Diabolus, Beelzebub, Satan, Lucifer, the Dark One, the Prince of Darkness... The Devil has had many names and forms over the centuries. The Devil has been blamed for just about every sort of disaster in history.
The History of the Devil charts the evolution the idea of a supreme embodiment of evil from the time of the ancient gods to the present day. This critical analysis provides insightful and structured analysis of the origins of Devil and the way in which it has been used over the centuries.
Beginning with the early days of religion, when there was not straight distinction between good and evil, The History of the Devil charts the birth of the idea. It was the philosopher Zoroaster who first put forward the notion of simplifying the many different gods into two - one good and one evil. The idea made its way into Islam and Judaism, and flowed through into Christianity.
During the rule of King James, the Devil became a political tool for both the King and the Church and a way of maintaining fear and control over the populace. If you didn't support the King then you must be in league with the Devil. This was the time of the fierce Inquisition.
The History of the Devil continues following the historical trail through the age of enlightenment to present day. The Prince of Darkness is no more a supreme evil feared by all, but rather, a marketing tool.
This fascinating story is told through charting historical and archaeological facts and interviews with academics, historians and church members.