Horkos

Horkos, also known as Orcus, is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

While named Horkos in several localizations, this demon is an interpretation of the the Roman god Orcus according to official profiles.^[1]

The pig-headed design is likely based on a spurious claim found in Barbara Walker's book The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, citing Robert Graves, that another form of his name is Porcus (Latin for pig), that Orcus was a sacrificial boar, and that Orcus was portrayed as a pig-headed demon in the Middle Ages;^[2] several things in the Megami Tensei franchise are influenced by Walker's book.

Design

The scepter, crown, and mantle are meant to show his status as king of the underworld.^[3]

Compendium

Compendium Entries

Game Appearances

Audio Drama Appearances

Novel Appearances

Anime Appearances

Manga Appearances

Other Appearances

Trivia

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	オーカス Ōkasu	Orcus; this spelling is based on the English pronunciation of Orcus rather than the Latin pronunciation.^[4]

Gallery

Horkos fused with the Elve in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

Notes

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Eirikr, Orcus/Horkos Infodump. Published May 28, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2024. Tumblr.
↑ "Greco-Roman death god, also known as Phorcys or Porcus, a sacrificial boar.¹ In the Middle Ages he was made a demon with a human body and a pig's head.
1. Graves, G.M. 2, 107." The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (1983), Barbara Walker. Published by Harper & Row. p. 742. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-250925-3.
↑ "王錫Typo of 王笏^[sic]と王冠、マントは、オーカスが冥府の王であることを示すためのもの。" Translation: "The scepter, crown, and mantle are for the sake of showing that Orcus is the king of the underworld." Kazuma Kaneko Works I (2004). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 24. ISBN-13: 978-4775303153.
↑ "オーカスは英語読み。ラテン語読みではオルクス。" Translation: "Ōkasu is the English reading. In the Latin reading, it is Orukusu." Kazuma Kaneko Works I (2004). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 24. ISBN-13: 978-4775303153.

[infodump-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Eirikr, Orcus/Horkos Infodump. Published May 28, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2024. Tumblr.

[2] "Greco-Roman death god, also known as Phorcys or Porcus, a sacrificial boar.¹ In the Middle Ages he was made a demon with a human body and a pig's head.
1. Graves, G.M. 2, 107." The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (1983), Barbara Walker. Published by Harper & Row. p. 742. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-250925-3.

[3] "王錫Typo of 王笏^[sic]と王冠、マントは、オーカスが冥府の王であることを示すためのもの。" Translation: "The scepter, crown, and mantle are for the sake of showing that Orcus is the king of the underworld." Kazuma Kaneko Works I (2004). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 24. ISBN-13: 978-4775303153.

[4] "オーカスは英語読み。ラテン語読みではオルクス。" Translation: "Ōkasu is the English reading. In the Latin reading, it is Orukusu." Kazuma Kaneko Works I (2004). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 24. ISBN-13: 978-4775303153.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]