Readers enter the realm of the Prince of Darkness, but their journey will be a safe one if they keep within the pages of this fascinating volume. It's an entertaining chronicle that reviews both the legends and the religious beliefs about devils—a vast array of lore that dates back thousands of years and endures to the present day. Here are accounts of the Judeo-Christian Satan as he appears in the Old and the New Testaments. Here too are accounts of the dibbuk, from Eastern European Jewish folklore . . . the Hindu asuras, who are said to be frightening goblinlike spirits . . . Mara, the leader of an army of demons in the Buddhist tradition . . . the powerful jinni of Islamic folklore . . . and even Lilith, a female personification of a devil, believed by some Jewish scholars to have been Adam's first wife and a killer of children. This compendium of demonic information includes true tales of devil worship and witch hunts, as well as quotations about demons from famous literary works, legends from around the world, discussion of demonic imagery, and many atmospheric full-color illustrations.
 
From the Back Cover

We all know the Devil when we see him. Perhaps one of the best-known images in Western culture, his familiar horned silhouette has lurked in waiting for centuries, seeking out unfortunate souls who stray from the path of righteousness. As our leading embodiment of evil, sin, and bad judgment, the Devil has become a fixture in literature, folklore, and art. A master trickster, the Devil has changed his image with the times, encompassing new forms and new ideas of evil. But his images are always recognizable. Down through the ages, they have been used to frighten, instruct, entice, and intrigue us.
 
Who is this super-demon, and where did he come from? Why have images of the Devil persisted in the popular imagination? This book takes an entertaining look at the Archfiend, starting with his shadowy origins in ancient myth and religious traditions, then discussing some of his many roles as tempter, teaser, and tester of mankind. As we explore his history, we discover some of the things the Devil has to teach us about ourselves. Packed with colorful, image-filled illustrations, this volume also offers a pictorial history of how the Devil has been depicted in art, advertising, and in the media.