Satanism

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Gustave Doré illustration for Paradise Lost

Compendium maleficarum: Devil and witches trampling a cross

Richard Ramirez

Read Next

Gilles de Rais (1404-1440). Breton baron, marshal of France. Fought in guards of Joan of Arc. Accused of being serial killer of children.

Gilles de Rais: History’s First Serial Killer?

Woman tied to a ducking stool, a method of punishment by means of humiliation, beating, or death. (cucking stool)

8 Unusual Punishments Inflicted on Women Throughout History

Salem Witch Trials. Photogravure after the painting by Walter McEwen titled - The Witches - circa 1890s.

How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials

Discover

Computer mapping, woman at early 1990s computer

Timeline of the 1990s

Russian grand duchess Anastasia; undated photograph. (Anastasiya Nikolayevna, Tsar Nicholas II)

Did Duchess Anastasia Survive Her Family’s Execution?

Flags of the countries of the world (flagpoles).

How Many Countries Are There in the World?

Vietnam War. Operation Georgia. U.S. Marines bombing bunkers and tunnels used by the Viet Cong. May 6, 1966

9 Questions About the Vietnam War Answered

Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.

7 Deadliest Weapons in History

Gills of three old specimens of webcap fungus (Cortinarius) in Gloucestershire, South West England. toxic, fungi, poisonous mushroom

7 of the World’s Most Poisonous Mushrooms

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Satanism: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	devil worship

Photos

Gustave Doré illustration for Paradise Lost

Compendium maleficarum: Devil and witches trampling a cross

Richard Ramirez

See All Images →

Topics

witches’ sabbath black mass witchcraft demonology devil occultism magic alchemy divination astrology spiritualism evil eye sorcery dowsing levitation

Key People

Gilles de Rais.

Gilles de Rais

French noble