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{{Quotation
|title=
|text= '''Sam:''' And these, uh, these protective circles. They really work?<br>'''Bobby:''' Hell, yeah. You get a demon in - they’re trapped. Powerless. It’s like a Satanic roach motel.
|author= [[Sam]] and [[Bobby]]
|source= [[1.22 Devil's Trap]]
}}
==Origin==
The devil’s trap is a mystical symbol used to immobilize and control [[demon]]s. It is similar to a circle of [[salt]] but more powerful and persistent as it is usually etched or painted in place, and can't simply be brushed or blown away. If a demon walks inside the outer circle of a devil's trap, it cannot physically leave it, and is trapped. Devil's traps also inhibit the use of some demonic powers. Devil's traps have been used not only to detain a demon, but are also drawn at entrances as a deterrent to prevent access to a building, room, or container. 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.
{| border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="5" align="center"
|-
|[[Image: Grandpentacle.gif|thumb|300px|The Grand Pentacle:"It serves to convene all spirits; when shown to them they will bow and obey you.".]]|[[Image: 5thpentaclemars.gif|thumb|300px|The Fifth Pentacle of Mars:"it 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 the one most commonly seen, and is a simplification of the Grand Pentacle.
[[Image:Devil's_Trap.jpg|left|thumb|Drawn from several shots and scenes.]]
However, it would appear that the trap must be drawn in a visible medium for it to be effective, as Crowley was only aware of a devil's trap Bobby had created in ultraviolet ink when Bobby turned on the appropriate lights.
Devil's traps appear to affect all most demons, no matter how powerful. One kept [[Azazel]], a [[Prince of Hell]] away from the [[Devil's Gate]], though [[Devil's Trap Bullets]] failed to harm [[Ramiel]]. However, he made a point of avoiding an actual devil's trap as did [[Lilith]]. [[Cain]], despite his immense power, was able to be contained within a trap, but stated that it wouldn't hold him for long. Additionally, unlike other demons, a devil's trap didn't render Cain completely powerless, though it did effectively bind most of his powers.
A demon is contained within the trap unless its broken or they are exorcised no matter what form they are in. [[Abraxas]], while in his [[demon smoke]] form, hit a barrier when he tried to leave a devil's trap after being released from an [[Enochian Puzzle Box]] within it.
__NOTOC__
===[[1.22 Devil's Trap]]===
Before meeting up with [[Bobby]], [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] are initially unaware of the devil's trap concept. They learn Sam reads up about it while looking through the ''[[Key of Solomon]]''. They tested one of these protective circles during the their 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 [[demon]]s.
{| border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="5" align="center"
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===[[12.12 Stuck in the Middle (With You)]]===
[[Sam]] spray paints a Devil's trap under the carpet, but the [[Prince of Hell]] [[Ramiel]] is able to avoid just walks over it. [[Dean]] also fires devil's trap bullets at Ramiel, which have no effect on him.
===[[12.23 All Along the Watchtower]]===
* [[Angel Trap]]
* [[Reaper Trap]]
* [[Key of Solomon]]
* [[Pentagram]]
* [[Heptagram]]
[[Category:Library]][[Category:Demonology]][[Category:Symbols & Rituals]]
