Deamons Not Demons

Daemon is the Latinised spelling of the Greek δαίφών (daimόn). A daemon is from the ancient Greek religion and is a good or malevolent supernatural being on a level between mortals and Gods. Daemons should not be confused with the Judeo-Christian usage of demon which is a malignant spirit can posses, hurt or seduce mortals. The modern day connotations of the evil, fallen angel demon that can be conjured and controlled became known in the 2^nd century AD.

The origins of daemon can be found in Hesiod’s Theogony, a story about the Greek gods that shaped the cosmos. One story is about a man named Phaëton who doesn’t believe that his father is the sun god Helios (the god that drives a chariot that pulls the sun across the sky). To prove that Helios is his father, phaeton asks to drive Helios’ chariot and pull the sun across the sky. Phaëton takes the chariot, but soon loses control. He veered too high so that the earth grew chilly in the north, he then dipped too close to the earth in the south, burning the vegetation and drying the earth turning most of Africa to desert and burning the Ethiopians black. To stop the chariot, Zeus struck it with a lightening bolt and Phaëton plunged into the Eridanos river. Zeus turned Phaëton into a daemon to walk among the people.

Hesiod relates how Zeus transmuted the men of the golden age into daemons so they serve as immortal, ineffable guardians of mortals, to whom they might serve by their benevolence.

The Hellenistic Greeks divided the daemons into good and malevolent categories:

· Eudaemons – resemble guardian angels. They watch over mortals to keep them out of trouble.

· Kakodaemons – Trouble makers, mischievous, but not evil.

Daemons aren’t figured in Greek art or mythology, it is thought that their presence was felt rather than seen.

Roman and Hellenic god were seen as being immoveable and untouched by sorrows and suffering, where as daemons, even though they are immortal, they are earthbound, passion tormented and have a capacity to suffer as they walk among us.

One famous daemon that some people know of (especially if you drink) is Agathos, the presiding spirit of vineyard and grain fields. It is customary to pour a few drops of you drink onto the floor to honour him, especially prominent at vineyards, they pour the first of the wine of that season onto the floor to honour the gods so the wine of that season turns out well.

Different cultures have varying myths and different names for Daemons, some are personal guardians where as others are for an entire area.

Fylgja and Vörŏr – Norse Mythology

“Someone that accompanies” It usually appears in the form of an animal during sleep and is an omen of ones death unless it is in the form of a woman, therefore is a guarding spirit for people or clans. It follows a soul from birth to death

Hamingja – Scandinavian

Decides the luck or fortune of a person. When the person dies their Hamingja passes to a family member, therefore it can stay with a family for generations.

Totem – Ojibwa in origin, but not limited to North American Indian.

Watches over or assists a group of people such as a family, clan or tribe. Only in modern times has the personal spirit or animal been referred to as a totem.

Even Socrates believed that he had a daemon that influenced him and directed him in the right directions through out his life.