Lilith

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lilith ( Sumerian DINGIR LIL.du / LIL.LU, Babylonian Lilītu, Hebrew לילית, female demon ') was a goddess of Sumerian mythology .

At first she lived in the trunk of the World Tree , but after it had been split on Inanna's order , Lilith fled to an unknown area. As a result, she was often portrayed as a female winged hybrid , both in the ancient Orient and in later sources . In addition to mythological and magical writings, there are also literary texts in which Lilith is mentioned. Alone it rarely occurs; the Mesopotamian sources often mention lilû , a male demon, lilītu (Lilith) and (w) ardat lilî ('daughter of Lilû'). However, it is not always possible to clearly distinguish between the latter two.

etymology

In addition to the Sumerian form D LIL.LU, there were other literary names and equations with other deities. As the deity KI.SIKIL.LIL.LA ('Pure Place of the Wind') she also appears in the form of the goddess (w) ardat-LIL.I (LIL.LU), who at the time of creation through her negative influence in the steppe is banished and is henceforth considered to be restless and without a permanent place of residence. The term BAḪAR ('potter') also used in this context refers to the pottery, a symbolic component of the Sumerian gods of creation.

The reading lil 2 as lillu indicates the meaning of ' boobies ' (LIL.MEŠ): air creatures that could only move awkwardly on earth. The basic form LIL (wind) shows the characteristic as an air deity. In later times, the equated goddess D Li-lum and D Le-el-lu-um appeared in Mari as a “nocturnal protective wind”.

The mythological connections and changes therefore do not allow a clear translation. Only their original affiliation to the air beings, which are considered to be descendants from the connection of mother and creation deities, is certain. The most frequently mentioned meanings 'breath of wind', 'protector of the wind', 'boobies of the cities' and 'night wind' show the diversity of synonyms used .

The derivation of the name from the Semitic root LYL 'night', which is often found, is to be regarded as a folk etymology and scientifically incorrect.

Representations in the ancient Orient

Possible representation on the Burney relief

Old Sumerian time

In connection with the story Inanna and the Huluppu Tree , the goddess Lildu (Lilitu) is shown living in the trunk of the willow tree. In addition, the huluppu tree is home to two other beings, the anzu bird and the snake, which cannot be enchanted.

Old Babylonian time

The Burney relief possibly shows Lilitu with the four-fold crown of horns, which identifies her as a goddess. Instead of human feet, it has bird-like claws. The drooping wings are the typical symbol of an underworld deity. As a symbol of rule, she carries a ring and staff in her hands. Flanked by two owls, Lilitu stands on two reclining lions.

Remnants of paint testify that Lilitu originally had a red body. The lions' wings and manes were black. The wings of the owls alternated between red and black. In the lower area of ​​the picture a double row of scales can be seen, a symbol for the mountains and the land of no return (realm of the dead).

Since there is no caption on the picture, it remains to be seen whether it is a direct representation of Lilitu or the equated subsidiary form of Ištar as D NIN.NIN.NA (goddess of the owls). A connection with D KI.LIL.I as the patron saint of prostitutes is also possible.

Aramaic legends

While the cuneiform evidence of the Lilith figure is comparatively sparse, the evidence in Aramaic incantation formulas from the late 5th to 7th centuries AD is growing considerably. The material usually consists of magic bowls and metal amulets found in Mesopotamia and Iran. Another important source is the Mandaean list of demons on lead scrolls from the Pir Nukraya archive .

In this period there is no talk of an individual figure, but of a category of demons, which can also appear in groups of mixed male and female embodiments (Lils and Lilits).

With regard to the characteristics of the late antique Lilith figures, two lines of tradition can be distinguished.

Lilith as a branch of the demon tree

A line of tradition from the Mandaean list of demons describes the Liliths as branches of a tree on a mountain. This thread possibly refers back to the description in the Gilgamesh epic , in which the Lilit dwells in the trunk of the huluppu tree and is driven into the steppe after it is felled.

Lilith as a child murderer

Another characteristic of Lilith is not found in the list of demons, but in various other incantation forms, mainly magic bowls : the characterization of the Lil / Lilit demons as incubus or succubus demons, which haunt people at night and cause infant death in a variety of ways . In another variant, such a Lilit lives on the doorstep and kills or strangles passing children.

These Lilits are described as daughters of Zarnay-Lilit and are given the suffixes Hablat-Lilit, Taklat-Lilit or Bguzan-Lilit. It cannot be ruled out that they were originally different Lilit figures, which were later summarized under one characteristic.

Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible

Lilith's name can be found in the Hebrew Old Testament and some modern Christian translations. Where Martin Luther had never known Lilith at all, she is mentioned in the standard translation in the text passage Isa 34,14  EU : “Desert animals meet hyenas, goat spirits meet each other. Yes, Lilit takes a rest there and finds a place to rest ”, as in the case of Job 18:15 in the Bibles from Herder (for example in ISBN 3-451-14670-3 with the explanations of the Jerusalem Bible and in ISBN 3 -451-01495-5 ): "Now Lilit sits down in the tent, and sulfur is scattered over his dwelling."

German Bible translations based on the Hebrew texts reproduce the name Lilit , some also use paraphrases, e.g. B. Hope for all "ghosts". Judit M. Blair claims that context and verbs show that all eight creatures ( Isa 34,13-16  EU ) are only natural animals.

Nothing is said about Lilith herself here except that her home is the desert. This passage is translated in many ways , so the Septuagint does not know the word Lilith and instead writes ὀνοκενταύροι ('donkey centaurs'), in the Hexapla and Vulgate λαμία or lamia . In other translation traditions (e.g. Peschitta , the Syro-Hexapla and in the Targum Jonathan ) the other desert animals in the list are represented by names of spirits and demons. It is noteworthy, however, that the Liliths in the great Isaiah scroll from the Dead Sea, in contrast to the Masoretic texts , and also in the Targum Jonathan are each in the plural.

The Lilith characteristic taken up in this line of tradition can be found in the Mandaean list of demons, in which there is a Lilith figure who is characterized as a desert inhabitant and whose place of residence with her clan is located in the Komiš area .

Later developments in Jewish tradition

We encounter the medieval Lilith figure for the first time in the treatise on the left emanations from 1265 by Rabbi Isaak ben Jakob ha-Cohen , in which he describes a system of seven divine evil powers, the first being Samael and the last being Lilith. Samael and Lilith are represented as a divine couple who rule a group of evil demons and fight against the right (good) emanations for the domination of the world. According to Isaac, evil arises as a degenerate side effect during the emanation of the third Sefira (Binah) and is only ended by the apocalyptic duel between Samael and the Messiah.

Here, too, at least two Lilith figures are described: an older and a younger Lilith. The younger Lilith is the wife of Asmodäus , but is desired by Samael. Since this dualistic concept is new to Kabbalah at this time, it is initially not pursued by any author, with the exception of Isaac's disciple Moses of Burgos and finally by Moses de Leon , who placed it at the center of the Zohar's teaching , from whom he began the later Lilith picture unfolds.

In popular literature it is claimed again and again that Lilith is part of a midrash , but in fact she is only mentioned once in the Talmud without describing it in more detail: “R. Hanina said: One shouldn't sleep alone in a house, and anyone who sleeps alone in a house is plagued by Lilith. "

In Jewish feminist theology , Lilith is portrayed in the Midrash as a woman who does not withdraw from God's but Adam's rule and, unlike Eve, is resistant to the devil . She positively symbolizes the learned, strong woman. In another version, Lilith was Adam's first wife to get God to reveal his holy name to her. The name gave her unlimited power. Lilith asked God for wings and flew away.

Symbolic figure of emancipation

Painting by John Collier

Lilith became a symbol in feminism and the first women's bookshops and women's cafes were often called Lilith. Lilith was also popular as a female first name, see Lilith (first name) . Some see Lilith as the counter heroine to the biblical Eve, who is in the patriarchal tradition.

The Lilith myth symbolizes the independence of women and the (already biblical) attempt by men to suppress it by means of a higher authority. In psychology there are two apparently opposing characteristics of women - sensuality, passion, sexuality (Lilith) and motherliness, modesty, obedience (Eva).

Symbolic figure of the ambivalence of the soul

In Talmudic sources from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD, Lilith haunts as a night demon and is only elevated to Adam's first wife from the 9th century.

In Goethe's Faust I she appears on Walpurgis Night . In response to Faust's question about her, Mephistopheles replied: “That is Lilith.” Faust: “Who?” Mephistopheles: “Adam's first wife. / Beware of her beautiful hair, of this jewelry that is the only one she is adorned with. / If she gets the young man with that, / She won't let him go again anytime soon. "

Incidentally, Lilith figures are often ironically broken in poetry, for example in Ernst Penzoldt's Die Powenzbande .

astrology

In astrology , "Lilith" has referred to a "dark twin of the moon " (also "black moon") since the beginning of the 20th century . No real celestial body corresponds to this , but a special point on the lunar orbit .

There is also an asteroid called (1181) Lilith . However, this was named after the French composer Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) and has nothing to do with the mythological Lilith.

Reception in the media

There are different adaptations of the Lilith saga, e.g. B. Robert Rossens film Lilith with Warren Beatty in the lead role. It is about a therapist who takes care of a mysterious young woman in a noble sanatorium and subsequently suffers from delusions.

Lilith also appears in various adaptations as the creation of the outcast angel Lucifer or as a vampire , such as the angel and primordial mother of humanity in the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion . In the series Supernatural , Lilith is even given the name of the first demon ever and is thus placed in a position that almost equals Lucifer .

A similar representation exists in the film Bordello of Blood in the film series Tales from the Crypt . There Lilith is portrayed as the mother of all vampires. Similar in the role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade , where she teaches Cain , the progenitor of the vampires. You can also find her in the multiplayer mode of the PC game Diablo 2 - Lord of Destruction as one of the three key bosses.

In the film Case 39 with Renée Zellweger , Lilith appears as a child (possessed by a demon?).

Evil Angel (USA 2009), directed by Richard Dutcher - Lilith as the mass murderous demon.

The 2006 album Visions of Eden by the band Virgin Steele deals with the biblical Lilith myth in the form of a concept album.

The 2010 album Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa by the band Cradle of Filth is a concept album about Lilith.

On the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway the band Genesis it is called Lilywhite Lilith. It is narrated by a person who makes it through a “tunnel of light” to “the other end”.

In 2011 the German electro band Nova-Spes released a concept album with their album Pripyat - Home of Lilith , in the title of which Lilith as a night witch is directly related to the Ukrainian ghost town of Pripyat . In the booklet of the album, the Bible is quoted with its corresponding section.

The figure is mentioned in the song Walpurgisnacht by the band Faun .

In the American series True Blood , Lilith appears as the goddess of vampires.

In the Israeli television series Split , Lilith is the demon queen. She is the main antagonist in the second season of the series.

In the Chronicles of the Underworld by Cassandra Clare , Lilith is one of the oldest demons and the mother of all demons.

In the PC game Darksiders , Lilith appears as Samael's lover.

In the PC game series Diablo Lilith appears as the daughter of Mephisto and creator of Sanctuary .

In the PC game series Borderlands , Lilith appears as a siren , a person with supernatural powers.

The albums Die Liebe Gottes and Tineoidea by the band Samsas Traum are concept albums in which Lilith plays a leading role.

In the US sitcom Frasier , the protagonist's ex-wife is named Lilith. Their representation contains allusions to the mythical figure.

In the American horror series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina , Lilith appears as the mother of demons and strives for the title "Queen of Hell" as the equal wife of Satan.

In the film My Devilishly Good Friend , Lilith is the daughter of the devil, who is supposed to do evil, but develops feelings.

In Melanie Martinez 's film "K-12", Lilith appears as an ally of some students who has given them supernatural powers.

In the film She never died, the main character Lacey, a homeless, immortal woman with angel wing scars, reveals at the end of the film that her real name is Lilith.

Reception as a literary figure

  • Sergej Lukianenko : The Last Guardians : Lilith is the oldest and possibly the first of all vampires in this volume of the Guardian series.
  • John Erskine : Adam and Eve - Though he knew better , Bobbs-Merrill Co., New York 1927, German Adam and Eva , Wolff, Munich 1927; Adam has to choose between two female principles and drops Lilith.
  • Jack Richard Salamanca: Lilith. Simon & Schuster, New York 1961, German: Lilith. translated by Brigitte Kahr, Kossodo, Geneva and Hamburg 1964, the literary template for the film of the same name by Robert Rossen .
  • Octavia Butler : Lilith's Brood . 2000 ( science fiction - the trilogy . Originally from 1987 to 1989 under the title Xenogenesis )
  • Christoph Marzi : Lycidas , Lilith , Lumen , Somnia .
  • George MacDonald : Lilith. Translation: Uwe Herms , Klett-Cotta, 1996, ISBN 3-608-87515-8 .
  • Tess Gerritsen : blood marks ; German translation in Blanvalet No. 37138, S 245 ff.
  • Nora Roberts : The Ring Trilogy . Original titles: Morrigan's Cross , Dance of the Gods , Valley of Silence . German series at blanvalet.
  • Kai Meyer : Loreley and The Stone Light ; Lilith's descendants play a supporting role in both novels and various aspects of the Lilith myth are told.
  • Thomas Mann : The Magic Mountain ; the character Settembrini talks to the protagonist Hans Castorp about the mythology of Lilith.
  • Lion Feuchtwanger : Jud Suess ; this tells the Duchess Marie August about "Lilith, the Queen of Damons".
  • Jessica Shirvington : The Violet-Eden-Chapters ; Lilith is portrayed in this series of books as the exiled angel and mother of the phoenix .
  • Terry Pratchett : Discworld Novels ; in Totally Bewitched , Lady Lilith is a fairy godmother who, in pursuit of power, overshoots the mark and becomes the wicked witch.
  • Courtney Allison Moulton . In: Angelfire "On the Wings of Evil" Lilith is named as the wife of Sammael and the demon queen.
  • Robert Anton Wilson , Robert Shea : In the Illuminatus! In the trilogy, Lilith appears as Lilith Velkor, a resident of Atlantis.
  • Cassandra Clare : In Chronicles of the Underworld City of Fallen Angels; is portrayed as the mother of Sebastian (Jonathan).
  • Simon R. Green : In the Stories from the Nightside series , Lilith appears as Adam's first wife, creator of Nightside and the mother of the main character John Taylor.
  • Kerstin Hensel : Lilit. Story from the volume Hallimasch. Mitteldeutscher Verlag, Halle 1989, Luchterhand, Frankfurt am Main 1989, ISBN 3-630-86715-4 .
  • Carla Trepat Casanovas : Lilith's Treasure: A story about sexuality, lust and the menstrual cycle . Translated from the Spanish by Stefanie Ettmann; Original title: El tesoro de Lilith, un cuento sobre la sexualidad, el placer y el ciclo menstrual . ISBN 978-3-200-03957-5
  • Michael Borlik : In the youth novel Nox, The Legacy of the Night , Lilith is referred to as a fallen angel and as the creator of the Children of the Night, who could help the protagonist to regain power. ISBN 978-3-522-20115-5 .

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Lilith  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ The assignment of negative properties to the term demon did not take place until the Middle Ages; Translation cf. Wilhelm Gesenius: Hebrew and Aramaic concise dictionary on the Old Testament ; Berlin, Göttingen, Heidelberg: Springer, 1962, p. 385.
  2. ↑ Cf. Dietz-Otto Edzard et al: Reallexikon der Assyriologie and Near Eastern Archeology . (RLA), Volume 7, de Gruyter, Berlin 1990, ISBN 3-11-010437-7 , pp. 23-25.
  3. ↑ George, AR, Rogers D. Spotswood Collection .: The epic of Gilgamesh: the Babylonian epic poem and other texts in Akkadian and Sumerian . London, ISBN 978-0-14-044919-8 .
  4. ↑ Zeno: Literature in full text: Martin Luther: The whole Holy Scripture Deudsch. 2 volumes, Munich 1972 .: ... Retrieved on August 4, 2019 .
  5. ^ Judit M. Blair: De-Demonising the Old Testament - An Investigation of Azazel, Lilith, Deber, Qeteb and Reshef in the Hebrew Bible. (= Research on the Old Testament 2 row). Mohr Siebeck, 2009, ISBN 978-3-16-150131-9 .
  6. ↑ Dr. Henrike Frey-Anthes: Lilit. P. 2 , accessed on August 4, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Babylonian Talmud, treatise Shabbat 151b
  8. ↑ Martin Bocian: Lexicon of Biblical Persons. With their continued existence in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, poetry, music and art (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 460). 2nd, expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-520-46002-5 .