Inhabitants of the World of Darkness in Mandaeism
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 .
In
Mandaeism , various beings inhabit the
World of Darkness .
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 "
The Right Ginza describes them as:
haškia "gloomy"
ʿkumia "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:
[2]
[3]
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:
[3]
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:
[4]
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:
[3]
Pillars of Jerusalem
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).
[3]
Five Lords
Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:
[5]
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.
[5]
Skandola demons
Krun ,
Hag , and
Ur are depicted on the
skandola , a ritual
talismanic
seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.
[5]
See also
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