Demons in Mandaeism

In Mandaeism, various beings inhabit the World of Darkness.

This Mandaic incantation bowl dated between the 5th and the 8th century is inscribed with a charm and would have been buried upside down in the house to imprison demons. In the collection of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland.

Types

According to the Right Ginza, the World of Darkness consists of many demons, dewis, and evil spirits, including:^[1]

hmurtha "amulet-spirit"
lilith
ʿkuri "temple-spirit"
priki "shrine-spirit"
patikri "idol-demon"
arkoni "archon"
malaki "angel"
nalai "vampire"
niuli "hobgoblin"
piga "misadventure demon"
pilgi "mutant demon"
latabi "devil"
lihani "net-spirit"
gadulta "ghost"
saṭani "Satan"

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

Main demons

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

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

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

In Book 15, Chapter 11 of the Right Ginza, the pillars of Jerusalem are named as:

ʿUsraʿil (Israel)
Yaqip (Jacob)
Adunai (Adonai)
Zatan (Satan)
Ṣihmai
Karkum

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

Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:^[6]

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

Krun, Hag, and Ur are depicted on the skandola, a ritual talismanic seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.^[6]

References

^ 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.

[Aldihisi_2008-1] Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.

[Häberl_2022-2] 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.

[GR_Saadi-3] 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.

[GR_Gelbert-4] Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.

[DC_8-5] Drower, Ethel S. (1950). Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories. Studi e Testi. Vol. 151. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.

[auto2-6] Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.

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