| 释义 |
Demogorgon Myth.|ˌdiːməʊˈgɔːgən|
[late L. Dēmogorgōn, having the form of a derivative of Gr. δῆµος people + γοργός grim, terrible, whence γοργώ Gorgon; but of uncertain origin: see below.]
Name of a mysterious and terrible infernal deity.
First mentioned (so far as known) by the Scholiast (Lactantius or Lutatius Placidus, ? c 450) on Statius Theb. iv. 516, as the name of the great nether deity invoked in magic rites. Mentioned also by a scholiast on Lucan Pharsalia vi. 742. Described in the Repertorium of Conrad de Mure (1273) as the primordial God of ancient mythology; so in the Genealogia Deorum of Boccaccio. The latter appears to be the source of the word in modern literature (Ariosto, Spenser, Milton, Shelley, etc.).[By some supposed to be a corruption of δηµιουργός Demiurgus; but this is very doubtful. The mediæval writers connect it with dæmon (demon1), and explain it as meaning either dæmonibus terror (terror to demons), or terribilis dæmon (terrible demon). From its connexion with magic, it may be a disguised form of some Oriental name.] 1590Spenser F.Q. i. v. 22 O thou [Night] most auncient Grandmother of all..Which wast begot in Dæmogorgon's hall. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 965 And by them stood Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name Of Demogorgon. 1681Dryden Sp. Friar v. 11 He's the first begotten of Beelzebub, with a face as terrible as Demogorgon. 1705C. Purshall Mech. Macrocosm 85 The Saline, and Sulphurious Vapours, I take to be the True Demogorgon of the Philosophers, or Grandfather of all the Heathen Gods, i.e. Mettals. 1821Shelley Prometh. Unb. i. 207 All the powers of nameless worlds..And Demogorgon, a tremendous gloom. 1850Keightley Fairy Mythol. 452 According to Ariosto, Demogorgon has a splendid temple palace in the Himalaya mountains, whither every fifth year the Fates are all summoned to appear before him, and give an account of their actions. |