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Belphegor (orBaal Peor, Hebrew: בַּעַל-פְּעוֹר baʿal-pəʿōr – “Lord of the Gap”) is, inChristianity, ademon associated with one of the sevendeadly sins. According to religious tradition, he helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by proposing incredible inventions that will make them rich. According to some demonologists from the 17th century, his powers are strongest in April. TheGerman bishop and witch hunter,Peter Binsfeld (ca. 1540–ca.1600), wrote that Belphegor tempts through laziness. According to Binsfeld'sClassification of Demons, Belphegor is the main demon of the deadly sin known as sloth in the Christian tradition. The anonymous author of theLollardtractThe Lanterne of Light, however, believed Belphegor to embody the sin of gluttony rather than sloth.[1]
Belphegor derives from theAssyrian Baal-Peor, aBaal worshipped at MountPeor, to whom the Israelites were associated inShittim (Numbers 25:3) and who was associated with intemperance and orgies. It was worshiped in the form of a phallus. As a demon, he is described in Kabbalistic writings as "the one who quarrels", an enemy of the sixthSefirot "beauty". In stories where he was invoked, he bestows wealth, power to make discoveries and make fantastic inventions. His role as a demon was to sow dispute between people, and to lead them to evil through the distribution of wealth.
The palindrome prime number1000000000000066600000000000001 is known asBelphegor's prime, due to the superstitious significance of the numbers it contains. Belphegor's prime number consists of the number666, surrounded on both sides bythirteen zeros and finally one one.
According to De Plancy'sDictionnaire Infernal, Belphegor was Hell's ambassador to France. As a result, his enemy isSt Mary Magdalene, one of the patron saints ofFrance.
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The novellaBelfagor arcidiavolo by Italian diplomatNiccolò Machiavelli was first published in 1549, and regales how the demon comes to earth to find a mate.
Belphegor figures inParadise Lost byJohn Milton, 1667.
| Next Chemos, th’ obscene dread of Moab’s sons, From Aroar to Nebo, and the wildOf southmost Abarim; in HesebonAnd Horonaim, Seon’s realm, beyondThe flow’ry dale of Sibma clad with vines,And Eleale to th’ Asphaltic Pool.Peor his other name, when he enticedIsrael in Sittim on their march from NileTo do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. |
According to the 1818Dictionnaire Infernal byCollin de Plancy, Belphegor wasHell's ambassador toFrance. The same claim was repeated byVictor Hugo inToilers of the Sea (1866).
In the grimoireKey of Solomon (translated into English byS.L. Mathers in 1889), Belphegor is listed near the end of the book as an Assyrian idol, now destroyed.
The novella by Machiavelli became the basis for the operaBelfagor byOttorino Respighi, which premiered atLa Scala inMilan in 1923.
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