Abaddon is a figure from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, whose name signifies destruction or doom. In the Hebrew scriptures, the term often refers to a place of ruin or a bottomless pit frequently associated with Sheol, the realm of the dead. However, Christian tradition personifies this name as an angel of the abyss. In the Book of Revelation, this individual is identified as the king of a locust army, known in Greek as Apollyon or the Destroyer.
Biblical depictions
The Hebrew Bible uses the term to describe a place of destruction or the underworld. In various verses, it is mentioned alongside death and the grave. By the New Testament, the figure becomes an individual entity. This angel, also called Apollyon, is described as a ruler of a plague of locusts that torments those without the seal of God.
Literary interpretations
Interpretations of the character vary widely. Some commentators have linked the figure to Satan or the Antichrist, while others suggest the angel acts under divine command to carry out destruction. In medieval literature, such as the epic Song of Roland, the figure was part of a fictional trinity. John Bunyan's famous work, The Pilgrim's Progress, features a lengthy battle between a pilgrim and the demon Apollyon.