Moloch is a demon often used in horror for various reasons. However, he needs a representation of his identity and what he does. So, let’s dive into the history and folklore surrounding this deity.
Before We Start, Get Holy Water And Read! Seriously, Read It!
This is an entertaining article about the demon Moloch viewed by a professional demonologist. I have certification in the field, as well as vampirology and cryptozoology. All research contains hours of work and can still be subjective to my interpretation.
WARNING: This article contains possible gruesome facts about the demon Moloch.
AUDIENCE: 18+. Mature audience only.
ENTERTAINMENT: This article does not suggest summoning demons. You are warned.
BIBLE USED: For all my articles, I use King James’ rendition.
TRIGGERS: Child sacrifice | Hell | Religion | Catholicism | Trauma | Mental Disorders.
I do not recommend the pursuit of summoning demons or actively searching for demons or creatures of the paranormal. This is entertainment and research. Consider yourself WARNED.
Who Is The Demon Moloch
While Moloch has his name in the Holy Bible and is part of the Hebrew faith, he was in the first part of Paganism. The variation in his name might help place him in multiple beliefs: Molech, Milcom, Malcam, Malik, Malkam, Molekh, Molok, Molek, Molock, Moloc, Melech, Molcom, Chemosh.
Moloch was part of the Ammonite belief, part of an ancient civilization mentioned in the Holy Bible. Most Ammonites dwelled in Palestine’s main citadels, such as Rabbath Ammon. His many names had Moloch take many faces, but he remained an evil entity in most of his incarnations.
A common phrase is “Sons of Ammon.” The Ammonites were semi-nomadic people who found their settlement in the northern lands of the kingdom of Moab in the thirteenth century BC.
Moloch is one of the most horrifying demons we know. To the Ammonites, Moloch was a bronze statue of a calf head wearing a noble crown on its head.
They extended the arms of the creature to welcome the victimised children of sacrifice in his name. They covered his statues in mothers’ tears and the blood of children.
The Ancient Testament From The Holy Bible
In the Old Testament, found in the Holy Bible for Catholic people, we can see Moloch in a popular story. The Ten Commandments, or the Moses story, speak of a calf revered by people.
The description is also of a gold bull, and many demonologists, including folklorists and historians, agree that Moloch was the one Moses spoke of.
The ones worshipping Moloch were from the Canaanites, Phoenician and other cultures in ancient North Africa and the Levant. Those people have the proper mention of the Holy Bible in the Old Testament.
The worshipping of Moloch during Moses’ times would fit the story well, as there was a ‘child sacrifice’ to punish the heathens. The firstborn son of every family that wouldn’t mark their door with lamb blood would die. It is quite on the nose to point the index finger at Moloch.
When Rome Mythology Meets Hebrew Demonology
We often see Moloch as another form of Mithras. For those less acquainted with Roman mythology, Mithras was a god that didn’t have many records left behind to study. Mithras is less popular than Graeco-Roman gods such as Jupiter or semi-god Hercules.
However, what historians and theologians know is that Mithras’ temples were underground caves. They refer to carvings of Mithras killing the bull as ‘tauroctony,’ i.e., a predetermined depiction of the God in action when sculpted or carved.
The Mithras cult was a masculine one. To achieve the initiation, there were seven degrees to accomplish. This means different rituals for meals linked to specific stages.
Roman mythology came into play centuries after Moses’ legend. However, the Mithraic studies proved fruitful in enforcing that Roman mythology had its original ‘characters’ and stories.
Suppose you wish to pursue your interest in Roman Mythology. May I suggest sticking to scholarly encyclopaedias and studies as non-scholar research suffered the ‘Christian-wash’ and, therefore, are unreliable sources for the factual material of Ancient Rome—the same goes for all other mythologies and folklores.
Why Is Moloch Linked To Mithras?
The depiction of Moloch has apparent demonic features. Rabbis describe the statue we are familiar with adorning seven cabinets.
In the Roman mythology of Mithras, this God had seven mysterious gates containing seven chambers. The number seven is the link between the demon and the Roman God. We can also add to the list the ‘bull’ Mithras kills while Moloch possesses the head of one.
First Cabinet: Flour.
Second Cabinet: Turtle Doves.
Third Cabinet: Ewe.
Fourth Cabinet: Ram.
Fifth Cabinet: Calf.
Sixth Cabinet: Bull.
Seventh Cabinet: Child.
However, the number seven and the bull are where the similarity ends between the two characters. The cabinets aren’t part of the Mithras ritual of initiation. When child sacrifice would occur for the demon Moloch, a fire would be lit inside the statue.
The priests in charge would beat on drums as loud as possible, and even other echoing objects so that the bouncing noise would be the only sound heard, not the mothers’ cries.
Did You Know That Moloch Is A Fallen Angel?
Moloch is among the Fallen Angels that followed Satan on Earth before creating Hell. According to demonology, Moloch is part of the parliament of Hell. This allowed him to become a Pagan God on Earth. If familiar with the Demonic Paradise mythos, one knows of Moloch’s Oath. If not, it is a system in Hell, much like one of a creed or syndicate. However, this isn’t from Dante‘s mythos, but H. P. Lovecraft.
If one remembers Catholicism well, we know God is jealous and possessive. However, back in the day, mono-gods were not common. As a foreign deity, mainly in the age of Paganism in Israel, they forbade to worship Moloch when Moses came along. Who hasn’t heard of Akhenaten trying to introduce one God in Ancient Egypt?
During the reign of two kings in Pagan lands, the worship of Moloch continued. Despite the warnings of Moses, they gained popularity among the people.
But worshipping Moloch gave good crops to the pagan kingdoms and fair weather. So forth, the worshipping continued. That was until one king forbade sacrificing his son and daughter to Moloch and turned to Moses.
Much of what we know of Moloch is directly associated with Moses but remains more like a Pagan deity than a demon. In itself, that is quite fascinating.
An Unrecognised Demonological Story
This is a supernatural prophecy more than a parapsychological one. Therefore, not recognized by demonologists as a ‘cannon’ folklore or legend. Here we go!
In this noncanonical story, Moloch is a casualty following the rebellion of a character named Hellboy—yes, inspiration for the cinematic one we know. This Hellboy, with the mythical “Twin Blade,” killed a crippled Satan. This said prophecy bears the name of ‘Anung Un Rama, Urush Un Rama.’
The death of Satan and Moloch weren’t the only ones. Lesser demons climbed the ladder by killing the nobility, i.e., the Fallen Angels. By ending the life of Satan, a Hell Revolution, much like the French Revolution in the eighteenth century, happened in Hell.
Beelzebub, Astaroth, Suriel, Uziel, Amdusias, Behemoth and Leviathan died alongside their brothers and sisters. This noncanonical prophecy was the creation of Nyarlathotep. Therefore, not recognized by any demonologist as research material.
Does Moloch Have A Personality Or Psychological Profile?
Despite having the title of a Fallen Angel who was surrounded by Satan, Moloch didn’t have a clean reputation. Moloch, if human, would suffer from schizophrenia, apathy, psychosis and, most likely, sociopathy and narcissism.
Depicted as reckless, irrational and homicidal, Moloch often acts on impulse rather than logic. His personality is associated with a disregardful temperament regarding his predicaments toward his anger.
Still holding a grudge against Heaven, Moloch does not relinquish his desire for revenge like his siblings did. It makes him a dangerous king to follow or worship in Hell.
Æthelred II ‘the Unready.’ We can clearly compare Moloch to this historical figure of the eleventh-century Anglo-Saxon monarch. England was under attack for centuries by Vikings, but on November 13th, 1002, Æthelred II decreed they should slaughter all Danes. The reason was simple. He bothered with the Danes gaining land from the north to southward.
This action of Æthelred II has been seen as a tragedy since the discovery of two mass graves covering dozens of young undefended men. Their DNA dates back to the reign of Æthelred II.
What happened during the slaughter became a source of tyranny at its most evil. The tragedy bears the name of St. Brice’s Day Massacre. Æthelred II was a ruthless king with a narcissistic complex and the desire to rule overall, and he carried his grudge against his enemies to the grave. DNA relates Æthelred II to Alfred the Great, but he never bore his legacy.
Like Moloch, Æthelred II was more brawn—a knight army—than a brain and preferred slaughter to peace. Who knows, maybe both enjoyed the weeping of mothers as their children would die.
A Conclusion To A Lesser Known Demon
There you have it! If ever reincarnated as a human, Moloch might have been Æthelred II. Although I need to separate the depiction of Æthelred II from The Last Kingdom to the one that existed in history. Both shared such unlikable personalities.
As for Moloch himself, any demon or deity that requires children’s sacrifice or even animal sacrifices in my book is unworthy of mention. However, recently, Moloch worked his way into a few horror movies and shedding light upon the authentic folklore seemed important.
So, this is it for Moloch! Those are the broad lines of his story and his place in demonology. Of course, I could say much more about him, but I gave an overall look at this awful demon! I mean, Satan himself considered him brainless and only valid for warfare!
Now, some light on Æthelred II might be soon to tie it all up!
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