Bifrons (demonology)

Bifrons is a demon holding the rank Earl (or Count) of Hell, who is notably mentioned Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, The Lesser Key of Solomon, and Dictionnaire Infernal.

Biography

Bifrons is usually described appearing at first as a monster, but at the command of an exorcist, can take the shape of a human. Within demonology he holds the Earl (or Count) of Hell and commands either twenty-six or six legions of lesser demons.

His demonic teaches concepts such as astrology, geometry, and other arts and sciences as well as the knowledge of herbs, precious stones, and woods. He also "changeth Dead Bodies, and putteth them in another place; also he lighteth seeming Candles upon the Graves of the Dead" which is likely a reference to necromancy.

Popular Culture

• Within Dungeons & Dragons, in which he is referenced as a Duke under Mephistopheles, alongside Hutijin, Baalphegor, Adonides, Barbas and Bele.
• Bifrons appears as villain within the Mike Mignola's comic book-universe, appearing as a major Abe Sapien: A Darkness so Great and supporting antagonist B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know— Pandemonium.
• Bifrons appears in Mark Lord's historical fantasy novel Hell has its Demons.

Trivia

• "Bifrons" (meaning "two-faced") was an epithet of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and ending. Through this some speculate that Bifrons is a demonization of the Roman deity, similar how Beelzebub being a demonized version of the Canaanite god Baal.