Milton's Rogues Gallery

One of the many conventions used by John Milton in Paradise Lost is the epic catalogue. Detailing the fallen angels turned devils who followed Lucifer to Hell, this catalogue can serve to give one a glimpse into the religious oppositions that Christianity faced. Although seeming only to discuss but a few of the older religions, Milton's commentary on the listed devils sheds a good amount of light on not only his own scholarly knowledge, but more importantly the vices represented by each in some way shape or form.

The origins of the many devils listed by Milton are not from a direct Christian tradition or mythology but rather from a sampling of the 'old world' religions from various cultures such as the Sumerian, Phoenician, Philistine, and even Egyptian. It seems that Milton was using each devil as a definition of the vice of each of the old non-Christian cultures. An example can be found in the passage describing the devil Moloch, a deity that was worshipped among the Israelites.

First Moloch, horrid King besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents tears,
Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud
Thir childrens cries unheard, that past through fire
To his grim Idol.
-John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I

Moloch, it seems, defines the concept of idolatry and the maddening sacrifices associated with it. Even the word 'Moloch' means 'king' by itself, which lends further credence to his ties to idolatry, a vice which the Bible noted as being particularly profound among the Israelites.

Among the many other pre-Christian deities mentioned as Lucifer's devils, are a particularly odd trio. The Egyptian gods Osiris, Isis and Orus are mentioned by named and by Milton, who it seems went to great lengths just to include reference to ancient mythology. Still, the naming of these old gods serves a purpose. As with the other devils, a particular vice can be associated with the named Egyptian gods. Milton writes,

After these appear'd
A crew who under Names of old Renown,
Osiris, Isis, Orus and their Train
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her Priests, to seek
Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms
Rather then human.
-John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I

It appears that Milton uses the Egyptian gods to examine the concept of false gods and the fallacy of polytheism. Milton actually highlights to the reader that the supposed gods are "disguis'd in brutish forms rather then human.", a description which greatly distances them from any likeness to God in both power and description. Milton is creating beasts out of the older deities of the world's religions.

Several other devils are listed and detailed in Milton's epic. The catalogue of Lucifer's minions spans a good deal of book one of Paradise Lost and subsequently is quite important to understanding the hierarchy in Hell. Ranging from the Philistinian Dagon to the Sumerian Thammuz, the listing of devils is quite expansive and for each a specific representative vice can be discerned. It may seem odd that Milton devotes so much time to the side of darkness and depth in detailing the legion of Lucifer, but in fact it is perhaps essential to the development of his epic by setting the stage for the Council in Hell.