" _zoroastrianism2c_="" and="" were="" transferred="" to="" judaism="" during="" the="" persian="" _era.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_zoroastrianism="" is="" the="" religion="" and="" philosophy="" based="" on="" the="" teachings="" ascribed="" to="" the="" prophet="" zoroaster="" _28_zarathustra2c_="" _zartosht29_.="" mazdaism="" is="" the="" religion="" that="" acknowledges="" the="" divine="" authority="" of="" ahura="" _mazda2c_="" proclaimed="" by="" zoroaster="" to="" be="" the="" one="" uncreated="" creator="" of="" all="" _28_god29_.="" as="" demonstrated="" by="" zoroastrian="" creed="" and="" articles="" of="" _faith2c_="" the="" two="" terms="" are="" effectively="" synonymous.="" in="" a="" declaration="" of="" the="" creed="" _e28094_="" the="" fravarane="" _e28094_="" the="" adherent="" _states3a_="" _22_e280a6_i="" profess="" myself="" a="" devotee="" of="" _mazda2c_="" a="" follower="" of="" _zarathustra.22_="" _28_yasna="" _12.22c_="" _12.829_="" some="" scholars="" have="" suggested="" that="" zoroastrianism="" was="" where="" the="" first="" prophet="" of="" a="" monotheistic="" faith="" _arose2c_="" claiming="" zoroastrianism="" as="" being="" _22_the="" oldest="" of="" the="" revealed="" creedal="" _religions2c_="" which="" has="" probably="" had="" more="" influence="" on="" mankind="" directly="" or="" _indirectly2c_="" more="" than="" any="" other="" _faith22_.="" zoroastrianism="" was="" once="" the="" dominant="" religion="" of="" much="" of="" greater="" iran.="" as="" of="" 2007="" the="" faith="" has="" dwindled="" to="" small="" _numbers3b_="" some="" sources="" suggest="" that="" it="" is="" practiced="" by="" fewer="" than="" _2002c_000="" _worldwide2c_="" with="" its="" largest="" centers="" in="" india="" and="" _iran.2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_angra="" mainyu="" is="" the="" avestan="" language="" name="" of="" the="" persona="" of="" the="" _22_destructive="" _spirit22_.="" the="" middle="" persian="" equivalent="" is=""></_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_medieval20_and20_neo-medieval20_conception20_of20_a20_22_demon22_20_in20_western20_civilization20_28_see20_the20_medieval20_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.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_epitomized20_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.0d_0a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_2a_0d_0a_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_.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_0d_0a_0d_0a_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_.0d_0a_0d_0a_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_centers20_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.>