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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
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Satan, Krampus, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Pazuzu, Faust, Prince of Darkness- The devil has many faces and names, enriching our culture and fear through tales of evil. The ideology of the devil is the universal personification of evil, (Graf A. 2012) ostensibly under the guise of a profound figure used to segregate the idea of good and evil. These vary across many cultures, as many ancient religions polarise the coexistence of good and evil, thus creating an ideological demonic entity responsible for all evil.
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Historically there have been numerous tales of an individual that’s sold their soul to the Devil. In return receiving wealth, knowledge, and otherworldly pleasures. One tale that inspired many after it contains the first discovery of the legend, along with establishing the conjuration of the Devil and theological studies of witchcraft. The tale has acquired a few variations, although the most commonly known has been adapted and inspired multiple demonic tales in history to come.
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
The origins of Satan, considered as the universal personification of evil, are far less epic and at the same time far more remote and profound. (Graf A. 2012)
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Theophilus of
Adana
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
-Or Saint Theophilus the Peritent, was a priest in the six-century church during the Roman Empire in modern Turkey. Theophilus was unanimously voted to be a bishop in the church, although refused out of modesty for the other men elected to the position. Refusing the title did not sit well with the church, as the new elected bishop created malicious rumours, depriving him of his current position and ostracising him from the church. Theophilus instantly regretted his initial refusal and sought out a necromancer to help him contact Satan. Upon being contacted, Satan demanded that Theophilus renounce Christ in exchange for his aid. Which, upon agreement was signed with his own blood. Shortly after, the Devil gave him the position as bishop.
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Years pass and Theophilus repents to the Virgin Mary, after fasting for forty days, being fearful of his soul he begged forgiveness and was granted absolution. Although, the Devil was unwilling to yield to the higher divinities and release his hold on Theophilus. Three days later, Satan placed the blood contract on his chest overnight as a reminder. Theophilus quickly took the contract to the new bishop confessing everything that he’d done. Upon hearing this, the bishop burned the contract and watched Theophilus die with a grin on his face, knowing he was free of his pact with the Devil. This legend would go on to influence the infamous German folklore tale, Faust, then creating the Faustian Bargain.
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
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Devils Trill Sonata
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
Italian composer
and
Baroque violinist,
Giuseppe Tartini,
was known to possess an outstanding bowing technique which is still highly regarded to this day. Although, Tartini is mostly remembered for his Sonata in G minor, ‘Trillo del Diavolo, Devil’s Trill Sonata.’ Tartini was compelled to compose this piece after the Devil himself appeared in his dream, perching at the foot of Tartinis bed delivering an intensely magnificent violin performance after having signed an agreement to be of Tartini’s service. This mesmerised Tartini in such a way that he recounted his vision to French astronomer Jerome Lalande, who included the recollection in his memoir.
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‘He heard him (the Devil) play a solo so singularly beautiful and executed with such superior taste and precision, that it surpassed all he has ever heard or conceived in his life.’
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
Tartini awoke from this dream in a panicked state, rushing to his violin in hopes of recreating what he just heard, thus creating ‘Devils Sonata’, an enthralling piece that’s been inspiring many musicians to this day, due to how technically demanding and intense the sonata is.
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sabbath sabbath The cultural motif ‘A deal with the devil’, became widely known and feared. In the Middle Ages, midwives who had stillbirths were accused of having sexual relations with demons, allegedly signing a pact to a demon to consecrate their child to the devil at birth. These women would be executed along with the sick or elderly. As modern research shows a surge in witch hunts around the time the continent was ravaged by the black death.
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
The notion of ‘Witches Sabbath’ at the time created a paranoid fuelled conspiracy that were an effective gimmick, caused to control the public with fear. This lead to many minorities who didn’t fit in to the idyllic mould to being ostracised and tortured themselves, as they were associated with an evil influence. Along with the evil eye, was one of the many conspiracies created to justify why ‘bad things happen.’
h sabbath sabbat
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The Devil
doesn’t have a face, only the concept that’s widely understood as evil. The Devil portrays our worst fears and darkest desires, although is undoubtedly closer to human than the divinities, only emerging as an outsider we don’t understand and ultimately fear.
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
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In our eyes, the Demons are bad and reprehensible wishes, derivatives of instinctual impulses that have been repudiated and repressed. (Freud, 1923)
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana
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PACT WITH THE DEVIL Theophilus of Adana