Caim
Encyclopedia
Caim is a Gaelic rendering of biblical
'Cain', who appears in a variation of the fantastical pedigree of Dardanus
of Troy that is spun out in Lebor Bretnach, the Middle Irish language
recension of the compilation called Historia Brittonum, known in the 9th century version by Nennius
. The Lebor Bretnach, greatly modifies the genealogy given in Nennius, making emendations to earlier sources and tracing the line through Ham rather than Japheth with further spurious names:
In the predominantly Welsh-speaking regions of Wales (Gwynedd, Dyfed and Ynys Mon), Cain, Caio, Caim and Cail are commonplace first names for males. These names are derivatives of an ancient Welsh name "Cai" which is recorded in the book of Welsh folklore called the Mabinogion
.
by early Christian writers.
In demonology
, Caim appears in Ars Goetia, the first part of Lesser Key of Solomon
as a Great President of Hell
, ruling over thirty legions of demon
s. Much detail is offered: he is a good disputer, gives men the understanding of the voices of birds, bullocks
, dogs, and other creatures, and of the noise of the waters too, and gives true answers concerning things to come.
He is depicted in 19th and 20th century occultist illustration
s as appearing in the form of the black bird called a thrush
, but soon he changes his shape into a man that has a sharp sword
in his hand. When answering questions he seems to stand on burning ashes or coal
s.
The title 'président
' of Hell
would suggest a parallel with the presiding officer of a college
or convocation
, which are the only pre-modern uses of the term. Other authors consider Caim a 'Prince' of Hell
instead and depict him as a man wearing rich and elegant clothes, and the head and wings of a blackbird.
Demonological directories give an etymology
from a supposed Latin
word 'Chamos', 'Chamus', said to be a name given to Baal Peor, and possibly corrupted from Hebrew
'Chium', an epithet given to several Assyria
n and Babylonian gods
. Epigraphy
does not confirm this etymology
.
, Scotland
and Ireland
embodied in the Mabinogion, “Caim” was a protective spirit. The introduction of Christianity in these regions gave rise to the abandonment or demonisation of traditional Celtic
and Druid
spirits or their incorporation into early Celtic Christian worship. In the case of Caim, in Scotland “Caim” the Celtic protective spirit became “Caim” a prayer of protection, In Wales, Caim became and continues to be to this day a commonplace first name for males which means amddiffynydd (Welsh: "protector")
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
'Cain', who appears in a variation of the fantastical pedigree of Dardanus
Dardanus
In Greek mythology, Dardanus was a son of Zeus and Electra, daughter of Atlas, and founder of the city of Dardania on Mount Ida in the Troad....
of Troy that is spun out in Lebor Bretnach, the Middle Irish language
Middle Irish language
Middle Irish is the name given by historical philologists to the Goidelic language spoken in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man from the 10th to 12th centuries; it is therefore a contemporary of late Old English and early Middle English...
recension of the compilation called Historia Brittonum, known in the 9th century version by Nennius
Nennius
Nennius was a Welsh monk of the 9th century.He has traditionally been attributed with the authorship of the Historia Brittonum, based on the prologue affixed to that work, This attribution is widely considered a secondary tradition....
. The Lebor Bretnach, greatly modifies the genealogy given in Nennius, making emendations to earlier sources and tracing the line through Ham rather than Japheth with further spurious names:
- Dardain m. Ioib m. Sadoirn m. Peil m. Palloir m. Zorastres m. Mesraim m. Caim.
In the predominantly Welsh-speaking regions of Wales (Gwynedd, Dyfed and Ynys Mon), Cain, Caio, Caim and Cail are commonplace first names for males. These names are derivatives of an ancient Welsh name "Cai" which is recorded in the book of Welsh folklore called the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
.
In demonology
Of Cain, originator of murder, consigned to HellHell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
by early Christian writers.
In demonology
Demonology
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods. It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent...
, Caim appears in Ars Goetia, the first part of Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon or Clavicula Salomonis , is an anonymous 17th-century grimoire, and one of the most popular books of demonology...
as a Great President of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, ruling over thirty legions of demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s. Much detail is offered: he is a good disputer, gives men the understanding of the voices of birds, bullocks
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, dogs, and other creatures, and of the noise of the waters too, and gives true answers concerning things to come.
He is depicted in 19th and 20th century occultist illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
s as appearing in the form of the black bird called a thrush
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
, but soon he changes his shape into a man that has a sharp sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
in his hand. When answering questions he seems to stand on burning ashes or coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
s.
The title 'président
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
' of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
would suggest a parallel with the presiding officer of a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
, which are the only pre-modern uses of the term. Other authors consider Caim a 'Prince' of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
instead and depict him as a man wearing rich and elegant clothes, and the head and wings of a blackbird.
Demonological directories give an etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
from a supposed Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word 'Chamos', 'Chamus', said to be a name given to Baal Peor, and possibly corrupted from Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
'Chium', an epithet given to several Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n and Babylonian gods
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
. Epigraphy
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
does not confirm this etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
.
In Celtic tradition
In pre-Christian Celtic culture of WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
embodied in the Mabinogion, “Caim” was a protective spirit. The introduction of Christianity in these regions gave rise to the abandonment or demonisation of traditional Celtic
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
and Druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
spirits or their incorporation into early Celtic Christian worship. In the case of Caim, in Scotland “Caim” the Celtic protective spirit became “Caim” a prayer of protection, In Wales, Caim became and continues to be to this day a commonplace first name for males which means amddiffynydd (Welsh: "protector")
Sources
- S. L. MacGregor Mathers, A. Crowley, The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King (1904). 1995 reprint: ISBN 0-87728-847-X.