Demonology, Fallen Angels, and the Philosophy of Good and Evil
Ancient Babylonia was a Semitic society centered in southern Mesopotamia (present day Iraq). The region grew powerful in the 1750s BCE under the rule of Hammurabi. At the heart of the empire lies the city of Babylon, known for its Hanging Gardens and Tower of Babel. Read articles about Babylonian culture below.
Nybbas is a demon of hell who manages visions and dreams. He may be associated with the Assyrian and Babylonian god of writing, Nabu.
The first chapters of Genesis contain two creation stories: one that details the creation of the cosmos and one that describes the creation and initial sin of man. This article explores the differences between the two creation stories and compares them to the Babylonian Enuma Elish.
How did ancient semites deal with demon possession? Once a person came under the influence of demons, generally an exorcism was the only remedy. Here are some strategies sorcerer-priests used to banish evil spirits including magical preparations using various objects, incantations, and various magical rituals.
With so many types of demons wrecking havoc on human lives, the Babylonians, Assyrians and early Jews concocted numerous ways to deal with their menacing foes. One of their key weapons were in the form of rituals stressing the demon’s name.
The belief in demons and evil spirits predates Judeo-Christian theology. The ancient Babylonian and Assyrian cultures both had extensive demon classifications. This overview of Babylonian and Assyrian demonology explains the various classes of demons.
In Babylonian and Assyrian religions, Shedim was a generic name like the Hebrew and Christian word spirit.
