Lilith

Nationality/Culture

Jewish

Pronunciation

LIL-ith

Alternate Names

Lilitu

Appears In

The Talmud, The Alphabet of Ben-Ska, Jewish legends

Lineage

Created by God

Character Overview

In Jewish mythology Lilith was a female demon who killed newborn children in the night. She was associated with an ancient Babylonian (pronounced bab-uh-LOH-nee-uhn) demon called Lilitu, whose name often appeared in magical spells. According to a Jewish legend that appeared around the eighth century ce, Lilith was the original wife of Adam, the first man created by God. She often quarreled with Adam and eventually left him. God sent three angels—Senoy, Sansenoy, and Semangelof—to find Lilith and bring her back. They found her at the Red Sea, where she was giving birth daily to numerous demons. When Lilith refused to return to Adam, God punished her by causing one hundred of her children to die each day. He then created Eve to be Adam's companion.

Furious at her punishment, Lilith began to kill the newborn babies of others. Parents could protect their children from her attacks by placing near the child an amulet, or charmed object, bearing the names of the three angels sent to find her. Through medieval times, Jewish people often kept amulets to ward off Lilith and her demon children, the lilim.

Lilith in Context

The myth of Lilith as Adam's first wife can be viewed as a cautionary tale to disobedient wives in ancient Jewish culture. Lilith is described as arguing with her husband and leaving him after he refuses to accept her as an equal. Lilith's negative qualities led to her giving birth to demons— a violation of all that is considered natural and right. This reflects the view that women were meant to obey their husbands, not try and function as their equals.

Key Themes and Symbols

In Jewish legend, the most well-known tale of Lilith paints her as a symbol of disobedience and conflict. She represents a violation of the natural and proper order of things, as shown by her abandonment of her husband and her delivery of demon children.

Lilith in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life

In ancient times, Lilith was depicted as a wicked creature. In modern times, however, Lilith has become something of a symbol for feminists. Her insistence on equality with Adam, once viewed negatively, is now seen by many as a trait worthy of praise. It is in this spirit that Lilith's name has been used by an award-winning Jewish feminist magazine, as well as an annual musical fair focusing on women performers, which occurred in the late 1990s.

Read, Write, Think, Discuss

In recent decades, women's rights have become an important issue in many countries. It is only within the past century that American women were granted the right to vote. How do you think this relatively recent shift affects modern views of ancient mythologies? Do you think ancient myths should be adjusted for modern readers in order to offer a more balanced image of women in ancient cultures? Why or why not?

SEE ALSO Adam and Eve; Angels; Devils and Demons; Semitic Mythology