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''For the Dungeons and Dragons creature, see: [[Cambion (Dungeons and Dragons)]].''
[[Category:D and D]]


In medieval legend, a '''cambion''' is the half-human offspring of the union between a human male and a [[succubus]], or of an [[Incubus (demon)|incubus]] and a human female.  
 
'''Cambion''' /''ˈkæmbiən''/ in fantasy games and literature are the offspring of a [[demon]] and a human.




==Creation==
==Creation==
The cambion is a still birth that shows no sign of life outside of being alive, meaning that the child has, for example, no pulse and no breath.  This continues until the child is about seven years old, where it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate one from a human.  A cambion is usually devilishly cunning, and angelically beautiful, able to persuade even the most strong-hearted individual to do his or her bidding.  Most cambions have evil tendencies due to their demon parents. [[Caliban (character)|Caliban]], the son of the witch [[Sycorax (Shakespeare)|Sycorax]] in ''[[The Tempest (play)|The Tempest]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]], is a cambion; [[Merlin]] from the [[Arthurian legend]] is also a cambion.
A cambion is most often depicted as the offspring of an [[Incubus]] and a human woman, though there are examples of a cambion being the offspring of a [[Succubus (Traditional)|Succubus]] and a human male.
 
 
==In the ''Malleus Maleficarum''==


According to the ''[[Malleus Maleficarum]]'', demons, including the incubus and the [[succubus]], are incapable of reproduction:
The ''[[Malleus Maleficarum]]'' does not use the word but states that demons, including the [[Incubus]] and the [[Succubus (Traditional)|Succubus]], are incapable of reproduction:


{{cquote|Moreover, to beget a child is the act of a living body, but devils cannot bestow life upon the bodies they assume; because life formally proceeds only from the soul, and the act of generation is the act of the physical organs which have bodily life. Therefore bodies which are assumed in this way cannot either beget or bear. <ref name=Malleus>[[Malleus Maleficarum]], Part I, Question III</ref>}}
{{quote box|Moreover, to beget a child is the act of a living body, but devils cannot bestow life upon the bodies they assume; because life formally proceeds only from the [[soul]], and the act of generation is the act of the physical organs which have bodily life. Therefore bodies which are assumed in this way cannot either beget or bear.<ref name=Malleus>[[Malleus Maleficarum]], Part I, Question III</ref>}}


Due to this inability to create or nurture life, the method of the creation of a cambion is necessarily protracted. A [[succubus]] (that is to say the female of this particular brand of demon) will have sexual relations with a human male and by doing so acquire a sample of his [[semen|sperm]]. This she will then pass on to an incubus. The incubus will, in his turn, transfer the [[semen|sperm]] to a human female and thus impregnate her. Why this should result in anything other than a normal child is not discussed.
Because of this inability to create or nurture life, the method of the creation of a cambion is necessarily protracted. A succubus will have sex with a human male and so acquire a sample of his sperm. This she will then pass on to an incubus. The incubus will, in his turn, transfer the sperm to a human female and thus impregnate her.


{{cquote|Yet it may be said that these devils assume a body not in order that they may bestow life upon it, but that they may by the means of this body preserve human semen, and pass the semen on to another body. <ref name=Malleus/>}}
{{quote box|Yet it may be said that these devils assume a body not in order that they may bestow life upon it, but that they may by the means of this body preserve human semen, and pass the semen on to another body.<ref name=Malleus/>}}


The text goes on to discuss at great length the arguments for and against this process being possible, citing a number of biblical quotations and noted scholars in support of its arguments, and finally concludes that this is indeed the method used by such demons.
The text goes on to discuss at great length the arguments for and against this process being possible, citing a number of biblical quotations and noted scholars in support of its arguments, and finally concludes that this is indeed the method used by such demons.


In other texts (specifically The Encyclopedia of Occultism And Parapsychology), however, the cambion is even said to be the offspring of the incubus and the succubus, foregoing any need for human involvement. This same incarnation retained the absence of breath or a pulse until seven years of age, but was said to also have been incredibly heavy (even too heavy for a horse to carry) and to have cried upon being touched.


== Dungeons & Dragons ==
==In the ''Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology''==
In the fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons the word [[cambion]] refers to a male "half-fiend", a cross between a fiend and another creature, often a human. The term [[Alu-Fiend]] refers to its female counterpart. In the 3rd Edition, cambions are the offspring of a [[tanar'ri]] father & a planetouched mother, often a [[tiefling]]. Iuz the Old of the World of Greyhawk game setting is referred to as a cambion. He is the son of the witch Iggwilv and the [[demon]] Graz'zt. In addition to his human form of an old man, he can appear as a seven foot tall, maroon [[demon]] with green eyes.
In the ''Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology'' the cambion is said to be the direct offspring of the incubus and the succubus, foregoing any need for human involvement. This same incarnation retained the absence of breath or a pulse until seven years of age, but was said to also have been incredibly heavy (even too heavy for a horse to carry) and to have cried upon being touched.<ref>Spence, Lewis (2000). "Cambions". In the Gale Group's ''Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology'', p.&nbsp;148. ISBN 0-8103-8570-8.</ref>


== References ==
== See Also ==
<references/>
*[[Cambion (Dungeons and Dragons)]]
*[[Incubus]]
*[[Succubus (Traditional)|Succubus]]
*[[Homunculus]]
*[[Changeling]]
*[[Mooncalf]]
*[[Nephilim]]


== Notes ==
^ The last paragraph of the creation section talks about a third means of producing a cambion. See Spence, Lewis (2000). "Cambions". In the Gale Group's, Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, p. 148. ISBN 0-8103-8570-8.


== References ==
{{reflist}}


== See also ==
*[[Incubus]]
*[[Succubus]]
*[[Mooncalf]]
*[[Homunculus]]
*[[Changeling]]


== External links ==
==External Links==
[http://d20npcs.wikia.com/wiki/D%26D_Named_Demon_Project#Cambion Official Cambion Names] - From the Named Demon Project, a list of names used in official products.
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambion The original source of most of this article at Wikipedia]

Latest revision as of 10:23, 20 October 2014

For the Dungeons and Dragons creature, see: Cambion (Dungeons and Dragons).


Cambion /ˈkæmbiən/ in fantasy games and literature are the offspring of a demon and a human.


Creation

A cambion is most often depicted as the offspring of an Incubus and a human woman, though there are examples of a cambion being the offspring of a Succubus and a human male.


In the Malleus Maleficarum

The Malleus Maleficarum does not use the word but states that demons, including the Incubus and the Succubus, are incapable of reproduction:

Moreover, to beget a child is the act of a living body, but devils cannot bestow life upon the bodies they assume; because life formally proceeds only from the soul, and the act of generation is the act of the physical organs which have bodily life. Therefore bodies which are assumed in this way cannot either beget or bear.[1]

Because of this inability to create or nurture life, the method of the creation of a cambion is necessarily protracted. A succubus will have sex with a human male and so acquire a sample of his sperm. This she will then pass on to an incubus. The incubus will, in his turn, transfer the sperm to a human female and thus impregnate her.

Yet it may be said that these devils assume a body not in order that they may bestow life upon it, but that they may by the means of this body preserve human semen, and pass the semen on to another body.[1]

The text goes on to discuss at great length the arguments for and against this process being possible, citing a number of biblical quotations and noted scholars in support of its arguments, and finally concludes that this is indeed the method used by such demons.


In the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology

In the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology the cambion is said to be the direct offspring of the incubus and the succubus, foregoing any need for human involvement. This same incarnation retained the absence of breath or a pulse until seven years of age, but was said to also have been incredibly heavy (even too heavy for a horse to carry) and to have cried upon being touched.[2]

See Also


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Malleus Maleficarum, Part I, Question III
  2. Spence, Lewis (2000). "Cambions". In the Gale Group's Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, p. 148. ISBN 0-8103-8570-8.


External Links