A familiar spirit mentioned in the old legend of Sir John Faustus, and a principal agent in Marlowe's play Dr. Faustus and in Goethe's Faust. In medieval demonology, he was one of the seven chief devils.

evil spirit to whom Faust sold his soul

Mephistopheles (also Mephisto, Mephistophilus, Mephist, Mephistophilis, Mephostophiles, Mephostophiel, , Mephisophilus and Mephistovic) is a name given to one of the chief demons of Christian mythology that figure in European literary traditions. While the name is frequently used as an alternative form of Satan or the Devil, it evolved during the Renaissance; the name Mephistopheles makes no appearance in the Bible.