Titivillus

Common card · No. 403845

In Christianity, Titivillus is a demon said to collect errors in the work of scribes. Titivillus has also been described as collecting idle chat that occurs during church service, as well as any mispronounced, mumbled or skipped words of the service, to take to Hell to be counted against the offenders. The first reference to Titivillus by name occurred in Tractatus de Penitentia, c. 1285, by Johannes Galensis (John of Wales). Attribution has also been given to Caesarius of Heisterbach. He has been called the "patron demon of scribes," as Titivillus provides an easy excuse for the errors that are bound to creep into manuscripts as they are copied. He has also been called the "patron demon of printers" for this same reason. This description of Titivillus introducing errors into documents, as opposed to merely collecting errors, has been traced back to the writer Anatole France. Titivillus gained a broader role as a subversive figure of physical comedy, with satirical commentary on human...

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