The Lesser Key of Solomon and Diablo’s Myriad of Mythological Inspirations

Much of current fantasy fiction today draws from older fictional works, which themselves draw from mythologies of old. Video games are no exception, with some even taking inspiration from more esoteric theology. The Diablo franchise is no stranger to such inspirations, drawing a lot from mythology, from their playable classes, the names of demons, and even down to the loot that players can find and sell for Diablo 4 gold. Here are all the mythological references found in the Diablo games.

The Ars Goetia and Judeo-Christian Mythology

Diablo is the quintessential “angels vs demons” game that uses Christian mythology as a wellspring for references. Two of the Prime Evils, Baal and Mephistopheles, draw from different works. Baal in the Ars Goetia is one of the Kings of Hell and is the overall head of all infernal powers. Meanwhile, Mephistopheles is taken from the Faust mythos and is the source of the “deal with the devil” trope that the media uses today.

Lilith, one of the main antagonists in Diablo 4, is a direct reference to the Hebrew Lilith, who is known to be the original wife of Adam before Eve was created. Much like Diablo 4’s incarnation of Lilith, she is a mother of demons and the progenitor of succubi and incubi. In fact, the subplot of Lilith and the archangel Inarius’ pairing during Diablo 4 references Lilith’s coupling with the Archangel Samael.

There are other demons within the Diablo games that continue to reference the Lesser Key of Solomon in their names. Astaroth, one of the campaign bosses in Diablo 4, is named after the very same Duke of Hell that rides a great beast. Belial, an antagonist in Diablo 3, is a reference to the Hebrew demon of the same name. Lastly, Azmodan, another D3 antagonist, takes his name from another Ars Goetia demon, Asmodai.

The Angels of Diablo are less cut and dry with the names and references, but still take inspiration from Judeo-Christian tradition. Malthael, a prolific angel in Diablo 3’s Reaper of Souls expansion, embodies the role of the Angel of Death. This is a reference to Azrael, the Angel of Death in Hebrew and Islamic theology.

Other Mythological References in Diablo

While Diablo owes much of its aesthetics and lore to Abrahamic mythology, the games also take notes from other religions and mythological aspects of the world. Most apparent are the classes in the games, such as the Amazon of Diablo 2 and the Druid and Spiritborn of Diablo 4.

Most apparent is the Amazon class, taking on the aesthetic and theme of the Greek Amazons. This class wields javelins, spears, bows, and shields, owing to their origin as horse-mounted warrior women that specialized in those weapons.

The Druid class follows the Celtic interpretation of a mythical sorcerer able to channel natural forces like stone, trees, and animal forms.

The Spiritborn of Diablo 4 takes cues from the Aztec jaguar warrior, whose background is based on Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night sky and war. The video game class uses the spirit of certain animals like the jaguar and eagle, much like the nagual myth in Mesoamerican mythology.

Video Games Based on Mythology

Aside from the Diablo franchise, there are a whole host of games who have their own spin on mythology, and base their entire identity on it. Because mythology has so much story potential for people to interpret and re-interpret, it becomes the foundation for many works of fiction.

One game that has entered the competitive gaming scene is Smite, an esports MOBA that uses gods from every pantheon in the world. The game includes Hindu, Greek, Roman, Japanese, Egyptian, and even Maya deities, each with powers based on their domains. This game includes legends like Agni, Bakasura, Ganesha, Rama, Ravana, and even Shiva as playable gods.

Another game that uses extensive Hindu and Buddhist mythology is Asura’s Wrath, which puts players in the role of an Asura fighting against Deva-like beings. The game also includes Vritra as an antagonist, the Golden Spider from Buddhist myth, and the presence of the Brahmastra weapon and Mantra. Asura’s Wrath takes the expansive breadth and scope of the Hindu cosmogony and turns it into a playable and enjoyable experience.