Demons in Mandaeism
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In Mandaeism, various beings inhabit the World of Darkness.
Types
[edit]According to the Right Ginza, the World of Darkness consists of many demons, dewis, and evil spirits, including:[1]
Other types of demons mentioned in Book 18 of the Right Ginza are:[2]
- dagalta "female demon"
- diba < Middle Persian dēw
- patikrā < Old Persian patikāra 'sculpture, image'
- šidā < Akkadian šēdu 'a protective genius with the head of a man and the body of a winged lion'
The Right Ginza describes them as:
- haškia "gloomy"
- kumia "black"
- ṭupšania "filthy"
- mriddia "rebellious"
- rgizia "furious"
- zidania "wrathful"
- zihirania "venomous"
- saklia "foolish"
- ndidia "repulsive"
- ṣahnia "stinking"
- zapuria "putrid"
- harašia "mute"
- ṭriṣia "deaf"
- ṭmimia "insensible"
- tahmia "dull"
- algia "stuttering"
- dugia "unhearing"
- gugia "babbling"
- pigia "idiots"
- šgišia "frightful"
- laiadita "ignorant"
- haṣipia "arrogant"
- hamimia "hot-headed"
- taqipia "powerful"
- haripia "harsh"
- rugzania "ill-tempered"
- raktania "lustful"
- bnia zma "children of blood"
Demons in the Ginza Rabba
[edit]Main demons
[edit]Other than Ur, Ruha and her entourage of the 7 planets and 12 constellations, some infernal beings mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:[3][4]
- Anathan (Anatan) – husband of Qin; described as a "warrior" and "war-like" in Book 5, Chapter 1 of the Right Ginza
- Gaf and Gafan (Gap and Gapan)
- Giu (Giuo)
- Hag and Mag (Hagh and Magh) – a male and female pair of demons, respectively
- Krun (Karun)
- Qin – queen of darkness, mother of Ruha, grandmother of Ur; one of her epithets is Sumqaq
- Shdum (Šdum; Ashdum, Ašdum) – a ruler of the underworld
- Zahreil (Zahrʿil) – daughter of Qin and wife of Hibil Ziwa
- Zartai-Zartanai
Minor demons
[edit]Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:[4]
- Aṭirpan (Aṭarpan), literally "foliage," mentioned with Lupan in Book 3 of the Right Ginza
- Lupan, mentioned with Aṭirpan in Book 3 of the Right Ginza
- Himun, described as a "man" in Book 5, Chapter 2 and Book 6 of the Right Ginza; one of the matarta guards
- Karipiun (Karafiun), described as a "devourer" in Book 5, Chapter 3 of the Right Ginza
- Karkum, described as a son of Ur in Book 4 of the Right Ginza
- Shiqlun (Šiqlun), mentioned in Book 15, Chapter 6 of the Right Ginza
- Zamur, described as an "evil spirit" in Book 8 of the Right Ginza
Demons mentioned in the Diwan Abatur who often accompany Ur and Shdum include:[5]
- Baz
- Miṭiaiel
- Gargiel
- Šahra
- Nufsai
- El-Sfar the Small
- Ṭabadaga
- Zuṭ
- Gaṣiaiel
- Ṭarfan
- Zamriel
- Qardum
- Simiaiil
Right Ginza 5.1
[edit]In Book 5, Chapter 1 of the Right Ginza (also known as the "Book of the Underworld"), Hibil Ziwa descends the worlds of the "kings" and "giants of darkness" in the following order:[4]
- Zartai-Zartanai and his wife Amamit (an epithet of Libat, or Venus)
- Hag and Mag, the two manas of darkness
- Gap and Gapan, the mighty giants of darkness
- Anatan and Qin
- Šdum (Ašdum), king of darkness
- Giu
- Krun, King of Darkness, great mountain of flesh (ṭura rba ḏ-bisra)
Pillars of Jerusalem
[edit]In Book 15, Chapter 11 of the Right Ginza, the pillars of Jerusalem are named as:
Some of these names are also associated with beings in the World of Darkness, such as Karkum and Adunai (another name for Šamiš or the Sun).[4]
Five Lords
[edit]Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:[6]
- Zartai-Zartanai
- Hag and Mag
- Gap and Gapan
- Šdum
- Krun
The paired demons are considered to rule together as single lords, since Mag and Gapan are female consorts who are always with their male consorts Hag and Gap, respectively.[6]
Skandola demons
[edit]Krun, Hag, and Ur are depicted on the skandola, a ritual talismanic seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.[6]
See also
[edit]- Incantation bowl
- Mandaic lead rolls
- List of Mandaic manuscripts
- Mesopotamian demons
- Demons in Judaism
- Christian demonology
References
[edit]- ^ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- ^ Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
- ^ Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash (2019). "Glossary". Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book (2 ed.). Drabsha.
- ^ a b c d Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
- ^ Drower, Ethel S. (1950). Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories. Studi e Testi. Vol. 151. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
- ^ a b c Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.