- Demons can get weird — really weird.
Has something gone wrong in your life? Why, it’s clearly the result of the wicked work of one demon or another!
Before humans came up with modern theories of medicine, natural phenomena, and so on, it was common to blame anything and everything bad on demons and evil spirits. That’s especially true if you knew you’d screwed up yourself — why take responsibility when it’s all a demon’s fault?
Due to the prevalence of this belief, people have come up with all sorts of demons — some of them incredibly weird. If you thought all demons looked like little red guys with pitchforks, think again.
Here are six of the most bizarre demons from all over the world.
1. Sulak — The Haunter in the Toilet
Outside of sleeping, you’re probably at your most vulnerable when you go to the bathroom. That’s why Sulak decides to lurk in the toilet.
Sulak is a demon from the mythology of ancient Babylonia. He appears as a bearded man with the lower body of a lion.
His domain is sickness and disease. The Babylonians believed that almost every illness came from Sulak and a common term for being suck was “to be touched by the hand of Sulak.”
And since people couldn’t defend themselves while on the can, Sulak liked to hide in bathrooms and toilets. To avoid drawing his attention, doing your business quietly and modestly was important.
Anything to get people to use proper toilet etiquette.
2. Andromalius — The Demonic Good Guy
We think of demons as malevolent, evil beings who do nothing but bring misery and destruction. And then there’s Andromalius, who honestly seems like a pretty stand-up guy.
An Earl of Hell from Judeo-Christian mythology, Andromalius appears as a bearded old man carrying a big snake around. That might sound ominous, but he is pretty much the chief of police in the Pit of Fire.
He has the ability to find and capture thieves and return stolen property. Andomalius also doles out punishment for stealing, lying, and evil deeds in general.
Sure, it’s in demons’ job description to make evildoers pay for their crimes in Hell. But you have to appreciate Andromalius for going out of his way to find and catch bad guys.
3. Belphegor — The Prince on the Porcelain Throne
Like Sulak, Belphegor from Judeo-Christian myth is also associated with toilets. But he doesn’t hide there.
Instead, he rules over his domain in Hell from his porcelain throne.
Belphegor is a hideous, bearded, horned demon who perpetually sits on the toilet. That’s because he’s the supreme lord of the sin of sloth and getting up to go to the bathroom is just too much effort for him.
But he also seems to have a thing for lavatorial activities. It’s said that the best way to invoke Belphegor is to do so while you’re doing your own business.
To sweeten the deal, you can also offer Belphegor a turd. That’s apparently his favorite snack.
4. Tanuki — The Big-Balled Raccoon Dog
The youkai are often called Japanese demons, but they’re really more of a ragtag collection of various spirits. Still, they’re close enough to make it to this list, if only so that we can feature the tanuki.
Tanuki is the native name for the Japanese raccoon dog, but it’s also a youkai creature from folklore. They resemble the animal with one crucial distinction — the mythical tanuki sports a pair of massive testicles.
The tanuki’s balls aren’t just for reproduction either. They can use them to bounce around, pile things on them for transportation, and even use them as a net to catch birds or fish.
When not flaunting their testicles, the tanuki are mischievous little tricksters who like nothing more than to relax with a joke and a bottle of sake. Many traditional restaurants and bars have a statue of a tanuki to bring in thirsty customers.
5. Stolas — The Cutest of Demons
Another Judeo-Christian demon, Stolas is a great prince of Hell who rules over 26 legions of lesser demons. He has bottomless knowledge of all things related to astronomy, healing plants, and the power of precious stones.
And he’s really cute.
According to legend, Stolas appears as a long-legged raven or an owl wearing a crown. But when Louis de Breton illustrated the Dictionnair Infernal, an 1818 catalog of demons, he decided to make Stolas absolutely adorable.
Just look at the little guy.
6. Nuribotoke — The Undead Fish Buddha
The Nuribotoke looks much more demonic than most other creatures on this list. This Japanese undead demon appears as a fat, Buddha-like creature with blackened, flabby skin, a fishtail extending from its spine, and eyes that hang out of their sockets.
But despite its terrifying appearance, the Nuribotoke is mostly harmless. It crawls out of a family shrine that somebody forgot to close for the night.
The creature will fly around the house, scare people with its hideous looks, and pinch them or smack them around with its tail. But that’s really the extent of the harm it seeks to cause.
You can drive the Nuribotoke away by throwing salt at it. Or you could just remember to close the family shrine before going to bed.
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