Demonology and devil-lore . nrival gods, but by no means possesses the moral accentof the time and conditions amid which Jahvism certainlyoriginated. It is in the same unmoral plane as the con-test of the Devas and Asuras for the Amrita, in Hindumythology, a contest of physical force and wits. The real development of Satan among the Jews wasfrom an accusing to an opposing spirit, then to an agentof punishment—a hated executioner. The fact that thefigure here given (Fig. 5) was identified by one so familiarwith Semitic demonology as Calmet as a representationof him, is extremely interesting. It
Demonology and devil-lore . nrival gods, but by no means possesses the moral accentof the time and conditions amid which Jahvism certainlyoriginated. It is in the same unmoral plane as the con-test of the Devas and Asuras for the Amrita, in Hindumythology, a contest of physical force and wits. The real development of Satan among the Jews wasfrom an accusing to an opposing spirit, then to an agentof punishment—a hated executioner. The fact that thefigure here given (Fig. 5) was identified by one so familiarwith Semitic demonology as Calmet as a representationof him, is extremely interesting. It was found among i68 SUPPOSED PORTRAIT OF SATAN. representations of Cherubim, and on the back of onesomewhat like it is a formula of invocation againstdemons. The countenance is of that severe beauty whichthe Greeks ascribed to Nemesis. Nemesis has at her feetthe wheel and rudder, symbols of her power to overtakethe evil-doer by land or sea; the feet of this figure arewinged for pursuit. He has four hands. In one he bears. Fig. 5.—Gnostic Figure (Ste. Genevieve Collection). the lamp which, like Lucifer, brings light on the deed ofdarkness. As to others, he anwers Baruchs description(Ep. 13, 14) of the Babylonian god, He hath a sceptre inhis hand like a man, like a judge of the kingdom—^he NEMESIS TURNED ACCUSER. 169 hath in his hand a sword and an axe/ He bears nicely-graduated implements of punishment, from the lash thatscourges to the axe that slays ; and his retributive powersare supplemented by the scorpion tail. At his knees aresignets; whomsoever he seals are sealed. He has the terribleeyes which were believed able to read on every foreheada catalogue of sins invisible to mortals, a power that madewomen careful of their veils, and gave meaning to theformula Get thee behind me! ^ Now this figure, which Calmet believed to be Satan,bears on its reverse, The Everlasting Sun. He is a godmade up of Egyptian and Magian forms, the head-plumesbelonging to the one, the multip
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubje, booksubjectdemonology
