Lilith: The Ever-Present Legend Throughout the Ages

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Lilith: The Ever-Present Legend Throughout the Ages

There is an unknown female demon who always appears in his journey. Just as he was the god of the sun, she was the goddess of the moon. She is always symbolized by the crescent moon. Together, we will explore the extent of this demoness or moon goddess's influence on all religions and uncover the historical roots of this enigmatic figure.

When we look back at folklore and myths across different cultures and nations, we find a recurring mention of a female demon who harbors immense hatred toward males, whether adults or children, and relentlessly seeks to seduce and kill them.

In Egypt, we find the legend of *Al-Naddaha*, the female jinn who lures farmers by calling out to them with a captivating and seductive voice at night. Once she isolates her victim, she either devours him, drives him insane, or drowns him in the depths of the Nile.

In Iraq and some villages of Jordan, we find the legend of *Al-Sa’laa*, a female jinn covered in black hair, capable of twisting her head 360 degrees like an owl. She dwells in abandoned places and possesses the ability to transform into a beautiful woman to lure men before killing them. She is also known to kidnap and devour children.

In Yemen and some Gulf countries, she is known as *Umm Al-Subyan* or *Umm Al-Duwais*. She is said to kidnap young boys to drink their blood and seduce grown men only to devour them.

In Moroccan folklore, she is known as "Aisha Qandisha," the djinn who seduces men to either devour them or cause them to fall from heights.

In Western folklore, there is the legend of the "Succubus," a name derived from the Arabic word "al-thuqb," meaning the holes in the necks of males, through which she either drains their blood or saps their energy by engaging in sexual intercourse with them in dreams, leading to death or madness.

In some European countries, she is known as the spirit of the "Banshee," the wailing woman or "Lady of the Hills." In Scotland, she is called "The Washerwoman," often seen by riverbanks in the evening, combing her hair or washing clothes stained with blood.

In Mexico and Central America, she is known as "La Llorona," the wailing spirit who appears near abandoned bodies of water.

In Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean region, she is known as "Soucouyant," the demoness who sucks the blood of men and kidnaps children.

In Venezuela, there is "Sayona," the man-killer who seduces men to lure them into forests and remote areas to kill them.

In Brazil and Portugal, there is "Cuca," the demoness who kidnaps children from their mothers and kills them.

In Poland and Slavic cultures, there is the "Rusalka," a spirit that seduces young men and drowns them in rivers and streams.

In Japan, she is known as "Oumu," the demoness who kidnaps and kills children. In Albanian folklore, there is the "Shtriga," who sometimes transforms and sucks the blood of males and children while they sleep.

This demonic character exists persistently across all cultures, making the similarities between these figures go beyond mere coincidence. They all share fundamental traits: a nocturnal being associated with sex and seduction, always thirsty for the death of men and children.

Indeed, the origins of characters like Lilith or Lilitu trace back to a singular entity that appears in ancient sources. The name "Lilith" is believed to have originated from the Sumerian language, drawing from words like "lil" meaning "night," "lilitu" signifying "sexual desire," and "lilu" which is linked to "debauchery" or "immorality." This etymological foundation highlights her association with the night, temptation, and unrestrained passions, reinforcing her character as a seductress and a figure that embodies chaos and rebellion against divine order. These ancient meanings contribute to the widespread symbolic presence of Lilith in various cultures and religious traditions.

Lilith has been associated with night, debauchery, and lust because she is a nocturnal being who seduces men with sexual desire and ultimately kills them. Some interpretations suggest that the origin of her name is linked to the Latin word "lux," meaning light, or "lucis," meaning radiant or luminous. From this root, the name "Lucifer" is derived, which means "the light-bearer" or "the god of fire and light," one of the most famous titles for Satan in the Bible. This connection between Lilith and Lucifer points to a shared symbolism of light and darkness, both embodying rebellion, temptation, and forbidden knowledge.

Researchers suggest that the name "Lilith" is associated with fire and light, as she was considered the companion of the torchbearer and the bringer of light. This connection implies that Lilith and Lucifer were, in fact, a pair — two powerful entities embodying light and darkness, with Lilith often seen as a counterpart or consort to Lucifer in various mythologies. This pairing further intertwines their roles as forces of rebellion and opposition in different religious and mythological traditions.

To explore Lilith or the Moon Goddess in history and archaeology, we need to delve into ancient documents and manuscripts to understand the depth of her character and the symbols associated with her. The first mention of Lilith was found on a clay tablet from the Sumerian civilization, dating back more than 3000 years before Christ. These early depictions provide key insights into her nature, roles, and the fears surrounding her presence in various ancient cultures.

The inscription on the disc refers to a demon named *"Lilitu"* who resided in a willow tree guarded by a dragon on the banks of the Tigris River. *"Lilitu"* was said to have the ability to fly, bringing disease and death to humans. She would seduce men and abduct children, reflecting her malevolent nature and the widespread fear she instilled in ancient cultures.

When King Gilgamesh heard of the evil deeds of *"Lilitu"*, he took his sword, killed the dragon, and uprooted the willow tree. This forced *"Lilitu"* to flee into the wilderness, but her danger remained. Her hatred for males continued, and her vengeful nature persisted in many cultures and legends, symbolizing the ongoing fear and opposition she represented in ancient mythologies.

Babylonian myths mention that *"Lilitu"* spread fear and terror, causing miscarriages and suffocating infants during their sleep. Interestingly, medical studies point to a phenomenon known as *Sudden Infant Death Syndrome* (SIDS), where infants die in their sleep for no apparent reason, even after examinations and autopsies. This mysterious phenomenon has sometimes been linked symbolically to the ancient beliefs about Lilith, as both involve unexplained deaths of infants during sleep.

To protect male infants from *"Lilitu"*, the Sumerians and Babylonians would place charms and amulets around their cribs and sprinkle salt around them. They also dressed male infants in earrings to make *"Lilitu"* believe they were female, thus sparing their lives. These practices reflect the deep-rooted fear and belief in the power of Lilith or her variants in ancient cultures.

If an infant laughed while sleeping, it was believed that *"Lilitu"* (a variation of Lilith) was hovering over them. Another reference to "Lilith" was found on a plaque from the 7th century BCE, discovered in the Arslan Tash area of Syria. This plaque is one of the many artifacts that link Lilith to ancient beliefs and superstitions regarding the protection and danger of infants.

At the bottom of the plaque, "Lilith" is depicted in the form of a wolf, devouring a child, with an inscription that says: *“O you who fly in the dark room’s sky, pass through it just once, O Lilith.”* The inscription's author is pleading with "Lilith" to pass through his room briefly, without harming his child.

In Jewish tradition, some believe in the absolute existence of Lilith, and she is mentioned in several places in Jewish religious texts. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are the oldest known versions of the Old Testament, the Book of Isaiah explicitly refers to Lilith when discussing the destruction of the Kingdom of Edom in Jordan. It says: *“The wild cats will meet with the jackals, and the demons of the goats will call to one another; there Lilith will rest and find a place to lay down.”* In other versions of the Bible, alternative names such as "the howling mother," "the demoness of the night," or "Lamia" are used. Lamia is described as a creature half-human and half-snake who kidnaps and eats children. Furthermore, in the Dead Sea Scrolls, there is a religious hymn for exorcising evil spirits that says: *“I am the wise one, I sing the glory of the Lord to terrify all the spirits of the fallen angels and Lilith, those who mislead the minds of the believers and corrupt their hearts.”*

In the Babylonian Talmud, Lilith is described as a long-haired demoness who lies by the shores of lakes, waiting for the unfortunate individuals who fall into her grasp. The Talmud also mentions that she may kill adult males if they sleep alone in their homes. In the *Zohar*, one of the most important texts in Jewish Kabbalah, Lilith is referred to as the wife of the chief demon, *Asmodeus* or *Ozmo*, who is constantly seeking to cause strife between couples.

The book *"The Alphabet of Ben Sira"* provides deeper insights into the character of Lilith, explaining her intense hatred of males and her constant pursuit of revenge against them. According to this book, Lilith was Adam's first wife, created from clay just like him. However, she rebelled against him and fled to the Red Sea. In response, God sent three angels to bring her back, but she refused. As a result, God created a new wife for Adam from his rib, one who would be more obedient and loyal to him—Eve. As for Lilith, she was cursed and transformed into a demoness. She then married Iblis (Satan), vowing to take revenge on Adam and his descendants, particularly the male ones.

It is said that Lilith hovers over the rooms of newborn infants for seven nights, during which the baby, especially males, is at risk. For this reason, some Jewish families would celebrate the eighth night as a sign of her departure and the end of the danger. This is believed to be the origin of the *Sabu‘* tradition in Arab cultures.

In the *Sabu‘* rituals, we see some inherited practices from ancient Babylonian beliefs, such as the sprinkling of salt. The Sumerians and Babylonians believed that salt could ward off demons. This belief was passed down to the Jews during the Babylonian exile. Sorcerers would draw a circle of salt around themselves for protection while performing magical rituals, a practice known as the "magic circle." According to the Jewish writer who converted to Christianity, Paul Christian, Jewish families practiced this same ritual with newborns, drawing a circle of salt around the baby’s crib and leaving a knife beside it to ward off Lilith. Even today, some Arab and Egyptian families continue this tradition without knowing its Jewish origins.

The *Sabu‘* rituals also include offering food, such as bread, grains, and silver, to the infant, a practice that resembles offerings made in pagan beliefs to appease demons or avoid their harm. Additionally, hanging earrings on male infants was an ancient method of deceiving Lilith into thinking they were female, thereby reducing the likelihood of them being killed. This custom is found in the inscriptions of Babylonian kings and continued in some Arab countries, such as Algeria, where it was called "Al-Ayasha," meaning "the one who helps the child stay alive."

At the conclusion of the *Sabu‘* rituals, the child is placed on the ground, and the mother circles around him seven times, a motion that symbolizes the nullification of Lilith's influence, as it is believed that she hovers over the child for seven nights. Due to the deep belief among Jews in the danger of Lilith, their homes in the seventh century CE often contained "amulet vessels," which were ceramic vessels inscribed with incantations to ward her off. These vessels were placed in the corners of the home and beside the beds. One of these vessels was inscribed with: *"O Lilith, witch and kidnapper, I swear by the strength of Abraham and the generosity of Jacob that you stay away from Rishino and her husband Yonai. Amen, Amen, Hallelujah."*

In general, many Jewish and Christian sects believe that Lilith played a significant role in the eternal struggle between humans and demons. Some even believe that the serpent which tempted Adam and Eve was not a literal snake, but rather an embodiment of Lilith, the partner of Iblis (Satan).

In Islam, there is no mention of a previous wife of Adam, nor is any specific demon referred to by name. However, some hypotheses suggest that the devil is an androgynous being capable of transforming between male and female. In Islamic heritage texts, there is no mention of a particular demoness, except in the book *"Ar-Rahma fi At-Tabb wa Al-Hikma"* (Mercy in Medicine and Wisdom), attributed to Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti. However, the authenticity of this attribution is questioned due to the book's inclusion of information on magic and demons. This book mentions a narration about the Prophet Solomon's encounter with a terrifying demoness named *At-Tabe'a* (The Attendant). In the narration, Solomon says to her, "O cursed one, I have not seen one stronger than you, nor more vicious in your actions. Teach me your name and your deeds." She responds, "I am *Al-Himma* (the ambition) daughter of *Al-Himma*, my nickname is *Umm al-Sibyan* (Mother of the Children), I fly and dwell between the sky and the earth." When asked about her victims, she replies, "I am sent to afflict the wicked among the children of Adam, those who do not have a verse from the Book of Allah with them." The narration then continues, describing her methods of harming women and killing fetuses in their wombs.

The figure of Lilith takes on various forms, such as a camel, a wolf, a snake, or a lioness. In this text, we see the connection between the demoness and several symbols, including the wolf. This is the same image we find on the *Arslan Tash* inscription, which predates the *Book of Mercy* by 20 centuries, where Lilith is depicted as a wolf devouring children. This may explain why some ancient pagan tribes practicing magic believed that the wolf could be an embodiment of a witch or demoness, similar to the myths of the Navajo tribes of the Native Americans, the Thirty in Europe, and the Ainu people in Japan. The text also mentions the camel, which would be one of the symbols of the worship of the demoness, the goddess of the crescent moon in different cultures. As for the snake and lioness, they are the most prominent and famous symbols associated with the worship of Lilith across civilizations, as we will see together. Lilith’s association with lunar worship through the lioness reminds us of the connection between the sun deity and the lion, such as *Phanes*, the Greek sun god who carried the torch and was sometimes symbolized by a lion or depicted with a lion's face. *Nergal*, the god of the sunset, was also depicted with the face of a lion. Similarly, *Pazuzu*, the demon god of winds and plague, was sometimes depicted with a lion's face.

I want to tell you that the symbols related to ancient gods and demons are extremely important and will reveal many secrets that still persist to this day. We will explore them in upcoming episodes. One of the common symbols between Lilith and Lucifer is the symbol of the star, which refers to the planet Venus, or "Helel" in Hebrew. It is the star visible to the naked eye before dawn, which is why it has been called since ancient times, and still today, the "morning star." This is one of the most famous titles of Lucifer in the Bible, as mentioned in the book of Isaiah: *"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations."* The Bible also informs us in other passages that the Jews practiced the worship of the morning star as a symbol of the horned deity *Baal-Moloch*. In the book of Acts, the star is referred to as "Remphan," or in more accurate translations of the Bible, it is called "Rivan." When researching the religions and myths of the region during that period, we find no mention of any deity named "Rivan." This has led some researchers to attempt to link the name "Rivan" with "Kivan," which means "Saturn" in Persian, but this connection seems inaccurate, as there is a significant difference in pronunciation and spelling between Kivan and Rivan.

What is surprising is that the name is very similar to that of a Hindu god associated with the morning star, *Ravana*, which means "roar of the lion." He is a fiery deity, known as "the king of demons" and the god of war in Hinduism. He is always depicted in statues and artworks as a god with many names and forms. This highlights the widespread worship of the morning star across ancient civilizations, in different cultures, long before the emergence of Judaism. Sometimes, this deity was symbolized by a five-pointed, six-pointed, or eight-pointed star.

When examining books on magic, such as those of *Wicca*, *Shamanism*, or the *Necronomicon*, we always find the symbol of the star engraved and accompanied by incantations and spells used as a means of communication with the underworld and summoning demons. Over the ages, this symbol has undergone many twists and turns, blending religion with magic and witchcraft. During certain periods of history, the horned god was worshipped for long stretches of time. In some eras, the morning star became a symbol of tyrannical states, placed on their flags, as with the symbol of the god *Moloch*, who demanded child sacrifices, and also with the symbol of *Ravana*, the great demon and Hindu god of war, who has many names and forms.

Now, returning to our main topic, after studying religious mythology, sacred texts, and ancient black magic documents, we were able to extract the key features of the worship of the demoness Lilith. We recognized her as a nocturnal being associated with sex and seduction, living in trees, and fond of child sacrifices, similar to the horned deity. The most prominent symbols linked to her worship include: the crescent moon, the lioness, the tree, the snake, the flame of fire, the owl, and the morning star.

We must carefully preserve these symbols so that we can trace them across civilizations and observe how they transformed from a demoness mentioned in Sumerian tablets and books of black magic into a goddess worshiped apart from Allah, even to this day, by sects far more numerous than one might imagine.

In the Quran, the word *Taghut* appears in several places, sometimes in the masculine singular form, as in *Surah An-Nahl*: *"And We certainly sent to every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid *Taghut*. Then some of them Allah guided, and some of them the straying was due.' So travel through the earth and observe how was the fate of the deniers."* (An-Nahl: 36)

And sometimes, *Taghut* appears in the plural form, as in *Surah Al-Baqarah*: *"But those who disbelieve, their allies are *Taghut*, who take them out of the light into darkness. They are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein forever."* (Al-Baqarah: 257)

However, there is a single verse in the Quran where *Taghut* (false deity or tyrant) is mentioned in the feminine form: *"And those who avoid *Taghut* (false deities) in worship and turn to Allah—for them is good news. So give good news to My servants."* (Az-Zumar: 17) Some interpreters argue that *Taghut* here refers to idols, but this interpretation seems imprecise. The word *idols* (*awthan*) is explicitly mentioned in other verses, such as: *"So shun the impurity of idols."* (Al-Hajj: 30) And: *"Say, ‘You have only taken idols instead of Allah.’"* (Al-‘Ankabut: 17) If the verse were referring to idols, it would have stated so directly, as seen in these other verses. This suggests that the feminine form of *Taghut* in this context carries a different meaning. Could it be referring to the female deity worshipped across all ancient civilizations and still revered today? This is what we will explore together.

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