Obey Me: Animal Symbolism
As I laid out in Obey Me: Symbolism, each of the brothers use animal iconography in their battle stages, but not all of these animals align with the symbolic animals that are placed above each council seat in the great hall.
The hall appears to have the council chairs in order of oldest to youngest brother (bearing in mind that these are not their actual ages, but the ranking of power):
The banners show a peacock, corvids, a serpent, a unicorn, a scorpion, a fly, and a cow or bull.
Some of the brothers are more taken with animals than others...
Lucifer, Avatar of Pride - the Peacock
While Lucifer does not appear to be a fan of pets, it should be noted that he is the owner of Cerberus, though we don't see much of their relationship.
Lucifer's demon form has multiple peacock feather motifs, showing more of his symbolic animal than most of the brothers. He also has feathery wings - a unique feature - and ram-like horns.
The peacock is of course the bird of pride, and it's often closely related to the phoenix - the bird that rises from the ashes and is born anew.
Lucifer has a card called Guidance of a Phoenix, and his loss of wings and his own feathers turning black when he fell from heaven, was his own rebirth 🦚
Traditionally, Lucifer is associated with crows, wolves, serpents, unicorns, cats, scorpions, flies, bulls, bears, and peacocks.
Mammon, Avatar of Greed - Corvids
Mammon is not immune to the charm of cats, with one of his cards sporting a cat filter, and feline iconography appearing on his battle stage.
Cats are often associated with fortune and good luck, and there is even the myth of the Mammon Cat (Il Gatto Mammone) in Italy.
His symbolic animal however appears to be crows, and corvids are among the most intelligent birds known to man. Magpies of course are famous thieves, ravens are tricksters and spies, and a Roman myth describes how crows, once white, became black when one was punished by Apollo for bearing bad news.
Angels losing their white wings for black are a theme of the two eldest brothers... Unlike Lucifer's feathers, Mammon's single pair of wings are bat-like, and he has spiralled antelope-like horns. He also has a tail which has yet to be seen - probably because he wags it.
Mammon is one of two of the brothers who attempts to rescue homeless pets 🐶
Traditionally, Mammon is associated with wolves and his name is linked with both greed and gluttony.
Levi, Avatar of Envy - the Sea Serpent
Admiral of the Devildom's navy, Leviathan is of course named for the great sea monster of myth and legend. Fittingly both his bedroom and his battle stage pay homage to the sea, with the latter including entwined sea serpents, whale tails, drops of water and jewels reminiscent of an anglerfish lure.
His symbolic animal is the snake or sea serpent, and his demonic form has both scales and a serpentine tail. From afar, his unique horns look a little like antlers but up close appear to be of coral origin.
His beloved pet Henry 2.0 is a goldfish, with Henry 1.0 revealed to be a monstrously large snake 🐍
Orange is the colour of Envy, but Levi is associated more with marine blues and scales of black. He is one of three brothers without wings.
Traditionally, Leviathan's element is water, and his name comes from both "twisted, coiled" and "pride, insolence".
Satan, Avatar of Wrath - the Unicorn
Satan has perhaps the most surprising of symbolic animals - the Unicorn. As the sole brother created after the fall, and from different parentage, the uniquely rare unicorn illustrates the solitude that Satan perhaps feels.
While often portrayed in modern media as a peaceful creature, the unicorn is a fierce and wrathful beast, tamed only by those of pure heart 🦄
In his demon form, Satan's ram-like horns are rather similar to Lucifer's, though his long scaled tail has only Levi's as somewhat comparable and his trousers are similar to Levi's top. The black feather boa is quite the choice given the only feathered brother is Lucifer - who has black wings.
It could be said that Envy seems to have played a large influence upon Satan, though not as much as Pride has.
His battle stage features both unicorn horns and howling wolves - a lost soul searching for acceptance in his pack, looking to a crescent moon which can't give him the true power of a full moon.
Satan is a MAJOR cat nerd, rescuing pet cats, posing with cats, using cat filters, and loving cats. If he could pick his symbolic animal, it would be a cat!
Traditionally, the name Satan is derived from "to be hostile" or "adversary" and is Lucifer renamed after his fall.
Asmo, Avatar of Lust - the Scorpion
If one was to choose two conflicting animals, the scorpion and rabbit would be a fine choice.
While the rabbit imagery on Asmodeus' battle stage is an obvious nod to the famously lustful mammal, Asmo's demon form pays homage only to his symbolic animal, the scorpion, in gold.
The fabled scorpion famously charms the frog into carrying it across a river, reasoning that were he to sting the frog, both would drown, and thus the frog is guaranteed safe passage. The scorpion stings the frog, dooming them both and when the dying frog demands to know why, the scorpion replies, "I couldn't help it. It's in my nature."
On the surface, Asmo appears to be one of the most gentle brothers, but his power and urges - like the scorpion - should not be ignored.
Asmo's demon form sports two pairs of rather dainty bat-like wings, and his straight spiralled horns are similar to Mammon's. He does not appear to have a tail. Asmo is also adorned with hearts, befitting the Avatar of Lust.
Traditionally there is a tale in which Asmo yeets Solomon a thousand miles away and takes over his identity for a few years 🦂
Beel, Avatar of Gluttony - the Fly
Beel has a very strong affinity with his symbolic animal - the fly - with even his wings mimicking those of an insect.
As a somewhat well known demon, Beelzebub has long been associated with flies and is often referred to as the Lord of the Flies which is perhaps a misinterpretation of his ability to fly - the Lord of the Skies.
However, flies are also associated with food, wastage, and gluttony, which fits perfectly with Beel's designated sin 🦟
The fly is also the only animal imagery to appear on his battle stage, while his ridged horns have a very unique position, curling almost like a circlet upon his head. This gives them the look of insect antenna or pincers, but also brings to mind the symbolic animal of his twin brother - the cow or bull.
Beel's outfit from the Rub That Lamp has a cow-like golden skull upon his belt, another nod to his beloved brother.
Traditionally, Beel was a pagan god who was slandered by younger religions, often represented by a bull.
Belphegor, Avatar of Sloth - the Cow or Bull
Much like Lucifer, Belphie wears the plumage of his symbolic animal - the cow or bull - with pride. The black and white cow pattern is present in both his demonic form and upon the pillow he carries elsewhere.
Said pillow also sports a cow tail, similar to Belphegor's own unique tail, quite different from his brothers. His heavily curled horns most closely resemble Satan - or more correctly, Satan's resemble Belphie's (and Lucifer's).
The horseshoe he wears in his demon form may be a reference to the fact working oxen often wore shoes to work on uneven ground. The superstition of a horseshoe bringing good luck (opposing traditions argue over which way up is good) comes from the story of a devil requesting a blacksmith to affix shoes to his hooves 🐮
His battle stage features a sleeping bear, a nod to the plot in which the MC discovers it is not wise to wake a hibernating bear... This may well be a sloth bear, linking to Belphegor's designated sin, as well as reminding us that this demon is most often fast asleep.
Traditionally, Belphegor's symbolism was that of a phallus, he was worshipped on the toilet, and believed marital love was impossible 👀
Diavolo really, really likes wings. Not only does he have a full two sets of bat-like wings, he also wears golden emblems of multiple wings upon his chest.
His curled horns are reminiscent of cattle or bull horns, unique from the brothers. Tail status unknown.
Barbatos has a very lowkey demon form with a subtle outfit change and unique skeletal antlers. Tail status unknown.
Traditionally, Barbatos can understand animals, see the past, present and future, reconciles disagreements, and leads to treasure.
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