Who are the Fallen Angels? Names, Number, Origins, Lore

Throughout history and across cultures, the concept of “fallen angels” has enthralled theologians, mystics, and storytellers.

These beings, once part of the divine sphere, represent a distinct category among the various types of angels that exist in religious traditions.

They were expelled or chose to rebel, subsequently becoming associated with corruption, forbidden knowledge, and evil.

Their stories reflect complex themes of hubris, rebellion, temptation, and the boundaries between celestial and earthly existence.

What Is a Fallen Angel?

The term “fallen angel” refers to celestial beings removed from heaven due to disobedience, arrogance, lust, or teaching forbidden arts.

Unlike other types of angels who remain in divine service, these entities became associated with darkness and corruption.

This motif arises primarily in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, but echoes exist in other ancient mythologies, such as Babylonian and Assyrian lore.

Key themes include rebellion against divine authority (notably Satan/Lucifer’s revolt), teaching forbidden wisdom (seen with the Watchers in Enochian literature), illicit unions with humans (creating the monstrous Nephilim), and the temptation of humankind.

Origins: Scriptural and Mythic Roots

The concept emerges from various religious traditions, each offering unique perspectives on divine rebellion. These foundational stories shaped our understanding of celestial beings who transgressed divine order.

1. Jewish and Christian Traditions

Genesis 6:1–4 mentions the “sons of God” who took human wives, later interpreted as angels who fell for their transgressions.

The Book of Enoch expands this story, introducing the Watchers – angels who descended to earth, mated with human women, and taught forbidden arts like magic and weaponry, creating the Nephilim.

In Christianity, the central figure is Lucifer, identified with Satan, cast out for attempting to usurp God’s throne. By Augustine’s era, fallen angels became equated with demons, losing sexual attributes and becoming spiritual entities.

2. Islamic Tradition

The Quran mentions Harut and Marut as angels who came to Earth and taught humanity magic, later regarded as fallen.

This represents not rebellion but a divine test leading to their “fall.”

3. Other Ancient Beliefs

Similar concepts appear in Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian mythology, reflecting concerns about divine beings interfering with or corrupting human affairs.

These ancient civilizations often portrayed celestial entities who overstepped their boundaries, bringing forbidden knowledge or chaos to mortal existence.

Such narratives served as cautionary tales about the consequences of divine transgression and the fragile balance between heavenly order and earthly chaos.

The Seven Chief Fallen Angels

Religious tradition associates seven primary fallen angels with the deadly sins:

1. Lucifer (Arrogance): Once the most beautiful and powerful angel, whose name means “light-bearer”. His rebellion stemmed from excessive arrogance and desire for divine equality, making him the archetypal fallen angel.

2. Mammon (Greed): Originally meaning “wealth”, Mammon personifies avarice and materialism. He tempts humans to prioritize worldly riches over spiritual values, corrupting souls through relentless pursuit of money and power.

3. Asmodeus (Lust): Governs sexual desires and romantic obsessions that lead people astray. He destroys marriages and promotes infidelity, using physical passion to corrupt moral judgment.

4. Leviathan (Envy): Represented as a massive sea serpent, Leviathan embodies jealousy’s destructive nature. This entity feeds on human resentment, encouraging people to covet others’ possessions.

5. Beelzebub (Gluttony): Known as “Lord of the Flies”, this former high-ranking angel represents physical gluttony and excessive desire for earthly pleasures.

6. Satan (Wrath): As the “adversary”, Satan embodies divine anger turned corrupt. He promotes violence, hatred, and uncontrolled rage that destroy relationships and communities.

7. Belphegor (Sloth): Associated with laziness and spiritual apathy, Belphegor tempts humans toward procrastination and neglect of duties, representing dangerous comfort in inaction.

Other Notable Fallen Angels

Numerous other names appear across traditions:

• Abaddon (angel of death and destruction)
• Azazel (teacher of forbidden knowledge)
• Astaroth (collector of sins)
• Belial (associated with lawlessness)
• Samyaza (leader of the Watchers)
• Samael (angel of death or accuser)

These fallen angels often overlap with traditional angels of death, who serve different roles in guiding souls to their final destinations.

Numbers in Lore

Ancient texts provide varying accounts of fallen angels. The Book of Enoch mentions 200 fallen angels known as “Watchers,” led by Samyaza.

Other sources vary dramatically, from naming only a handful to listing extensive catalogues from demonology and magical traditions.

These numerical references often carry symbolic meaning beyond literal value.

Evolution Through Time

Understanding of fallen angels has changed significantly throughout history. In ancient Jewish belief, the “sons of God” were sometimes seen as real angels interacting with humanity.

Later sources reinterpreted these figures, often denying angelic-human mating, instead blaming human evil on free will and temptation.

In Christian demonology, especially after Augustine, fallen angels became associated with demons and hell’s powers, shown as spiritual beings able to tempt and corrupt but lacking physical form.

Popular culture, literature (notably Milton’s Paradise Lost), and contemporary occult practices continue expanding their lore, granting them powerful places in religious thought and creative fiction.

The Final Revelation

Fallen angels embody the eternal struggle between celestial order and rebellious freedom, representing both the terror and the interest of transgressing sacred boundaries.

They personify forbidden wisdom, unchecked ambition, and passionate defiance against divine authority.

These celestial outcasts reflect humanity’s perpetual battle between conformity and rebellion, virtue and vice.

From tragic heroes to malevolent seducers, they captivate our imagination because they mirror our capacity for greatness and destruction.

Their enduring presence in mythology and spiritual traditions poses fundamental questions: What price do we pay for knowledge? How far will we go for freedom? Can redemption exist after the greatest fall?

Share which fallen angel’s story resonates most with you below.