Apologies if this has been answered. If so, please direct me there. Nazi Germany is pretty much recognized as the archetype for evil. I'm curious as to what this archetype may have been before the rise of the third reich. Was it centered around mythology? Or was another reign of evil supplanted by the evil of the Nazi Party?
hi! other responses are always welcome, but fyi, you can get started on this in the FAQ
Well, the obvious one is Satan, along with devil-like figures in other religions/mythologies. Not sure if that's what you're looking for.
Another example, though not as pervasive, would be Aaron the Moor from Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, which played into the significant anti-Arab sentiments in the west.
Edit: corrected which play it was