Demons
Characteristics
- Non-corporeal entities that have escaped from Hell
- Possess humans
- Any injuries inflicted upon the possessed human, even if it doesn't injure
the demon, will affect the human once the demon has left.
- Possessed humans may be able to recall everything the demon did while they
were possessed
- Can be identified by black, white, yellow or red eyes, although eyes can
appear normal if they choose
- Cannot be hurt by regular means - they are immune to guns and knives etc
- Presence often leaves a trace of sulphur
- Many, if not all demons, were once humans who offered/sold/lost their souls
to another demon
Vulnerabilities
There are several methods that can be used to trap or slow down a demon:
- Salt - They cannot cross a line of salt
- Iron - They cannot cross an iron line, and can be hurt with an iron rod
- Exorcism - Removes them from the host human and returns them to Hell
- Holy Water - Burns them like acid
- Palo Santo - Burns in a similar way to Holy Water
- Devil's Trap - A symbol that is marked on the floor or ceiling that can
trap a demon within it
- Hallowed Ground - A low-level demon cannot enter a church or other sanctified
area
But only two can permanently destroy them:
Specific Demons
Azazel
The demon previously known as the Yellow-Eyed Demon was revealed to be Azazel.
In traditional mythology, Azazel was one of the fallen angels known as the Grigori
(Watchers). It was Azazel and the Grigori who were banished from heaven for
corrupting humankind. These fallen angels became known as demons. It can be
assumed from this that the Yellow-Eyed Demon is a high level demon.
Crossroad Demons
These demons can be identified by their red eyes. When a deal is made at
crossroads, it is these demons who appear to seal the deal. They appear to have
the authority to barter with the dealmaker, but the final contracts are held
by "someone higher up".
Lucifer
Lucifer was one of God's Angels until he was banished from heaven due to
his excessive pride. He is often known as Satan or the Devil, although his
name simply means "Light-Bearer", which is a Roman astrological
term for the Morning Star (the planet Venus).
One of the demons that Dean speaks to mentions that the demons believe in Lucifer
in the same way humans believe in God. They believe that he made them who they
are and will return to them. No-one has actually seen Lucifer.
Lilith
One of the most famous female demons, Lilith is often depicted in mythology
as being Adam's first companion in the Garden of Eden. For followers of Wicca,
Lilith is seen as the Goddess, the supreme female deity.
She takes on the appearance (or has possessed) a young girl and, when using
her powers, has white eyes, rather than the usual yellow, red or black. She
is considered the new leader of the demons, and is out for Sam's blood.
Seven Deadly Sins
The 7 Deadly Sins are also known as the capital or cardinal sins. They are
a form of classifying sins that was originally used in early Christian teaching.
The sins, listed by both Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th Century and later
by Dante Alighieri in his poem The Divine Comedy, are Luxuria (Extravagance,
later became Lust), Gula (Gluttony), Avaritia (Greed), Acedia (Sloth), Ira (Wrath
or Anger), Invdia (Envy), Superbia (Pride)
There are also 7 Holy Virtues which oppose the sins: Chastity, Temperance,
Charity, Diligence, Forgiveness, Kindness, Humility.
In 1589, Peter Binsfeld, a Bishop, theologian and witch-hunter, published his
Classification of Demons, associating each of the major demons with one of the
seven sins and claiming that they tempted humans by means of their chosen sin:
Asmodeus - Lust, Beelzebub - Gluttony, Mammon - Greed, Belphegor - Sloth, Satan
- Wrath, Leviathan - Envy, Lucifer - Pride.
