Succubus and Mother of Demons
"It is forbidden for a man to sleep alone in a house, lest Lilith get hold of him." (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 151a)
The Great Isaiah Scroll
The Great Isaiah Scroll, 100 BCE, Ink on parchment, 22-25 cm x 734 cm., Jerusalem, The Israel Museum, Photograph by David Harris, Fair Use.
Lilith is only mentioned once by name in the entirety of the Hebrew Bible, where she is listed among the demons, spirits, and beasts who would wreak havoc on the day of divine vengeance. The same reference appears in a manuscript of the Book of Isaiah dated to 100 BCE, which is the most complete of the Dead Sea Scrolls:
Centuries later, both major parts of the Talmud (the Mishnah and the Gemara) build upon Lilith’s demonic status, portraying her as a nocturnal, vampiric succubus who takes the form of a beautiful woman with long hair and wings. As is customary for succubi, the talmudic Lilith preys on sleeping men and uses them to create demon children of her own. In this way, she symbolizes the connection between uncontrolled sexuality and female evil.
In the Zohar–one of the books of the Kabbalah (a 12th century compilation of esoteric teachings within Jewish mysticism)–Lilith is once again a succubus, but was promoted to divine royal status. Lilith rules alongside her second husband Samael (who she is repeatedly unfaithful to) in this adaptation, and becomes the mother of demons and all things evil and unholy. She is also compared to the feminine version of God, the Shekhinah. The Kabbalistic Lilith seduces, torments, and often murders mortal men, including her first husband Adam. To patriarchal rabbis, the prospect of a woman taking control of a man–or simply female agency outside the realm of male influence–was terrifying. Lilith became a manifestation of these fears:
“She adorns herself with many ornaments like a despicable harlot, and takes up her position at the crossroads to seduce the sons of man…Her ornaments for the seduction of the sons of man are: her hair is long and red like the rose, her cheeks are white and red, from her ears hang six ornaments, Egyptian cords and all the ornaments of the Land of the East hang from her nape. Her mouth is set like a narrow door, comely in its decor; her tongue is sharp like a sword, her words are smooth like oil, her lips red like a rose and sweetened by all the sweetness of the world. She is dressed in scarlet…Yon fool goes astray after her and drinks from the cup of wine and commits with her fornications and strays after her…She leaves him asleep on the couch, flies up to heaven, denounces him, takes her leave, and descends. That fool awakens and deems he can make sport with her as before, but she removes her ornaments and turns into a menacing figure. She stands before him clothed in garments of flaming fire, inspiring terror and making body and soul tremble, full of frightening eyes, in her hand a drawn sword dripping bitter drops. And she kills that fool and casts him into [Hell].” (Zohar i, 148a-b, Sitre Torah)
Magical Gem Intaglio
Magical Gem Intaglio, 4th century CE, Hematite, 22 mm x 3 mm x 35 mm., London, The British Museum, Creative Commons 4.0.
King Solomon was another one of Lilith’s intended victims, but despite her beauty and charm, he famously recognized her scheme and cast her out. This male triumph over female evil and temptation is immortalized in the Roman intaglio amulet pictured to the right. Side A depicts Solomon on a horse, stabbing a defenseless Lilith with a spear. Her hair is once again loose and long.