Daimones
Daimones is a corruption of Theoi Nomioi, meaning “Spirits of the Countryside” or “Sacred Beings of the Countryside.” They are wild, rustic spirits, inhabitants of forests, mountains, and uncultivated fields. These spirits form entourages for Artemis, Dionysus, Hermes, Pan, and Kybele.
The word daimone or daemon means different things in different places and contexts. In ancient Italy, it referred to one’s personal presiding spirit, a sort of guardian angel. This is the meaning from which the animal-daemons of author Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy derive. In esoteric circles of the early Common Era, daimone was synonymous with angel.
They drink; they dance; they play flutes and percussion instruments. They are spirits of ecstasy, intoxication, and sex. They are not malicious or evil but can be raucous and may find it fun to scare mortals just to see them panic, run, and scream. They may be spirits of temptation, offering pleasures of sex, intoxication, and nature. They don’t want your soul; they just want company and fun.
They are gregarious spirits who travel in fluid packs or gangs. They are happy to expand their circle of acquaintances, providing that you are fun and do not try to exploit them. They may be drunken and rustic, but they’re sharp-witted with a good eye for true inner character. Many can be benevolent and generous, if so inclined. They are spirits of prophecy and can reveal secrets of the past and future. They can locate who or what is missing. They are not tame spirits and will not live happily indoors, at least not for long. Relationships with them may need to be maintained on their turf. Post-Christianity, this unruly, wild bunch was reclassified as “Demons.”
ORIGIN:
Greece, Anatolia
SEE ALSO:
- Artemis
- Demon
- Dionysus
- Hermes
- Kybele
- Nymph
- Pan
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.