Beelzebub
Beelzebub · Lord of the Flies — Prince of Gluttony
Great demon of Jewish and Christian tradition. The name comes from Hebrew 'Lord of the Flies' (Baal-Zebub). Originally Baal-Zebul ('the noble lord'), worshipped at Philistine Ekron, the Jews mockingly renamed him 'Lord of the Flies' (zebub = fly). In the New Testament he is called 'the prince of demons' by Christ himself. Prince of Gluttony among the Seven Deadly Sins.
Origin
In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah falls ill and consults him as oracle, only to be rebuked by Elijah. In Matthew 12:24 the Pharisees slander Christ saying 'he casts out demons by Beelzebub.' Milton's Paradise Lost makes him the second-greatest fallen angel after Lucifer.
Features
- Vast fly form or giant surrounded by swarms of flies
- Stench of rot and spoiled food follows him
- Crowned figure enthroned
- Touch that spreads disease and pestilence
Usage
Symbol of gluttony, decay, and pestilence. In exorcisms he is the demon driven out in cases of food addiction and compulsive eating. William Golding's Lord of the Flies takes its title from him — the rot of unchecked humanity.