Pandæmonium (Paradise Lost)

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Pandæmonium (or Pandemonium in some English orthographies) is the capital of Hell in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost. The name stems from the Greek πᾶν, meaning 'all' or 'every,' and δαιμόνιον, a diminutive form meaning 'little spirit,' 'little angel,' or, as Christians interpreted it, 'little daemon', and later, 'demon.' Pandæmonium thus roughly translates as "All Demons" –but can also be interpreted as Pandemoneion (Πανδαιμονεῖον), or 'all-demon-place'–. John Milton invented the name in Paradise Lost (1667), as "A solemn Council forthwith to be held at Pandæmonium, the high Capitol, of Satan and his Peers" (1.754-756), which was built by the fallen angels at the suggestion of Mammon. It was designed by the architect Mulciber, who had been the designer of palaces in Heaven before his fall (In Roman times, Mulciber was another name for the Roman god Vulcan). Book II begins with the debate among the "Stygian Council" in the council-chamber of Pandæmonium. It is described as surpassing...

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