Black Maria

Black Maria (ブラックマリア, Burakkumaria) is a recurring demon in the series.

History
Black Maria refers to the Black Madonna, or Black Virgin, which is a depiction of the Virgin Mary which has dark or black skin. Black Madonnas may have grown out of pre-Christian earth goddess traditions and that their dark skin may be associated with ancient images of these goddesses and the color of the fertile earth. Further assertions say that some of their Christian shrines were built on sites dedicated to Cybele and Diana, or Artemis of Ephesus.

Some say that Black Madonnas sprouted from the goddess Isis, which implies that the dark skin may have echoed an African archetypal mother figure. It is also claimed that they express a feminine power that is not fully conveyed by the paler Virgin Mary, which symbolises gentler qualities, such as obedience and purity. This feminine power may be linked to female sexuality, which was suppressed by the early or medieval Christian Church.

Black Maria's design is based on Jean Delville's The Idol of Perversity

An addition to her history, as per Shin Megami Tensei IV, is that Black Maria was formally the Lady Danu who ruled over the fairies. Due to religious prosecution and the threat of the Fairy race being destroyed completely the Lady Danu had no choice but to merge with an interpretation of the Virgin Mary to become Black Maria as a way to save her beloved children.

When Nozomi summons her, at the request of the fairies, Black Maria reveals that she cannot return to being the Lady Danu. However as a compromise she names Nozomi as her successor and passes down the powers Nozomi will need to fulfill her rule as the next Lady Danu. With this completed Black Maria bids Nozomi and Flynn farewell as she returns to her duties as Black Maria.

Appearances

 * Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Lady Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei IV
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Jiboshin Clan
 * Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Entity Race
 * Devil Survivor Overclocked: Megami Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner: Jiboshin Clan

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
A Black Maria is necessary in order to fuse Zeed into the hero Jeanne d'Arc.