The Cenobites are extradimensional beings who appear in the works of Clive Barker, including the novella The Hellbound Heart and the eight Hellraiser films. They are also mentioned, in passing, in the novel Weaveworld. They are mentioned by Immacolata, who calls them “The Surgeons from Beyond.”

They can reach Earth's reality only through a schism in time and space, which is opened and closed using certain unearthly artifacts. The most common form for these artifacts is that of an innocuous-looking Chinese-style puzzle box called the Lament Configuration.

The Cenobites vary in number, appearance, and motivations depending on the medium (film, comic book, etc.) in which they appear. The involvement of multiple parties in the production of Hellraiser films and comics (many eschewing the creative supervision of Clive Barker) have led to varying levels of consistency regarding the canonical aspects of their philosophies and abilities.

• 1 Etymology
• 2 Concept and design
• 3 Description
  • 3.1 Hellraiser Films
  • 3.2 Hellraiser Comic Book Series
• 4 Powers and abilities in the films
• 5 In written works
• 6 Comic stories
• 7 Notes

[edit] Etymology

The term cenobite is a ...