The Lesser Devils Under Satan That Oversee Hell

It may come as a surprise, but Hell is dominated by a bureaucracy; as chaotic as the underworld may be, people have identified a hierarchy and distributed specific jobs to each demon. As in the case of angels, the hierarchy of demons includes different demon ranks, attributes, and domains to rule over. Demonologists used various characteristics to organize demons into a table that illustrated their standing in Hell, their special powers, and their pet sins.  Included in the hierarchy are demons popularized by the Bible and those brought into the mainstream by books and movies. Each one serves a specific purpose, and many are the twisted mirror image of an angel in Heaven. Different demonology scholars and religions categorize the demons in different orders, but their motives and vices remain much the same.

Though commonly confused with Satan, Lucifer is a completely different demon than the well-known adversary. In texts in which the two are not seen as the same entity,  Lucifer outranks Satan and is given the title “Emperor of Hell.” Lucifer was the angel who originally fell from Heaven after fighting with God; he corresponds to the sin of pride. When he was cast out of Heaven, Lucifer took some angels with him, who became princes of Hell and maintain order over his evil domain.

He is the counterpoint to John the Baptist, and appears as a beautiful child to mortals. His name translates to “light bringer,” but the name “Lucifer” is not used in the New Testament, since Christ is described as the “bearer of light” in that text. Lucifer is referenced in Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Rituals, the book used by the Church of Satan, in regards to baptismal rites and Black Mass.

Satan is the crown prince of Hell who rules over witchcraft and embodies the sin of wrath. Some covens of witches use the name Satan interchangeably with Lucifer, but regardless of the name, the demon allows witches to ride on his shoulders if they call him on the Sabbath. He appears to them dressed in white robes and has blonde hair with a normal male face. Covens who worship Satan claim that depictions of Satan as a red figure with horns are meant to denigrate and insult him.

Satan was used by God to test Job in the Bible; he actively encouraged the righteous man to disobey the Holy Word of God. He is often called upon in witchcraft for people’s fertility needs since he is also seen as a gatekeeper of fertility.

Leviathan is the crown prince of Hell who represents the sin of envy. In the Christian Bible, Leviathan is an enormous sea creature that roams the waters. He is also considered to be one of the demons who used to be seraphim angels, the burning angels that surround God on his throne. Saint Peter is Leviathan’s opposite.

Leviathan is associated with heretics – those who speak out against the faith and rules of the church. He is also known as the gatekeeper and Grand Admiral of Hell. Leviathan is used in Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Bible to represent the sea, and the element of water more generally.

Beelzebub, the “Lord of the Flies,” rules over the Order of the Fly and appears as a large winged insect when summoned. He opposes Saint Francis of Assisi and serves the sin of gluttony, while also preying on human pride in his attempts to gain followers. Before accompanying Lucifer in his fall from Heaven, Beelzebub was in the cherubim order as an attendant of God.

Witches routinely claim loyalty to Beelzebub, while religions have named him prince of devils and false gods for his attempts to push heresy among the faithful. Some sources place Beelzebub as next in line for the throne of Hell, with only Satan or Lucifer ahead of him. As Hell’s chief of staff, Beelzebub takes care of turmoil by demanding solidarity among satanists to keep Lucifer’s affairs in order.

Asmodeous, whose name means “destroyer,” is called king of demons even though he stands below some others in the hierarchy. Some associate him with the demoness Lilith, calling her his queen, while others dispute their unholy partnership. He is commonly depicted with three heads – human, ram, and bull – and sometimes rides on the back of a dragon.

According to Jewish mythology, Asmodeus fell in love with a mortal woman named Sarah, ending all of her seven husbands on the night of their weddings. Asmodeus is known for blocking married couples from consummating their union while tempting husbands to cheat. He is the demon of lust, set on breaking apart marriages with enticements to forbidden pleasures. He was once a part of the first hierarchy of angels – those that served at the throne of God in Heaven. Asmodeus is also known as the demon of wickedness, running the gambling operations in Hell while urging mortals to wantonly wager their own dollars, as well.

Compliance with Asmodeus will damn an individual to Hell’s second level for perpetuity.

This king of fire assists Beelzebub’s Order of the Fly as the great minister and chancellor. Some demonologists also refer to Adramelech (spellings can vary) as president of the senate of demons, and John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost mentions him as a throne demon set against the angel Asmadai. Adramelech has roots in Assyrian religions, where he was a sun god that demanded human sacrifice.

Adramelech chooses Satan’s clothing for him and is often described as having a human head and upper body, with a lower half resembling an equine animal or even a peacock.

Baal-Berith is the voice that whispers into the ears of the vulnerable and tells them to take the lives of others. He also enjoys blasphemy and arguments. The Satanic Bible states he was previously a lord of the covenant in Canaan before Jews and Christians saw Baal-Berith’s worship of idols as demonic.

He is in the first hierarchy of demons and a prince of fallen angels, ruling with several titles in Hell: minister of foreign affairs, chief secretary, and keeper of the infernal archives. Anyone making a pact with Satan must have approval from Baal-Berith. He can see into the future, past, and present times to answer questions and also holds the power to turn any metal into gold. Baal-Berith is sometimes depicted as a warrior in red clothing – sometimes with red skin – who rides a red horse while wearing a crown.

Astaroth opposes Saint Bartholemew, holding court in the first hierarchy of princes of fallen angels. He rides on the back of a dragon and wields a staff resembling a snake as he tempts mortals into lazy behavior. He works in Hell as treasurer and guide to new demons. Astaroth is considered a female demon by witches, providing guidance in the areas of “love, lust, and protection.”

Astaroth appears as either an angel astride his dragon or a half-white, half-black humanoid. Whatever his appearance, he’s said to have exceedingly terrible breath eminating from its mouth. In Christianity, Astaroth has dominion over math, has the power to make humans invisible in their search for treasure, and will answer all questions in his areas of expertise.

Found in the first hierarchy of princes of fallen angels, Verrine is known for pushing humans to impatience in their lives. Some pagans and demonologists describe Verrine as a female demon capable of healing; the entity is aligned with creation instead of destruction. According to medieval stories, Verrine serves under the demon Astaroth.

Supposedly, Verrine played a part in the 1611 possessions of nuns in the city of Aix-en-Provence in the South of France.

Gressil is subordinate to Verrine. He pushes humans to commit the sin of sloth and is known as the third prince of thrones. Opposed by Saint Bernard, Gressil also holds dominion over spreading impurity and filthiness.

Olivier is in the third hierarchy of demons and is in opposition to Saint Lawrence, a deacon and martyr of the Catholic Church. Olivier is a prince of archangels who encourages malice and viciousness towards the poor and disenfranchised.

According to the Michaelis hierarchy of demons, Luvart (or Iuvart) is the only fallen angel among the order of angels. Michaelis claimed Luvart possessed Sister Madeline during the demon attacks on nuns in the South of France in the 17th century. Luvart is also referred to as the Prince of Angels.

Known to the demonologist Peter Binsfield as Iuvart, this demon has dominion over possession.

Verrier, the Prince of Principalities, is known to tempt humans into acting disobediently. Pagans believe Verrier has healing powers, with a special emphasis on herbal remedies, and can also be called upon to rain destruction upon another person.

Working in opposition to Saint Bernard, Verrier encourages disobedience toward authority, religious figures, or other institutions holding power.

Behemoth is also known as “the devil’s cupbearer” and is usally illustrated as an elephant walking on its hind legs while cradling a swollen stomach. He sometimes appears in the same anthropomorphic fashion under the guise of another large creature, such as a hippo or crocodile.

Behemoth serves as a cook to Satan, which is fitting for the demon of excess food consumption and overindulgence. The Satanic Bible describes Behemoth as the Hebrew version of Satan.