The Medieval theologian Friar Francesco Maria Guazzo described in his Compendium Maleficarum (1628) the nature of aerial devils. He defined them as being invisible servitors, spirits under the command of the Devil. In constant communication with Hell, they swarm invisibly through the spirit world and have been known to conspire with evil men. The enemy of all mankind, they use their powers to create natural disasters, shipwrecks, and violent storms. They also have the ability to create solid bodies for themselves from the very air, which they will use to grab up a victim and shake violently, all the while yelling out his sins, both real and imagined, for all to hear. Invisible shape-shifters, they inspire man to question his faith, commit foolish actions, and create slander. Aerial devils are, however susceptible to the passions of mankind and are easily invoked by sorcerers because even though they live in the spirit realm, they stay in the air around humans as much as they possibly can. This species of demon takes a special delight with the obscenities of the theater and wild hyperbole of poets.
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