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LuciferLucifer, sculpture by Guillaume Geefs; in the cathedral at Liège, Belg.
Lucifer
classical mythology
Also known as:Eosphoros, Phosphorus
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Lucifer, in classical mythology, the morningstar (i.e., theplanetVenus at dawn); personified as a male figure bearing a torch, Lucifer had almost nolegend, but in poetry he was often herald of the dawn. In Christian times Lucifer came to be regarded as the name ofSatan before his fall. It was thus used byJohn Milton (1608–74) inParadise Lost, and the idea underlies the proverbial phrase “as proud as Lucifer.”
This article was most recently revised and updated byAmy Tikkanen.