THE ORIGIN OF THE
DEMOGORGON
BY: KRISTEN ASSINCK
Whether you first heard the name
Demogorgon in stories of ancient mythology, while playing Dungeons & Dragons, or more recently while binge watching season 1 of Stranger Things, it likely conjures up visions of a dark, ominous and supernatural creature associated with the terrors of the underworld.
The very origins of the Demogorgon are just as mysterious. Scholars of religion believe that the name Demogorgon actually stems from a misreading of the Greek term demiurge, which refers to a craftsman who is responsible for
the creation and maintenance of the physical world. Around 350-400 AD, we see the first appearance of the spelling Demogorgon alongside a description of the demon as a supreme God whose name is taboo and must not be spoken- perhaps the original,“ He Who Must Not Be Named”?
During the Middle Ages, Christian scholars and authors began to refer to the Demogorgon as a demon of hell, portraying the creature as a powerful otherworldly demon to be feared by all. He makes an appearance in John Milton’ s epic poem Paradise Lost, and even later
10 • NERD BLOCK MAGAZINE