Published in 1818-1863, the original Dictionnaire Infernal remains the ultimate source for images of the most famous demons of demonology! Written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy, and illustrated by Louis Le Breton, this classic work was printed in 6 editions, with the final edition of 1863 containing the famous demon images.
Dictionnaire Infernal
The Dictionnaire Infernal (English: 'Infernal Dictionary') is a book on demonology, describing demons organised in hierarchies. It was written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy and first published in 1818.[1][2] There were several editions of the book; perhaps the most famous is the 1863 edition, which included sixty-nine illustrations by Louis Le Breton depicting the appearances of several of the demons. Many but not all of these images were later used in S. L. MacGregor Mathers's edition of The Lesser Key of Solomon.
![Dictionary Dictionary](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126361725/517549195.jpg)
History[edit]
Dictionnaire Infernal was first published in 1818 and then divided into two volumes, with six reprints—and many changes—between 1818 and 1863. This book attempts to provide an account of all the knowledge concerning superstitions and demonology.
A review in 1822 read:
Anecdotes of the nineteenth century or stories, recent anecdotes, features and little known words, singular adventures, various quotations, compilations and curious pieces, to be used for the history of the customs and the mind of the century in which we live, compared with centuries past.
The cover page for the 1826 edition reads:
Infernal Dictionary, or, a Universal Library on the beings, characters, books, deeds, and causes which pertain to the manifestations and magic of trafficking with Hell; divinations, occult sciences, grimoires, marvels, errors, prejudices, traditions, folktales, the various superstitions, and generally all manner of marvellous, surprising, mysterious, and supernatural beliefs.
Influenced by Voltaire, Collin de Plancy initially did not believe in superstition. For example, the book reassures its contemporaries as to the torments of Hell: 'To deny that there are sorrows and rewards after death is to deny the existence of God; since God exists, it must be necessarily so. But only God could know the punishments meted out to the guilty, or the place that holds them. All the catalogues made herebefore are only the fruit of a more or less disordered imagination. Theologians should leave to the poets the depiction of Hell, and not themselves seek to frighten minds with hideous paintings and appalling books' (p. 164).[3]
The skepticism of Collin de Plancy increasingly subsided over time. By the end of 1830 he was an enthusiastic Roman Catholic, to the consternation of his former admirers.[citation needed] In later years, De Plancy rejected and modified his past works, thoroughly revising his Dictionnaire Infernal to conform with Roman Catholic theology. This influence is most clearly seen in the sixth and final 1863 edition of the book, which is decorated with many engravings and seeks to affirm the existence of the demons. de Plancy collaborated with Jacques Paul Migne, a French priest, to complete a Dictionary of the occult sciences or theological Encyclopaedia, which is described as an authentic Roman Catholic work.[4][5]
Many articles written in the Dictionnaire Infernal illustrate the author's vacillation between rationalism, faith, and willingness to believe without evidence.[6] For example, he admits the possible effectiveness of chiromancy, while rejecting cartomancy: 'It is certain that chiromancy, and especially physiognomy, have at least some plausibility: they draw their predictions from signs which relate to features which distinguish and characterize people; of lines which the subjects carry with themselves, which are the work of nature, and that someone can believe significant, since they are unique to each individual. But the cards, merely human artifacts, not knowing either the future, nor the present, nor the past, have nothing of the individuality of the person consulting them. For a thousand different people they will have the same result; and consulted twenty times about the same subject, they will produce twenty contradictory productions' (p. 82).[3]
List of demons[edit]
![Pdf Pdf](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126361725/121311481.jpg)
- Abraxas/Abracas
- Bhairava/Beyrevra
- Deimos/Deumus
- Ganga/Gramma
- Pruflas/Busas
Editions[edit]
The Dictionaire Infernal had multiple releases over the years with varying contents:
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1818 (First Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1825 (Second Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1826 (Reprint of Second Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1844 (Third Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1845 (Fourth Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1853 (Fifth Edition)
- 'Dictionnaire Infernal' 1863 (Sixth Edition w/Illustrations by Louis le Breton)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Belanger, Michelle (8 October 2010). The Dictionary of Demons: Names of the Damned. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 109. ISBN978-0-7387-2745-5.
- ^Dictionnaire infernal: répertoire universel des êtres, des personnages, des livres, des faits et des choses qui tiennent aux esprits ... H. Plon. 1863. p. 11.
- ^ ab'XLII/KWS 37/Dictionnaire infernal'. Quarante-deux.org. 2012-04-25. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
- ^'Dictionnaire infernal – Chroniques Livre'. La Horde Noire. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
- ^'Exorcisme catholique'. Atheisme.free.fr. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
- ^de Plancy, J Collin (2015). Infernal Dictionary Deluxe Edition. Abracax House. p. 764. ISBN0997074515.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dictionnaire Infernal. |
- Dictionnaire infernal, ou, Recherches et anecdotes, sur les démons, les, 1818 at Google Books, PDF download available
- Dictionnaire infernal, ou Recherches et anecdotes sur les démons, 1844 at Google Books, PDF download available
- Dictionnaire des sciences occultes: ou, Répertoire universel des êtres, des, 1848 at Google Books, PDF download available
- Dictionnaire infernal: ou Répertoire universel des êtres, des personnages, 1853 582 pages – at Google Books PDF download available
- Dictionnaire infernal: ou Répertoire universel des êtres, des personnages, 1863 PDF download available.
- Boards of the edition of 1826 on the site of the electronic library of Lisieux
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dictionnaire_Infernal&oldid=929590176'
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dictionnaire Infernal
The DictionnaireInfernal (English: Infernal Dictionary) is a book on demonology, organised inhellish hierarchies. Itwas written by Jacques AugusteSimon Collin de Plancy and first published in 1818.There were several editions of the book, but perhaps the mostfamous is the edition of 1863, inwhich sixty-nine illustrations were added to the book. Theseillustrations are drawings which try to depict the descriptions ofthe appearance of several demons. Many of these images were laterused in S. L. MacGregorMathers's edition of The Lesser Key ofSolomon though some of the images were removed.
The book was first published in 1818 and then divided into two volumes, with sixreprints and many changes between 1818 and 1863. This book attemptsto provide an account of all the knowledge concerning superstitionsand demonology.
A review in 1822 read:
“Anecdotes dudix-neuvième siècle ou historiettes inédites, anedoctes récentes,traits et mots peu connus, aventures singulières, citations,rapprochements divers et pièces curieuses, pour servir à l'histoiredes mœurs et de l'esprit du siècle où nous vivons comparé auxsiècles passés Anecdotes of the nineteenth century or stories, recentanecdotes, features and little known words, singular adventures,various quotations, compilations and curious pieces, to be used forthe history of the customs and the mind of the century in which welive, compared with centuries past.
”The cover page for the 1826 edition reads:
“Dictionnaire infernal ouBibliothèque Universelle sur les êtres, les personnages, leslivres, les faits et les choses, qui tiennent aux apparitions, à lamagie, au commerce de l'enfer, aux divinations, aux sciencessecrètes, aux grimoires, aux prodiges, aux erreurs et aux préjugés,aux traditions et aux contes populaires, aux superstitionsdiverses, et généralement à toutes les croyances merveilleuses,surprenantes, mystérieuses et surnaturelles Infernal Dictionary, or, a Universal Library on the beings,characters, books, deeds, and causes which pertain to themanifestations and magic of trafficking with Hell; divinations,occult sciences, grimoires, marvels, errors, prejudices,traditions, folktales, the various superstitions, and generally allmanner of marvellous, surprising, mysterious, and supernaturalbeliefs.
”Influenced by Voltaire, Collin de Plancy initially did not believe inmany superstitions. For example, the book reassures itscontemporaries as to the torments of Hell: 'To deny that there aresorrows and rewards after death is to deny the existence of God;since God exists, it must be necessarily so. But only God couldknow the punishments meted out to the guilty, or the place thatholds them. All the catalogues made herebefore are only the fruitof a more or less disordered imagination. Theologians should leaveto the poets the depiction of Hell, and not themselves seek tofrighten minds with hideous paintings and appalling books'(p.164).[1]
But the skepticism of Collin dePlancy grew blurred with time. By the end of 1830 he surelybecomes an enthusiastic Catholic, tothe consternation of his former admirers.
In later years, De Plancy rejects and modifies his past works,thoroughly revising his Dictionnaire Infernal to put it inconformity with the canons of the Roman Catholic Church. Thisinfluence is most clearly seen in the sixth and final 1863 editionof the book, which is decorated with many engravings and seeks toaffirm the existence of the demons. Collin de Plancy finished his career with acollaboration with the Abbé Migne tocomplete a Dictionary of the occult sciences or theologicalEncyclopaedia, described by some as an authentic work of RomanCatholic doctrine.[2][3]
Many articles written in the Dictionnaire Infernal illustrate theauthor's vacillation between rationalism, faith and willingness to believe withoutevidence. For example, he admits the possible effectiveness of chiromancy, while rejecting cartomancy: 'It iscertain that chiromancy, and especially physiognomy, have at leastsome plausibility: they draw their predictions from signs whichrelate to features which distinguish and characterize people; oflines which the subjects carry with themselves, which are the workof nature, and that someone can believe significant, since they areunique to each individual. But the cards, merely human artifacts,not knowing either the future, nor the present, nor the past, havenothing of the individuality of the person consulting them. For athousand different people they will have the same result; andconsulted twenty times about the same subject, they will producetwenty contradictory productions'(p. 82).[1]
Contents |
List ofdemons
- Abraxas-Abracas
- Bhairava-Beyrevra
- Deumus Deimos
- Eurynome
- Flaga
- Ganga-Gramma
- Pruflas/Busas
Editions
- Dictionnaire Infernal -ISBN 2-264-02956-0
References
- ^ abXLII/KWS 37/Dictionnaireinfernal
- ^Dictionnaire infernal - Chroniques Livre, Webzinemetal extreme La Horde Noire
- ^Exorcisme catholique<
Externallinks
- plancy.pdf PDF File of thebook's English translation.
- Dictionnaire infernal: ou Répertoire universel desêtres, des personnages, 1853 582 pages - at Google BooksPDF download available
- Dictionnaire infernal, ou, Recherches et anecdotes,sur les démons, les, 1818 at Google Books, PDF downloadavailable
- Dictionnaire infernal, ou Recherches et anecdotes surles démons, 1844 at Google Books, PDF downloadavailable
- Dictionnaire des sciences occultes: ou, Répertoireuniversel des êtres, des, 1848 at Google Books, PDFdownload available
- Deliriums Realm -Dictionnaire Infernal
- Boards of the edition of1826 on the site of the electronic library of Lisieux