The Oldest Lilith Mythology

The first mentions of Lilith were long before Christianity, or even Judaism emerged; perhaps before even 4000 BC, which is when mythologists and historians have dated her first appearance. Then, she was called “Lilitu”, an ancient storm demoness, who was said to be the bearer of disease, and illness on the winds, of old Sumeria. The malevolent female has always been a presence in religious beliefs, regardless of age. Many believe this is because women have always been the symbol of threat to a man’s supremacy over the earth. The mysteries of female sexuality, reproduction, and birth have always been a source of much mythical speculation. The idea of a woman turning her powers of femininity and sexuality against mankind have always been feared, and still are today.

The names that Lilith has possessed over the years, such as Lilitu, or other terms with the “Lil” prefix, come from the ancient Proto-Semitic languages, a root word for nocturn female, night woman, etc. Another theory, which comes from the interpretation of Lilitu as a wind bearing plague, was that Lil, or the LYL prefix instead meant “lady air” and was perhaps not malevolent, so much as a darker force of nature. With this translation in mind, Lilith became a sort of guardian of night birds, owls for example, which is later coined in the Bible as a “screech owl”.

In the former translation, Lilith being the malevolent night and wind demoness, she also spawned the race of “Lilitu demons”. These pre-dated the female demon, and were more akin to incubi; the were called Lila, or Lilu, and their main purpose was to bring nightmares or fear to women in their sleep. Lilitu was also once called the “hand of Inanna” because it was said that Inanna, in her anger, would send the goddess Lilitu to the earth to seduce, and lead men astray.