Adramelech
From Free net encyclopedia
This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.
Adramelech (also called Adrammelech, Adramelek or Adar-malik) his name Adar meaning the King. He was a form of sun god, the centre of his worship was the town of Sepharvaim (2 Kings 17:31) and was brought by the Sepharvite colonists into Samaria.
There was also a god called Baal Adramelch his name "Baal" meaning "Lord" is also the title of the god Moloch. In Assyrian mythology the title Baal was a title for many gods and he is described as a son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38). To him were offered children, who were sacrificed by being thrown into fire and sometimes eaten.
Similar to many pagan gods, Adramelech was turned into a demon in Judeo-Christian tradition. According to Collin de Plancy book on demonology, Adramelech became the President of the Senate of the demons. He is also the Chancellor of Hell and supervisor of Satan's wardrobe. Being generally depicted with a human torso and head, and the rest of the body of a mule (or sometimes as a peacock).
A poet's description of Adramelech can be found in Robert Silverberg's short story Basileus. Adremelech is described as "The enemy of God, greater in ambition, guile and mischief than Satan. A fiend more curst - a deeper hypocrite."
In Popular Culture
- In the video game Final Fantasy Tactics, Adramelk, presumably a mistranslation of Adramelech is a goat-like zodiac demon. He also is a summon in Final Fantasy XII , where he represents the Capricorn sign of the Zodiac and his element is lightning. [1]
- In the video game Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Adrammelech is the Totema (Guardian spirit) of the Bangaa species, and the third major boss in the main campaign. In this game, he is a dragon-like creature.
- In the video game Final Fantasy XII, Adramelech is an Esper (summoned creature) that weilds the element of lightning. Its appearance is very close to the one in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
- In the video game Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Adramelech appears as a boss in the form of a ram's head and a pair of claws sticking out the front of a massive box.