Abaddon

Abaddon (in Greek: Apollyon) is the demon prince of the Furies in the hierarchy of Hell. In this context, he is associated with the planet Venus.

In the gnostic 3rd-century text, Acts of Thomas, Abaddon is the name of a demon, or the Devil himself.

Name

The Hebrew term abaddon and its Greek equivalent Apollyon, appear in the Bible as both a place of destruction and an archangel of the abyss. Abaddon is further used with specific reference to a bottomless pit, often appearing alongside the place Sheol, meaning the realm of the dead.

In the Book of Revelation of the New Testament, an angel called Abaddon is described as the king of an army of locusts; his name is first transcribed in Koine Greek (Revelation 9:11—"whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon,") as Ἀβαδδών, and then translated Ἀπολλύων, Apollyon. The Vulgate and the Douay–Rheims Bible have additional notes not present in the Greek text, in Latin Exterminans, exterminans being the Latin word for "destroyer."

Apocryphal texts

Abaddon is given particularly important roles in two sources, a homily entitled "The Enthronement of Abaddon" by pseudo-Timothy of Alexandria, and the Book of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, by Bartholomew the Apostle.

In the homily by Timothy, Abaddon was first named Muriel, and had been given the task by God of collecting the earth that would be used in the creation of Adam. Upon completion of this task, the angel was appointed as a guardian. Everyone, including the angels, demons, and corporeal entities feared him. Abaddon was promised that any who venerated him in life could be saved. Abaddon is also said to have a prominent role in the Last Judgment, as the one who will take the souls to the Valley of Josaphat. He is described in the Book of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as being present in the Tomb of Jesus at the moment of the resurrection of Jesus.

Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Apollyon appears in numerous epic poems throughout early the Medieval to the late Renaissance period. European Christians believed that this was one of three deities worshipped by the Muslims. The demon is included in Song of Roland (1100s) and The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), where he actively fights the hero.

The Sola Busca Tarot identifies its Knight of Wands as Apolino, borrowing from the 1600s Piquet of Charles VII, which based some of its court cards around characters from the Song of Roland and had Apolino as the Jack of Spades.