3 ms·

No, as mentioned it comes from Greek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(classical_mythology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(classical_mythology)

mirimir 9y ago
Sure, but where did the Greeks get it from? According to the Wikipedia article, it came from the Proto-Indo-European word "*dai-mon". And they were considered benevolent, like Hindu devas. Unlike Roman, Zoroastrian and Christian demons.
- zerostar07 9y ago
  The romans did not have an evil conception of them either.
  - mirimir 9y ago
    Maybe I misinterpreted what I read.[0] > There are three Latin words for demons, ghosts and evil spirits. The first, the word 'daemon' is borrowed from Greek daimon and is not very common until Christianity takes hold. The other two words are much more common in the time of Virgil and Ovid. So maybe daemōnēs were considered beneficial, as in Greek. 0) https://flavias.blogspot.de/2010/08/demon-in-toilet_14.html https://flavias.blogspot.de/2010/08/demon-in-toilet_14.html
twic 9y ago
That doesn't mean it didn't come from Hinduism. The concept and word were in Greek when Homer was writing, around 800 - 700 BC, and Hinduism was coalescing around 1500 - 600 BC (it says on Wikipedia). Greek and Sanskrit are related languages, and the Greek word has a root in their common ancestor. We know there was cultural interchange between the Greek and Indian worlds. Indeed, it's probably a mistake to think of them as separate worlds; Europe and India seems quite distinct now, but there was a time when it was all just the fertile crescent and its hinterlands. Admittedly, it's probably wrong to say it came from Hinduism per se. But it doesn't seem impossible that the Greek, Hindu, and Zoroastrian ideas are from the same root.
- mirimir 9y ago
  Yes, and what I wonder is how for Hindu/Greek they're benevolent, whereas for Zoroastrian/Christian they're malevolent. Edit: Cut Roman from malevolent side because I'm not sure.
  - twic 9y ago
    My impression is that for the Greeks, they were explanations for natural processes. Why does the wind blow suddenly? Demon. Why did that rock fall into the sea? Demon. Why did i remember to pack some cheese? Demon. Some of what the world does is helpful, and some of it is harmful. So demons can be benevolent or malevolent. I'm not sure about this, though.

mirimir 9y ago

Sure, but where did the Greeks get it from? According to the Wikipedia article, it came from the Proto-Indo-European word "*dai-mon". And they were considered benevolent, like Hindu devas. Unlike Roman, Zoroastrian and Christian demons.

zerostar07 9y ago
The romans did not have an evil conception of them either.
- mirimir 9y ago
  Maybe I misinterpreted what I read.[0] > There are three Latin words for demons, ghosts and evil spirits. The first, the word 'daemon' is borrowed from Greek daimon and is not very common until Christianity takes hold. The other two words are much more common in the time of Virgil and Ovid. So maybe daemōnēs were considered beneficial, as in Greek. 0) https://flavias.blogspot.de/2010/08/demon-in-toilet_14.html https://flavias.blogspot.de/2010/08/demon-in-toilet_14.html

twic 9y ago

That doesn't mean it didn't come from Hinduism. The concept and word were in Greek when Homer was writing, around 800 - 700 BC, and Hinduism was coalescing around 1500 - 600 BC (it says on Wikipedia). Greek and Sanskrit are related languages, and the Greek word has a root in their common ancestor. We know there was cultural interchange between the Greek and Indian worlds. Indeed, it's probably a mistake to think of them as separate worlds; Europe and India seems quite distinct now, but there was a time when it was all just the fertile crescent and its hinterlands. Admittedly, it's probably wrong to say it came from Hinduism per se. But it doesn't seem impossible that the Greek, Hindu, and Zoroastrian ideas are from the same root.

mirimir 9y ago
Yes, and what I wonder is how for Hindu/Greek they're benevolent, whereas for Zoroastrian/Christian they're malevolent. Edit: Cut Roman from malevolent side because I'm not sure.
- twic 9y ago
  My impression is that for the Greeks, they were explanations for natural processes. Why does the wind blow suddenly? Demon. Why did that rock fall into the sea? Demon. Why did i remember to pack some cheese? Demon. Some of what the world does is helpful, and some of it is harmful. So demons can be benevolent or malevolent. I'm not sure about this, though.