Deities of the Witches

It is certain that the devils have a profound knowledge of all things. No theologian can interpret the Holy Scriptures better than they can; no lawyer has a more detailed knowledge of testaments, contracts, and actions; no physician or philosopher can better understand the composition of the human body, and the virtues of the heavens, the stars, birds and fishes, trees and herbs, metals and stones. --Jean Bodin (1580)

Disclaimer

This is NOT a page about Wiccans or neo-pagans, and I do not advocate the belief that Wiccans are Satan-worshippers and/or baby-killers. I am well aware that they are not. This is a starting point for historical research into the great witch craze of 1100-1700 AD. And please, don't ask me for spells.

Aside from worshipping the Devil, witches were purported to have obeised themselves to a bevy of other deities. Many of these goddesses, gods, devils, and demons (the classic horned devil included) were simply familiar deities of antiquity, sometimes given different names. Where an old god was deemed useful by the Church, it was simply converted into a saint.

The following did not make it into the Christians' good books:

Abonde Abundia Aradia Ashtaroth Asmodeus (Updated July 30, 1998) Bechaud Beelzebub (Updated July 30, 1998) Belial Cernunnos Clauneck Clisthert Diana Fraw Fenus Fraw Holt Fraw Selga

Frimost Frucissiere Frutimiere Guland Gulfora Harlequin Hecate Herodias Hicpacth Holda Huictiigaras Humots Kiepoth Khil Leonard (Updated July 15, 1998)

Lilith (Updated July 15, 1998) Mephistopheles (Updated July 30, 1998) Mersilde Minerva Morail Muisin Perchta Put Satanachia Satan (Updated July 15, 1998) Satia Segal Sirchade Surgat Venus Verdelet

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Deities of the Witches is copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.