Difference between revisions of "Devil's trap (symbol)"

Revision as of 14:24, 29 July 2010

Origin

The devil’s trap is a mystical symbol used to immobilize and control demons. It can be used to prevent them from entering a building or to trap them at the entrance. It can also prevent demons from accessing sensitive objects. The devil’s traps seen in Supernatural all originate from The Lesser Key of Solomon, which is a grimoire, or magical text, written in the 17th century. It contains rituals and spells for invoking and controlling both demons and angels.

There are two major variations of devil's traps in Supernatural:

1. The Heptagram.

An example of the Heptagram devil's trap can be seen painted on the ceiling at Bobby's house. It is composed of two pentacles from the Lesser Key of Solomon that form a heptagram.

The Grand Pentacle:"It serves to convene all spirits; when shown to them they will bow and obey you".

The Fifth Pentacle of Mars:"it is terrible unto the demons, and at its sight and aspect they will obey thee, for they cannot resist its presence"

2. The Pentagram. The pentagram devil's trap is seen drawn on the underside of the trunk hatch of the Impala, as well as in Bobby's Panic Room.

Drawn from several shots and scenes.

1.22 Devil's Trap

Sam and Dean are initially unaware of the devil's trap concept. They learn about it during the encounter with Meg at Bobby's house. While she is trapped, they interrogate her and later exorcise her. Sam later draws a version of the symbol on the trunk of the Impala to protect the Colt from demons.

Sam studies the devil's trap in Bobby's copy of the Key of Solomon

At Bobby's house, Meg is trapped under the devil's trap.

Sam draws a devil's trap on the trunk of the Impala.

2.14 Crossroad Blues

Dean paints a devil's trap under the Impala in order to trap a Crossroads Demon. When that fails, he lures her under a water tower where he has painted another devil's trap.

File:Supernatural 2x08 1811.jpg

The devil's trap under the water tower which traps the Crossroads Demon.

2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign

When Sam is possessed by the same demon who possessed Meg Masters, he is trapped by Bobby under the same symbol that trapped her. However, the demon has gained new powers and breaks the symbol after a failed exorcism attempt.

File:Samtrapbuabs.jpg

Possessed Sam under the devil's trap.

2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two

Samuel Colt built a huge devil's trap 100 miles across in southern Wyoming. There is a church at each point and the sides of the pentacle are made of iron railroad lines. At the center, in an old cowboy cemetery, is a Devil's Gate.

File:222trap.png

The giant devil's trap

File:222gatetrap.png

The gate to hell is locked with a devil's trap opened by the Colt.

Season 3 Title Card

In the opening credits in Season Three, an image of the Devil's trap can be seen.

3.01 The Magnificent Seven

Dean traps Walter Rosen, who is possessed by Envy, in the trunk of Bobby's car. Like the Impala, this car has a devil's trap drawn on the underside of the trunk hatch.

In Isaac and Tamara's house, Bobby traps Gluttony under a devil's trap, and Sam tries to trap Pride.

Devil's trap in the trunk of Bobby's car

Bobby traps Sloth under a devil's trap

3.03 Bad Day at Black Rock

There is a devil's trap drawn inside the entrance to John's secret lock-up.

File:Devil'strap303.jpg

Devil's trap on floor of John's lock-up

3.04 Sin City

Dean draws a devil's trap under a rug in Casey's basement in order to trap her. She is released from it when Father Gil uses his demonic power to break it.

File:Devilstrap in Sin City.jpg

Casey and Father Gil lie dead on the devil's trap after Sam shoots them with the Colt

3.16 No Rest For The Wicked

When Sam summons Ruby to help with Dean's deal, Dean steals her knife and traps her under a devil's trap.

File:3-16 Devil'sTrap.jpg

Dean traps Ruby after stealing her knife

4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester

Bobby, Dean and Sam take refuge from vengeful spirits in Bobby's Panic Room. It is protected by three devil's traps: one outside the door, one inside covering the floor, and one made of iron secured over the ventilation fan.

File:Panic room devil's trap.jpg

Devil's trap in the roof of Bobby's Panic Room

File:Panic Room Devil's trap 2.jpg

Devil's trap on the floor of Bobby's Panic Room

4.04 Metamorphosis

Ruby and Sam use a devil's trap to restrain a possessed man while Sam uses his power to exorcise the demon.

File:Devils Trap in Metamorphosis.jpg

The demon about to be exorcised

4.16 On The Head Of A Pin

Castiel binds Alastair to a devil's trap which he describes as being old Enochian. The traitor Uriel causes a water leak which drips onto and erases part of the trap, allowing Alastair to escape the trap and attack Dean.

Dean unconscious on the devil's trap after Alastair escapes and attacks him

4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book

Sam sets a devil's trap for Lilith under a rug, but she realizes it is there and breaks it with her powers.

4.21 When The Levee Breaks

Sam is held in Bobby's Panic Room, which has a devil's trap on the floor. When Castiel releases him, he breaks the traps to make it look as though Sam was freed by demons.

Sam hallucinates he is being tortured by Alastair

5.01 Sympathy For The Devil

Zachariah lures Dean and Sam to John's Lock-up, where the devil's trap is again seen.

Demon's dead inside John's Lock-up

5.02 Good God Y'All

There is a devil's trap inside the door of the church which Ellen steps over.

File:Devils trap in 5-02.jpg

The devil's trap was there - but there were no demons

5.10 Abandon All Hope

Dean and Sam try and imprison Crowley with a devil's trap under a rug. He avoids the trap, and berates them for damaging the carpet.

5.13 The Song Remains The Same

In 1978, Mary takes her family to a safe house used by the Campbells that has iron fixtures and a devil's trap under the rug.

File:(5x13) 00803.jpg

The devil's trap in the Campbell safe house

5.17 99 Problems

Fearing demon attachs, the people of Blue Earth have taken precautions.

File:Dt99probs.jpg

The devil's trap outside the church in Blue Earth

5.20 The Devil You Know

To transport Brady, Crowley puts a bag with a devil's trap drawn on it over his head. Brady is later tied to a chair placed over a devil's trap. Crowley also carves a binding link into his chest so he cannot vacate the body.

File:Vlcsnap-2010-05-02-00h57m43s252.png

The devil's trap on the bag over Brady's head

5.22 Swan Song

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ===Origin===
-The devil’s trap is a mystical symbol used to imbolise and control demons, and also to prevent them entering a place, or gaining access to something. The devil’s traps seen in ''Supernatural'' all originate from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goetia:_The_Lesser_Key_of_Solomon_the_King The Lesser Key of Solomon], which is grimoire or magical text written in the 17th century. It contains rituals and spells for invoking and controlling both demons and angels.
+The devil’s trap is a mystical symbol used to immobilize and control demons. It can be used to prevent them from entering a building or to trap them at the entrance. It can also prevent demons from accessing sensitive objects. The devil’s traps seen in Supernatural all originate from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goetia:_The_Lesser_Key_of_Solomon_the_King The Lesser Key of Solomon], which is a grimoire, or magical text, written in the 17th century. It contains rituals and spells for invoking and controlling both demons and angels.
 There are two major variations of devil's traps in Supernatural:
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 '''1. The [[Heptagram]].'''
-An example of the Heptagram devil's trap can be seen painted on the ceiling at [[Bobby]]'s house. It is composed of two pentacles from the [http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/ksol.htm#chap18 Lesser Key of Solomon] which form a [[Heptagram]].
+An example of the Heptagram devil's trap can be seen painted on the ceiling at [[Bobby]]'s house. It is composed of two pentacles from the [http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/ksol.htm#chap18 Lesser Key of Solomon] that form a heptagram.
-[[Image: Grandpentacle.gif|left|thumb|350px|The Grand Pentacle:"It serves to convene all spirits; when shown to them they will bow and obey you"]]
+[[Image: Grandpentacle.gif|left|thumb|350px|The Grand Pentacle:"It serves to convene all spirits; when shown to them they will bow and obey you".]]
 [[Image: 5thpentaclemars.gif|right|thumb|350px|The Fifth Pentacle of Mars:"it is terrible unto the demons, and at its sight and aspect they will obey thee, for they cannot resist its presence"]]
 <br clear="all" />
 '''2. The Pentagram.'''
-[[Image:Devil's_Trap.jpg|left]]<br clear="all" />
+The pentagram devil's trap is seen drawn on the underside of the trunk hatch of the [[Impala]], as well as in [[Bobby's Panic Room]].
-Drawn from several shots and scenes.
+[[Image:Devil's_Trap.jpg|left|thumb|Drawn from several shots and scenes.]]
-The pentagram devil's trap is seen drawn on the trunk on the Impala as well as in [[Bobby's Panic Room]].
-==Season 3 [[Title Card]]==
-In the opening credits in Season Three, an image of the Devil's trap can be seen.
-[[Image:Devil's traptitle.jpg|400px|left]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[1.22 Devil's Trap (episode)|1.22 Devil's Trap]]==
+[[Sam]] and [[Dean]] are initially unaware of the devil's trap concept. They learn about it during the encounter with [[Meg]] at [[Bobby]]'s house. While she is trapped, they interrogate her and later exorcise her. Sam later draws a version of the symbol on the trunk of the [[Impala]] to protect the [[Colt]] from demons.
 [[Image: Trapinbook122.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Sam studies the devil's trap in Bobby's copy of the Key of Solomon]]
-[[Image: Megtrap122.jpg|left|thumb|350px|At Bobby's house [[Meg]] (who is possessed by a demon)is trapped under the devil's trap where the boys interrogate her before exorcising the demon]]
+[[Image: Megtrap122.jpg|right|thumb|400px|At Bobby's house, [[Meg]] is trapped under the devil's trap.]]
-[[Image: Trunktrap122.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Sam later draws a version of the devil's trap on the trunk of the Impala to protect the colt from demons]]
+[[Image: Trunktrap122.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Sam draws a devil's trap on the trunk of the Impala.]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[2.08 Crossroad Blues (episode)|2.14 Crossroad Blues]]==
-* Dean paints a devil's trap under the Impala in order to trap the [[Crossroads Demon]]. When that fails he lures her under a water tower where he has painted another devil's trap.
+Dean paints a devil's trap under the Impala in order to trap a [[Crossroads Demon]]. When that fails, he lures her under a water tower where he has painted another devil's trap.
+[[Image: Supernatural 2x08 1811.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap under the water tower which traps the [[Crossroads Demon]].]]
-[[Image: Supernatural 2x08 1811.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap under the water tower which traps the [[Crossroads Demon]]]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign (episode)|2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign]]==
-*When Sam is possessed by the same demon who had possessed [[Meg]], he is trapped by Bobby under the same symbol that trapped her. However the demon has gained new powers and breaks the symbol
+When Sam is possessed by the same [[Meg!Demon|demon]] who possessed [[Meg Masters]], he is trapped by Bobby under the same symbol that trapped her. However, the demon has gained new powers and breaks the symbol after a failed exorcism attempt.
-[[Image: Samtrapbuabs.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Possessed Sam under the devil's trap]]
+[[Image: Samtrapbuabs.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Possessed Sam under the devil's trap.]]
 <br clear="all" />
 == [[2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two (episode)|2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two]]==
+[[Samuel Colt]] built a huge devil's trap 100 miles across in southern Wyoming. There is a church at each point and the sides of the pentacle are made of iron railroad lines. At the center, in an old cowboy cemetery, is a [[Devil's Gate in Wyoming|Devil's Gate]].
-* [[Samuel Colt]] built a huge devil's trap 100 miles across in southern Wyoming. There is a church at each point and the sides of the pentacle are made of iron railroad lines. At the center, in an old cowboy cemetery, is a gate to hell.
+[[Image: 222trap.png|left|thumb|400px|The giant devil's trap]]
+[[Image: 222gatetrap.png|right|thumb|400px|The gate to hell is locked with a devil's trap opened by the [[Colt]].]]
+<br clear="all" />
+==Season 3 [[Title Card]]==
+In the opening credits in Season Three, an image of the Devil's trap can be seen.
+[[Image:Devil's traptitle.jpg|400px|left]]
-[[Image: 222trap.png|left|thumb|400px|The giant devil's trap]]
-[[Image: 222gatetrap.png|left|thumb|400px|The gate to hell is locked with a devil's trap opened by the [[Colt]]]]
 <br clear="all" />
 == [[3.01 The Magnificent Seven]]==
-* The opening [[Title Card]] includes a devil's trap that dissolves into "Supernatural"
+Dean traps [[Walter Rosen]], who is possessed by Envy, in the trunk of [[Bobby]]'s car. Like the Impala, this car has a devil's trap drawn on the underside of the trunk hatch.
-* Dean traps [[Walter Rosen]] who is possessed by Envy, in the trunk of Bobby's car, which has a devil's trap drawn inside it.
-* In [[Isaac]] and [[Tamara]]'s house, [[Bobby]] traps Gluttony under a devil's trap, and Sam tries to trap Pride.
+In [[Isaac]] and [[Tamara]]'s house, Bobby traps Gluttony under a devil's trap, and Sam tries to trap Pride.
-[[Image:Devil's traptitle.jpg|400px|left|frame| Devil's trap from opening title]]
 [[Image:Trunkdevilstrap.jpg|400px|left|frame|Devil's trap in the trunk of Bobby's car]]
-[[Image:Guttonydt.jpg|400px|left|frame|Bobby traps Sloth under a devil's trap]]
+[[Image:Guttonydt.jpg|400px|right|frame|Bobby traps Sloth under a devil's trap]]
 <br clear="all" />
@@ Line 72: / Line 68: @@
 == [[3.04 Sin City]]==
+Dean draws a devil's trap under a rug in [[Casey]]'s basement in order to trap her. She is released from it when [[Father Gil]] uses his demonic power to break it.
-Dean draws a devil's trap under a rug in [[Casey]]'s basement in order to trap her. She is released from it when [[Father Gil]], uses his demonic power to break it.
 [[Image:Devilstrap in Sin City.jpg|400px|left|frame|Casey and Father Gil lie dead on the devil's trap after Sam shoots them with the Colt]]
 <br clear="all" />
 == [[3.16 No Rest For The Wicked]]==
 When Sam summons [[Ruby]] to help with Dean's deal, Dean steals [[Ruby's Knife|her knife]] and traps her under a devil's trap.
@@ Line 85: / Line 79: @@
 ==[[4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester]]==
-Bobby, Dean and Sam take refuge in [[Bobby's Panic Room]]. It is protected with a devil's trap outside the door, inside on the floor, and in iron under the ventilation fan.
+Bobby, Dean and Sam take refuge from vengeful spirits in [[Bobby's Panic Room]]. It is protected by three devil's traps: one outside the door, one inside covering the floor, and one made of iron secured over the ventilation fan.
 [[Image:Panic_room_devil's_trap.jpg|400px|left|thumb|Devil's trap in the roof of [[Bobby's Panic Room]]]]
@@ Line 93: / Line 87: @@
 ==[[4.04 Metamorphosis]]==
-Ruby and Sam use a [[Devil's trap (symbol)|Devil's trap]] to restrain a possessed man while Sam uses his power to exorcise the demon. At this point Dean enters, and discovers what Sam is up to.
+Ruby and Sam use a devil's trap to restrain a possessed man while Sam uses his power to exorcise the demon.
 [[Image:Devils Trap in Metamorphosis.jpg|400px|left|thumb|The demon about to be exorcised]]
@@ Line 99: / Line 93: @@
 ==[[4.16 On The Head Of A Pin]]==
-[[Castiel]] binds [[Alistair]] to a [[Devil's trap (symbol)|Devil's trap]] which he describes as being old [[Enochian]]. So that [[Alastair]] will kill [[Dean]] and escape, [[Uriel]] causes a water leak which drips onto and erases part of the trap, letting [[Alastair]] go free.
+[[Castiel]] binds [[Alastair]] to a devil's trap which he describes as being old [[Enochian]]. The traitor [[Uriel]] causes a water leak which drips onto and erases part of the trap, allowing Alastair to escape the trap and attack Dean.
 [[Image:Enochian devil's trap.jpg|400px|left|thumb|Dean unconscious on the devil's trap after Alastair escapes and attacks him]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book]]==
-Sam set's a devil's trap for Lilith under a rug.
+Sam sets a devil's trap for Lilith under a rug, but she realizes it is there and breaks it with her powers.
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[4.21 When The Levee Breaks]]==
-Sam is held in [[Bobby's Panic Room]], which has a Devil's Trap on the floor. When [[Castiel]] releases him, he breaks the traps to make it look as though Sam was freed by demons.
+Sam is held in [[Bobby's Panic Room]], which has a devil's trap on the floor. When [[Castiel]] releases him, he breaks the traps to make it look as though Sam was freed by demons.
-[[Image:Devilstrap in 4-21When The Levee Breaks.jpg|left|400px|thumb|Sam hallucinates he is being tortured by Alistair]]
-<br clear="all" />
-==[[5.13 The Song Remains The Same]]==
-In a house protected against demons with iron fittings and supplies of salt used by the Campbell family there is a devil's trap under a rug.
+[[Image:Devilstrap in 4-21When The Levee Breaks.jpg|left|400px|thumb|Sam hallucinates he is being tortured by Alastair]]
 <br clear="all" />
@@ Line 122: / Line 112: @@
 [[Image:Johnstoragedevilstrap.JPG|left|400px|thumb|Demon's dead inside John's Lock-up]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.02 Good God Y'All]]==
 There is a devil's trap inside the door of the church which [[Ellen]] steps over.
 [[Image:Devils trap in 5-02.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap was there - but there were no demons]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.10 Abandon All Hope]]==
-Dean and Sam try and trap Crowley with a devil's trap under a rug.
+Dean and Sam try and imprison Crowley with a devil's trap under a rug. He avoids the trap, and berates them for damaging the carpet.
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.13 The Song Remains The Same]]==
 In 1978, Mary takes her family to a safe house used by the Campbells that has [[iron]] fixtures and a devil's trap under the rug.
@@ Line 134: / Line 127: @@
 [[Image:(5x13) 00803.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap in the Campbell safe house]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.17 99 Problems]]==
-Fearing they are under attack from demons, the people of Blue Earth have taken precautions.
+Fearing demon attachs, the people of Blue Earth have taken precautions.
 [[Image:Dt99probs.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap outside the church in Blue Earth]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.20 The Devil You Know]]==
-[[Brady]] is tied to a chair placed over a devil's trap, and with a bag with a devil's trap over his head. [[Crowley]] also carves a binding link into his chest, so he can't vacate the body.
+To transport [[Brady]], [[Crowley]] puts a bag with a devil's trap drawn on it over his head. Brady is later tied to a chair placed over a devil's trap. Crowley also carves a binding link into his chest so he cannot vacate the body.
 [[Image:Vlcsnap-2010-05-02-00h57m43s252.png|left|thumb|400px|The devil's trap on the bag over Brady's head]]
 <br clear="all" />
 ==[[5.22 Swan Song]]==
 [[Category:Library]][[Category:Demonology]][[Category:Symbols & Runes]][[Category:Equipment]]