Lucifer is most commonly known as the notorious fallen angel from the Christian tradition, but in actuality he is present in a variety of religions and practices throughout history. Lucifer, translated from Latin, means 'light-bringer.' Lucifer appears in Graeco-Roman mythology, in the Christian tradition, in demonology, in The Aradia, and in the modern tradition of Luciferianism.
Within Graeco-Roman mythology, Lucifer is the personification of the planet Venus, misidentified as the Morning Star. He was frequently depicted as a young man bearing a torch. His name in Greek was Phosphorus, and Lucifer in Latin. In both traditions he was the son of the goddess of the dawn (Eos/Aurora). In the Iliad, Homer writes ‘At length as the Morning Star (Eosphorus) was beginning to herald the light which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the flames fell and the fire began to die.’
Lucifer was also mentioned in Hesiod's Theogony (‘And after these Erigenia bare the star Eosphorus, and the gleaming stars with which heaven is crowned') and in Ovid's Metamorphosis ("Aurora, watchful in the reddening dawn, threw wide her crimson doors and rose-filled halls; the Stellae took flight, in marshaled order set by Lucifer who left his station last.")
In the Christian tradition, Lucifer is often synonymous to Satan. Surprisingly, the name Lucifer is only explicitly mentioned once in the Bible. Isaiah 14:12 says :“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star [Lucifer], son of Dawn!” Lucifer was formerly an Angel of god, but was forced out of Heaven for rebelling against God. His followers were also cast out of heaven and would become demons. After being cast out of Heaven, Lucifer was said to rule over Hell and entice people to sin. Christian tradition asserts the notion that Lucifer is a purely evil being. The Christian Lucifer acts against the righteous good of the Christian God, and thus is condemned to live in Hell.
Lucifer also frequently appears within the occult tradition of demonology. In The Lanterne of Light, Lucifer is classified as one of the seven deadly sins (Pride). The Book of Abramelin lists him as one of four demon Princes. He is also mentioned in the Lesser Key of Solomon, the Dictionnaire Infernal, in Binsfeld's classification of demons, and in Agrippa's classification of demons.
A figure by the name of Lucifer is a central god in The Aradia, a text also referred to as The Gospel of Witches. In The Aradia, Lucifer is the brother and consort of the goddess Diana, and the father of Aradia. The Aradia states that "Diana greatly loved her brother Lucifer, the god of the Sun and of the Moon, the god of Light (Splendor), who was so proud of his beauty, and who for his pride was driven from Paradise." At night, Diana lay with Lucifer in the form of his beloved cat, and in the darkness changed back into her own form, conceiving Aradia with him.
The modern tradition of Luciferianism also sprung from his worship and ideology. Luciferianism is a theology that focuses on self-exploration, self-illumination, societal rebellion, personal freedom, and eventual self-godhood. Lucifer is regarded as either a symbol, an archetype, a god, or a working partner. Some Luciferians are completely atheistic. In Luciferianism, he represents pride, enlightenment, wisdom, knowledge, seeking truth, self love, self acceptance, and self empowerment.
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