Belphegor  

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In demonology, Belphegor (or Beelphegor) is a demon who helps people to make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich. According to some 16th century demonologists, his power is stronger in April. Bishop and witch-hunter Peter Binsfeld believed that Belphegor tempts by means of laziness. Also, according to Peter Binsfield's Binsfield's Classification of Demons, Belphegor is the chief demon of the deadly sin known as Sloth in Christian tradition.

Belphegor originated as the Assyrian Baal-Peor, the Moabitish god to whom the Israelites became attached in Shittim (Numbers 25:3), which was associated with licentiousness and orgies. It was worshipped in the form of a phallus. As a demon, he is described in Kabbalistic writings as the "disputer", an enemy of the sixth Sephiroth "beauty". When summoned, he can grant riches, the power of discovery and ingenious invention. His role as a demon was to sow discord among men and seduce them to evil through the apportionment of wealth. He is difficult to conjure, perhaps because his sacrificial offering is excrement.

Belphegor (Lord of the Opening) was pictured in two different fashions: as a beautiful young woman or as a monstrous, bearded demon with horns and sharply pointed nails; the former form, according to most sources, was his earthly disguise when invoked by mortals. According to De Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, he was Hell's ambassador to France. Belphegor also figures in Milton's Paradise Lost and in Victor Hugo's The Toilers of the Sea.

According to legend, Belphegor was sent from Hell by Lucifer to find out if there really was such a thing on earth as married happiness. Rumor of such had reached the demons but they knew that people were not designed to live in harmony. Belphegor's experiences in the world soon convinced him that the rumor was groundless. The story is found in various works of early modern literature, hence the use of the name to apply to a misanthrope or a licentious person.

Popular culture

Template:Importance-section Template:In popular culture In music:

• Belphegor is the name of a blackened death metal band from Salzburg, Austria. The band also has an eponymous song: Belphegor - Hell's Ambassador, which describes the role of the demon Belphegor as a bringer of ingenious inventions.

In prose fiction:

• Belfagor arcidiavolo aka Il demonio che prese moglie is a short story written in 16th century by Niccolò Macchiavelli.
• Belphégor is a 1927 horror novel by Arthur Bernède.
• Belphegor is a character in the alternative historical fantasy novel Shy Leopardess.
• Belphegor is also the name of a breed of roses cultivated by Colonel Oldroy in the book Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
• Belphegor is also the name of a Parisian group of "Low Nosferatu" vampires in Vampire: The Masquerade, who seek to gain "High Clan Status" by living beneath the Elysium of The Louvre.
• In Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius novels, the sado-masochistic techno-magician Miss Brunner calls on Belphegor while demonically possessed.

In anime and manga:

• In the webcomic Megatokyo, Belphegor is a cat who works for the main character's "anti-conscience".
• Belphemon (Rage Mode) is one of the Seven Great Demon Lords in the Digimon anime/game series. He represents the sin of Sloth, this quality being typified by the Sleep Mode.
• Belphegor is the name of a character from the 2004 manga series Reborn! Nicknamed "Prince the Ripper", he represents the sin of Sloth.
• Gundam Belphegor is the name of a robot in the 2004 manga series Gundam X: Under the Moonlight.
• A demon named Belphegor appears in the fourth episode of Devil May Cry: The Animated Series.

In video games:

• In the DOOM source port Skulltag, a Belphegor is a stronger variant of the Baron Of Hell.
• Belphegor appears as a recurring demon in the Shin Megami Tensei series of occult-themed RPGs. The demon is depicted as a purple skinned demon sitting on a toilet.
• In Dominions 3: The Awakening, he is a demon lord associated with seducing people to evil. He constantly spawns soldiers every turn that guard him, who sold their souls to service for gold, and he also generates virgin girls sold by their parents for pure blood used in Blood Magic.
• In the visual novel Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Belphegor is one of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory and represents the sin of Sloth.
• Belthegor is a character from the PC game The Legacy: Realm of Terror.
• Belphegor Alvi are a rogue drone frigate-class NPC ship in EVE Online.
• A recurring enemy in the Final Fantasy series is named Belphegor, and often appears as a gargoyle-like creature.

In comics:

• Belphegor is the name of a female comic book character from DC Comics associated with the Global Guardians.

Three movie adaptations have been made from Bernède's novel:

• Belphégor in 1927 directed by Henri Desfontaines
• Belphégor ou le Fantôme du Louvre a four 72' episodes TV miniserie in 1965 directed by Claude Barma
• Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre in 2001.

In television:

• On the British cartoon show Bromwell High, Roger Bibby encounters a possessed student who he recognizes as "Belphegor".