The 11 Most Infamous Demons Of All Time

Origins: Jewish mythology

Attributes: Abyzou murders a child every night, she never sleeps, and she attacks virgins, babies, and pregnant women.

Appearance: She has green skin and, according to some sources, the lower body of a fish or serpent.

How to Defend Yourself: Try out the magic of Solomon or write "archangel Raphael" on some papyrus.

Origin: Victorian England

Attributes: Best known for his superhuman jumping abilities, spitting flame, violent clawing, and his preference for attacking young women.

Appearance: He was reported to look like a tall, thin gentleman with metallic claws and burning red eyes.

How to Defend Yourself: Hang out in large groups of well-armed people.

Origin: 16th-Century German Faust folklore

Attributes: A tragic, cynical fallen angel known for corrupting souls and bringing them to Satan. He is a prominent demon in literature who's mentioned by Goethe, Marlowe, and Mann.

Appearance: Winged and horned.

How to Defend Yourself: Don't sell him your soul. DUH.

History: First identified by Native Americans in New Jersey

Attributes: Though terrifying to humans and threatening to livestock, this demon has become a point of pride for the people of New Jersey — they've even named a hockey team after it.

Appearance: It stands on two legs, has the head of a goat, the wings of a bat, horns, cloven hoofs, and a forked tail.

How to Defend Yourself: Shoot it with a gun or blast it with a firehose.

Origin: Sumero-Babylonia

Attributes: Nergal is the demonic god of the underworld associated with plague, ruination, war, and pestilence.

Appearance: He is often shown wearing a long robe and holding a scimitar or scepter.

How to Defend Yourself: Worship him and beg for mercy.

Origin: Widely debated

Attributes: Lilith is a succubus demon who fornicates with men while they're asleep. She also strangles and steals children at night.

Appearance: She is said to look like a normal woman but with wings.

How to Defend Yourself: Concerned that your children have been possessed by Lilith? Just give them some amulets and/or a tap on the nose.

Origin: Assyrian and Babylonian mythology

Attributes: As king of the wind demons, he is known for inflicting humankind with storms, droughts, and plagues. Also notable for possessing Regan from The Exorcist (1973).

Appearance: He is depicted as having a scaly body, a dog-like head, taloned feet, wings, a scorpion's tail, and a serpentine penis. Yikes.

How to Defend Yourself: Wear or decorate your home with Pazuzu amulets. #RespectPazuzu

Origins: Jewish legend

Attributes: A fallen angel who became the demon of lust, jealousy, rage, lechery, luxury, and gambling. He was often brought up during the Salem Witch Trials as a demon with whom the witches were accused of fornicating.

Appearance: A devil with rooster legs.

How to Defend Yourself: Burning a fish's gall on some coals will make Asmodeus flee pronto. (We assume this would work pretty well on non-demons too.)

Origin: Germany

Attributes: Krampus is the anti-Santa. Instead of handing out presents to good children, he beats the bad children and is fabled to steal them off to the underworld.

Appearance: Krampus is half goat and half demon.

How to Defend Yourself: Don't be a naughty boy or girl if you want to avoid a holiday season demon beating.

Origin: Zoroastrian mythology

Attributes: Often referred to as the demon of evil intentions, Aka Manah tempts people to betray their moral responsibilities (ex: not saving someone's life, not being a good parent, etc.). He also enjoys making babies cry by showing them images of the fate of the world.

Appearance: He has blonde hair, blue eyes, tusks instead of teeth, and a long tail.

How to Defend Yourself: Try calling up his rival god, Vohu Manah.

Origin: Slavic mythology

Attributes: This demon asks tough questions to farm laborers, and when they answer a question incorrectly, she beheads them.

Appearance: She sometimes appears as a young girl, sometimes a beautiful woman, and sometimes a crone.

How to Defend Yourself: Answer all her questions correctly.