Why is the Devil depicted in human form, with red skin, horns, and a tail?

If Lucifer was turned into a serpent (Snake or dragon), why is he depicted in human form, with red skin, horns, and a pointed tail? And with a trident? What does the trident signify?

Why is the Devil depicted in human form, with red skin, horns, and a tail?
The Roman Catholic church took characteristics from Pagan gods like Pan and Cernnunos and created "the devil". Pan and Cernunnos had horns, the cloven feet were from Pan. The trident is from a Witches' tool called a stang. They did it to convince everyone that the Pagan gods were worshiping the devil. It was all a conspiracy.
Reply:Signifies he loves to be thought of as a cartoon character not to be taken seriously.
Reply:To help people to recognize him.
Reply:The modern depiction of the devil originated in ancient depictions of Pan, and evolved over the years.
Reply:because its scary??
Reply:Most modern views of Satan come from the Middle Ages.





Similar to directors trying to get you to come see Saw II, pastors in the Middle Ages kept thinking up more and more radical views of Satan to scare the hell (pun intended) out of the congregation.





People started showing up to church for the "horror movie" sermons.
Reply:It's just a cartoon character. The Devil has been depicted in thousands of ways.
Reply:imagery of lucifer was modelled off pagan (especially celtic) gods. it was hoped that by depicting the people's gods as lucifer the devil, they might turn to christianity.
Reply:Hollywood did it !!!
Reply:I have no clue. The only answer I can think of for this is..... " so that we can have yet another thing to ask about on Yahoo answers.." LOL
Reply:So he can look like me I have a red nose.
Reply:That started about 900 AD.


Art started showing Devil in an evil manner (Pictures still do today). It was more to frighten or scare. Look evil-the Dragon or the serpent with his trident. Trident represents icon like sceptor


(he rules underworld) or his staff. Many turned it into a pitch fork


for casting lost souls into hell!


Imagination!
Reply:It's just a human rendering of that which is evil. Lucifer takes many faces and he is not ugly. Remember he was the most beautiful angel which sort of shows us that we should not judge by looks.





If he were ugly, like pictures, people would not fall prey to his deceptions - people would run the other way. So he is beautiful, drawing in the people who do not know Scripture.
Reply:Originally the Devil was depicted as the Celtic God Cernunnos so that followers of Him could be tortured and killed and their land seized by the Christians during The Inquisition.
Reply:The bible says that Lucifer was Gods right hand angel. And it doesn't say anywhere in the bible that he looks ugly, or red, or carries a trident. He might be charming and handsom. In genesis he takes the form of a serpent.

queen of the night