Adrammelech

from Collin de Plancy's *Dictionnaire Infernal*

Adramelech, also called Adrammelech, Adramelek or Adar-malik, (Hebrew: אַדְרַמֶּלֶךְ, Modern: Adrammelekh, Tiberian: ʼAḏramméleḵ; Template:Lang-el Adramelekh; Template:Lang-la) was a form of sun god. The centre of his worship was the town of Sepharvaim. According to (II KingsTemplate:Bibleverse with invalid book) the cult was brought by the Sepharvite colonists into Samaria: "the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim". The melech element means "King" in Hebrew.

Baal Adramelch (his name "Baal" means "Lord") is described as a son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria in II KingsTemplate:Bibleverse with invalid book) and Isaiah 37:38. In later times, he is associated with the Moloch of Carthage. This often leads to the concept that children were sacrificed to him. The concept of child sacrifice via burning them or placing them within a heated bronze statue of the god comes from Greek accounts and is not historically verifiable as no archaeological proof of such a large, bronze statue exists.

Like many pagan gods, Adramelech is considered a demon in some Judeo-Christian traditions. So he appears in Milton's Paradise Lost, where Adramelech is a fallen angel, vanquished by Uriel and Raphael. According to Collin de Plancy's book on demonology, Adramelech became the President of the Senate of the demons. He is also the Chancellor of Hell and supervisor of Satan's wardrobe. Being generally depicted with a human torso and head, and the rest of the body of a mule (or sometimes as a peacock).

A poet's description of Adramelech can be found in Robert Silverberg's short story "Basileus". Adramelech is described as "The enemy of God, greater in ambition, guile and mischief than Satan. A fiend more curst — a deeper hypocrite".

See also