Archdemon

Evil counterparts of the archangels The figure of archdemon Asmodeus in Rennes-le-Château In some occult and similar writings, an archdemon (also spelled archdaemon), archdevil, or archfiend is a spiritual entity prominent in the infernal hierarchy as a leader of demons. In some beliefs, archdemons are the evil opponents of the archangels. Zoroastrianism In Middle Persian Zoroastrian literature, the dēws are sometimes organized into a hierarchy headed by a small group of archdemons (Middle Persian: kamālīgān dēwān). In the Bundahishn, six principal archdemons stand in opposition to the Amahraspands, while innumerable lesser demons act as their associates. This systematic opposition is most fully developed in the Middle Persian texts; earlier Avestan sources contain lists of major demons, but not yet the same fully developed hierarchy. Andrés-Toledo describes the development of Zoroastrian demonology as a gradual elevation of a group of archdemons to the top of the demonic hierarchy, consciously set against the Beneficent Immortals. The six archdemons of the Bundahishn are Akōman, opposed to Vohuman; Indar, opposed to Ardwahisht; Sawul (Saurva), opposed to Shahrewar; Nāhī