logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
49m 59s

Origins of the Devil

History Hit
About this episode

(1/2) How has the devil been depicted through history? What are his origins? And why should he be portrayed as beautiful?


In the first part of a two part mini-series on Lucifer himself, Anthony and Maddy talk with Professor Michelle Brock of Washington and Lee University, to find out how the devil has been present in peoples' lives; especially in the 17th century with the rise of witch trials.


This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Freddy Chick. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  


You can take part in our listener survey here.


After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
May 7
The Dark Mystery of Princess Caraboo
Today we are celebrating the upcoming publication of Maddy's new book 'Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment' by sharing one of the stories from it. This is the story of a fake Princess from far-off lands who hoaxed Georgian Britain. What was the truth of her story?Get ... Show More
52m 53s
May 4
The Haunting of Cock Lane
Today we are celebrating the upcoming publication of Maddy's new book 'Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment' by sharing one of the stories from it. The haunting of Cock Lane is the most iconic ghost story in London's long history, taking place in the year 1762. Was it ... Show More
1h 5m
Apr 30
Speaking with the Dead: Ancient Necromancy
In Ancient Mesopotamia, the boundary between the living and the dead was not always fixed... some even believed it could be crossed. But why would the living seek counsel from the dead? How common were these practices? And what answers did people hope the spirits might reveal?In ... Show More
45m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
Wife-Swapping Magician of the Tudor Court
The 16th century was a dangerous time to be talking about magic and hidden forces, so how did John Dee end up being invited into Elizabeth I's court?He was an astronomer, occultist and alchemist who dedicated his life to understanding how celestial activity influenced life on ear ... Show More
38m 54s
Jan 2019
Introducing Root of Evil
When Elizabeth Short, also known as "The Black Dahlia," was brutally killed in 1947, it gripped the entire country. More than 70 years later, it remains America's most infamous unsolved murder. Many believe Dr. George Hodel was the killer, thanks to an investigation by Hodel's ow ... Show More
4m 44s
Oct 2018
SALEM Ep. 1 | "The Devil"
When two girls fell ill in January 1692, no one suspected the affliction would lead to one of the most infamous events in American history. The Puritans of Salem Village believed the Devil had attacked their community and they would stop at nothing to find the witches who were Sa ... Show More
37m 36s
Sep 2025
History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin
Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be believed, manifested in orgies.It's definitely giving f*ckboy behaviour.How did he make his way from poverty to the Russian royalty inn ... Show More
29m 5s
Jun 2025
315: The Fisher Children
On a summer afternoon in Waterville, Maine, a man returned home to a chilling silence. What he found behind the door would alter the course of his life, and the town’s history, forever. What happened was only the beginning of a tragic story rooted in grief, misunderstood illness, ... Show More
40m 36s
Aug 2025
Molière: Satire, Scandal & the Stage
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Jan Clarke to explore the life, legend, and legacy of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin — better known as Molière. From his audacious rejection of bourgeois expectations to his controversial plays that rattled the Catholic Church and deligh ... Show More
49m 38s
Apr 2023
Introducing "Detectives Don't Sleep" from Noiser
In 1943, Ray Schindler, one of the most prolific private investigators of all time, set out to crack what would turn out to be the biggest case of his career. Initially, it looked like a classic murder investigation. But, as Ray dug deeper, he found himself smack-bang in the mid ... Show More
48m 42s
Aug 2025
134. The Mysterious Disappearance of The Beaumont Children: Australia’s Most Puzzling Unsolved Mystery // DARK SUMMER VOL. 2
In 1966, three children vanished without a trace in Australia, and no one knows what happened. It’s a mystery that still plagues the country to this day, and may credit it as the reason people started locking their doors there. But today, we have a much clearer picture of the cri ... Show More
52m 45s
Feb 2025
Talking Dateline: The Devil Wore White
<p>Keith Morrison and Josh Mankiewicz sit down to talk about Keith’s episode, “The Devil Wore White.” It’s the story of the charismatic and manipulative grifter Sante Kimes and her two sons. One son was able to escape their mother’s grip. The other was not. Kenny Kimes would do a ... Show More
24m 47s