San Antonio College Library

"This volume catalogs nearly three thousand demons in the mythologies and lore of virtually every ancient society and most religions. Entries offer descriptions, demon's origins, appearance, and cultural significance. Also included are descriptions of the demonic and diabolical members making up the hierarchy of Hell and the numerous species of demons that populate the earth and plague mankind"--Provided by publisher.

From the publisher. From the beginning of civilization to the present day, and across all major religions and cultures, there have been documented cases of people seemingly overtaken by an unseen entity. The invading force -- whether good or bad -- appears to replace the possessor's soul with the spirit's own persona, resulting in mystifying symptoms such as levitation or other supernatural feats, speaking in tongues, and even horrific and inexplicably...

Folklore's ancient witch and demon figures fascinate us as they continue to materialize in literature with a vitality belying their age. Seeing these folkloric images as crucial metaphors in Hardy's works - as manifest expressions of human sexual aggression and as archetypal projections from his characters' unconscious - this study explores the tyranny they exercise over their victims. The book also vigorously pursues the astonishing truths Hardy...