What’s going on guys - and welcome back to Top 5 Scary Videos - the channel where
we dissect demonology, so you don’t have to.
My name’s Jack Finch, and I’ll be your host today as we take a look at 10 Scary Demons
That Will Haunt Your Dreams.
Before we begin, make sure to hit that Thumbs Up button - and let us know what demonic forces
terrify you the most in the comment box down below.
Thanks for all the positive feedback with our recent demonology series - we’re glad
you’re enjoying them - and improving one's knowledge of devious demonic creatures could
never be a bad thing, right?
We’ve got the best of both worlds.
Well - we’re going to be stepping into the wider demonic universe, and taking a look
at some vile creatures from various cultures across the globe.
So without further delay, buckle your seatbelts - and let’s jump on in.
Starting us off at Number 10 - we have, the Alp.
A common occurrence in Germanic folklore, the Alp is known for its shapeshifting abilities
- and is tied to similar werewolf lore.
It is known as a nature demon, tied to the deep places of the world, and is refuted to
always wear a very particular hat.
Known as a Tarnkappe - which roughly translates to “cap of concealment” - this piece of
headwear gives the Alp specific powers, and the ability to turn invisible.
This demon is almost always known to attack during the night - controlling the dreams
of it’s victims and weaving them into terrible nightmares.
The German word for nightmare is Alptraum - which literally translates to Elf Dream.
When an Alp attacks, folklore states that it sits on it’s victims chest as they sleep,
becoming heavier and heavier until the sleeper wakes in terror.
Next up at Number 9, we have Nybbas.
Now - this guy is pretty obscure, but is referred to in the Infernal Dictionary as a member
of the High Upper Gallery of Hell.
However, despite his position - Nybbas is seen in demonic society as a bit of an idiot
- and is commonly referred to as a buffoon and a charlatan.
Nybbas popped up incredibly frequently in Ancient Babylonian scriptures - where he was
often found pretending to be Nabu - the god of writing - and developed a devoted following
across many major Babylonian cities.
He was described as the “one who fixes destinies”.
Often illustrated as a large, bulbous humanoid man - with horns and hoofed feet - Nybbas
decorates himself in regal attire with precious gemstones and jewelry.
The worrying part, though, is that he is said to rule over visions and dreams - and Nybbas
is the one who pulls the strings behind the curtain of sleep.
Coming up at Number 8 - we have Leshy.
Leshy - or the collective Lechies - are an earth demon that hails from various Slavic
forest regions, and is similar to the Polevik forest sprite.
His blood and skin are blue in colour, his eyes and beard are green - and he doesn’t
have a shadow.
They commonly resemble a satyr - a horned and hoofed humanoid with the features of a
goat, but the Leshy are /actually/ pretty peaceful creatures for the most part - and
protect the birds and animals of the forest.
Good guys.
The scary part, though - is that the Leshy are children of the Devil - birthed from a
mortal woman, and they hold dominion over those caught wandering in the forest at night
- and those that fall asleep.
Bad guys.
Stepping in at Number 7 - we have Belphegor.
This guy is pretty damn nasty, I’m not gonna’ lie.
Often identified as Chemosh - the war god of the Moabite society - Belphegor is tied
to the biblical slaughter of 24’000 people in the Ancient city of Abel-Shittim.
He is known as the demon of ingenious invention - and uses his nefarious machinations to twist
the minds of those that he corrupts.
Belphegor is commonly depicted as both a male and as a female, where he takes on the guise
of both the Moon and the Sun respectively.
As a female - he appears to those in trouble as a young girl giving money and riches, and
promises of fortune.
Strangely enough though, according to the Infernal Dictionary - Belphegor attracted
quite a large devoted following in Ancient times.
It is reported that human victims were offered to him, and Belphegor’s devoted priests
would feast on their flesh.
Some Ancient rabbis claimed that Belphegor could only be worshipped on a toilet, with
digestion and human waste being his main source of demonic power.
Told you he was nasty.
Next up at Number 6 - we have the Lamia.
The Lamia are vile, malicious spirits whose main motivation is to seduce sleeping men,
then slaughter them - and - even more terribly - kill infants as they sleep.
One myth that surrounds the Lamia may offer insight into their origin.
It is said that the original Lamia was a single woman, a beautiful Queen who hailed from Libya.
She was the daughter of Belus - and she had won the heart of Zeus, the ruler of the Greek
pantheon.
However, his wife Hera became jealous of this union - as you would.
In retaliation, she killed all of Lamia’s children that were fathered by Zeus.
In pure rage, Lamia retreated to the deep bowels of the Earth, where she mustered a
demonic force to enact her revenge on humanity.
The Lamia are also known to haunt cemeteries, devouring corpses and leaving nothing left
but the bones.
And at Number 5 - we have Jan Gant y Tan.
A lesser known demon of the Infernal Dictionary, Jan Gant y Tan is known as John With The Fingers
Of Fire, or to the English - as Jack o’Lantern.
He is a demon from Brittany, in Northern France - and also pops up in English and Irish lore.
He wanders the streets at night holding five candles in his hands - spinning them around
in a flaming wheel.
He wildly waves his hands at passers by - and calls down wrath to those that have offended
him.
Also known as a belenger - or a spirit in pain - this demon is bound to the Earth, trying
to find a way to commit suicide.
According to Guernsey Folklore, anyone unfortunate enough to encounter him - can warn him off
by sticking a knife in the ground with it’s blade facing up.
The demon will then repeatedly jump on the blade - attempting to kill itself.
It is thought that Jan Gant y Tan’s main motivation is to lure travelers away at night
- by following it’s mysterious bright lights.
So if you’re on a midnight walk anytime soon - make sure to stay on the path.
Bringing it in at Number 4 - is Adramelech.
According to Collin de Plancy, the author of the Infernal Dictionary - first written
in 1818 - Adramelech is the Great Chancellor of the Underworld and President of the High
Council of Devils.
In John Milton’s Paradise Lost - it is also said that he is a spirit in guile and malice
that exceeds Satan.
Or in short - this guy’s more evil than the Devil.
Often depicted with the face of a mule and the body of a peacock, he is the chief demon
of vanity, and is said to oversee Satan’s own wardrobe - you know, I’m not really
digging the whole /red/ look, maybe tone down the horns.
In demonology, Adramelech is 8th of 10 archdemons in Beelzebub’s Order of the Fly - which
kinda sounds like some sort of demonic boy band.
Adramelech was often worshipped in Sepharvaim, an ancient city of the Assyrians who burned
children on his altars - in hope of winning his favour.
Yeah … avoid that one.
Next up at Number 3 - we have Gaap.
Gaap - or sometimes referred to in the Infernal Dictionary as Tap - is a high president and
Prince of Hell, who commands 66 demonic legions.
He despises his demonic counterpart - Beleth - who we covered in our last video, but is
of equal power.
It is thought that within the politics of Hell - Beleth had enslaved Gaap - and his
burning hatred towards the demon caused him to commit unspeakable evils.
In the times of King Solomon - it is believed that early necromancers would often invoke
the power of Gaap - where they offered him potent alcohol and ritual sacrifice.
If the necromancer had the favour of Beleth, though - he would be completely annihilated
by Gaap.
Gaap often takes the guise of a mortal man - and his main motivation is to whisper ignorance
and nonsense into the ears of those in power, to make them look like fools and drive their
society into chaos.
Kinda sounds like someone we know …
And coming in at Number 2 - we have Lilith.
According to the Alphabet of Ben Sira - an ancient text that dates back to 700 CE - Adam,
in the Garden of Eden, had a wife before Eve.
Her name was Lilith - and things didn’t really turn out too good for her.
After refusing to return to the Garden of Eden after having a fling with the Archangel
Samael - Lilith became corrupted and deformed,
and was transformed into a demonic Succubus.
It is thought that there were four different Succubi who had mated with the Archangel Samael
- and they became the original queens of the Underworld.
They were Lilith, Eisheth, Agrat bat Mahlat and Naamah.
Here, the Succubi Queens would create an army of demons that would torture mortals as they
slept.
They would take the form of beautiful young girls, with the aim of seducing mortals in
their sleep - but upon closer inspection they would be be deformed with claws and reptilian
tails.
Throughout history - various priests have been absolutely terrified of the power that
succubi hold over humans - and had devoted their lives to trying to curb their demonic
hold over the mortal realm.
Which leads us to our final spot - Number 1 - the Incubus.
Derived from the Late Latin word Incubo - which literally translates to “a nightmare induced
by such a demon” - the demonic spirit that terrorizes and corrupts mortals in their sleep
is infamous across the entire planet.
In Zanzibar - it is the Popo Bawa.
In Chile it is known as The Trauco.
In Brazil - the Amazon River Dolphin - or boto - is a combination of a siren and incubus,
that shape shifts into a charming man or woman and drowns them in the river.
In South African folklore it is the Tokolosh - and in Assam it is the Pori, a demon that
deteriorates the human’s health as they sleep.
The first mention of an Incubus comes from ancient Mesopotamia, sometime in 2400 BC - where
Gilgamesh’s father is corrupted by a host of demons and transforms into an Incubus.
Originally - they were regarded as Storm Demons - but a mistaken translation now regards them
as night demons - vile creatures that corrupt sleep.
According to the text, the Malleus Maleficarum - exorcism is the most effective way to overcome
attacks from the incubi.
However, a French friar by the name of Ludovico Sinistrari - stated in his writings that incubi
do not obey exorcists - they have no fear of it, show no reverence for holy things - and
do not fear divine law.
So things don’t sound too great on that front, right?
Well, I hope we’ve added some more insight into our demonic arsenal - and there you have
it - 10 Scary Demons That Will Haunt Your Dreams.
Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got time for today folks - thanks for tuning in and
making it all the way to the end.
You’ve been watching Top 5 Scary Videos.
I’ve been your host Jack Finch - and until next time, take it easy.