Lilith
I was going though some forums on vf.com the other day, when I came across a role-playing forum. It was based on the folklore surrounding a mythical being called Lilith. That captured my interest. I didn't join the forum as I don't usually go on onto online role-playing forums. But I did want to find out more on the topic.
After the first two hours or so of research, I came to know about the most popular Biblical story about Lilith, coming from Jewish folklore. It said that before Eve, Adam had another wife, Lilith. She said that she came from the same earth as he did and refused to lie beneath him. She said that they were equal to each other. She rejected Adam and left. God demanded the his angels to bring her back and to warn her that if she does not return one hundred of her children must die everyday. She did not agree to return. She became a demonic goddess. And as per God's command, one hundred demons perish everyday.
Lilith actually dates back to folklore from 4000BC, in Sumer to be precise. She was actually a storm demon or something of that sort named Lilitu. She, in some folklore, appeared as somewhat of a succubus. And in some, as a beautiful maiden who could not bear children and was created for the sole purpose of leading men astray. Lilith exists in many stories from many time periods. Always in a similar role.
Notice the underlined parts. A character, a mythical being, adapted from one tale into another, and from that into another. Always playing the same role, more or less. Depicting in every tale the evil side of a woman. An example always of how either women should stay in their conventional role (and under the control of men) or they will go astray. And using this excuse, women are still oppressed. Still now, people in some way or the other, believe women to have some sort of dormant but potent evil side to them. It is still believed that if women are given too much freedom they will go astray and therefore should not be given the complete freedom that is the right of an individual.
Lilith is a symbol created to show the evil nature of women that needs to be suppressed. But recently I've been thinking of putting up a painting in my room and I think 'Lilith by John Collier' is the one. To represent that I will never in my entire life stand for actions or judgments supporting this mentality. Even though Lilith was the negative character in the Jewish folktale, should all women not have done what she did?
After the first two hours or so of research, I came to know about the most popular Biblical story about Lilith, coming from Jewish folklore. It said that before Eve, Adam had another wife, Lilith. She said that she came from the same earth as he did and refused to lie beneath him. She said that they were equal to each other. She rejected Adam and left. God demanded the his angels to bring her back and to warn her that if she does not return one hundred of her children must die everyday. She did not agree to return. She became a demonic goddess. And as per God's command, one hundred demons perish everyday.
Lilith actually dates back to folklore from 4000BC, in Sumer to be precise. She was actually a storm demon or something of that sort named Lilitu. She, in some folklore, appeared as somewhat of a succubus. And in some, as a beautiful maiden who could not bear children and was created for the sole purpose of leading men astray. Lilith exists in many stories from many time periods. Always in a similar role.
Notice the underlined parts. A character, a mythical being, adapted from one tale into another, and from that into another. Always playing the same role, more or less. Depicting in every tale the evil side of a woman. An example always of how either women should stay in their conventional role (and under the control of men) or they will go astray. And using this excuse, women are still oppressed. Still now, people in some way or the other, believe women to have some sort of dormant but potent evil side to them. It is still believed that if women are given too much freedom they will go astray and therefore should not be given the complete freedom that is the right of an individual.
Lilith is a symbol created to show the evil nature of women that needs to be suppressed. But recently I've been thinking of putting up a painting in my room and I think 'Lilith by John Collier' is the one. To represent that I will never in my entire life stand for actions or judgments supporting this mentality. Even though Lilith was the negative character in the Jewish folktale, should all women not have done what she did?