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Demons in Mandaeism

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:

Other types of demons mentioned in Book 18 of the Right Ginza are:

The Right Ginza describes them as:

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:

  • 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 (Å dum; Ashdum, AÅ¡dum) – a ruler of the underworld
  • Zahreil (ZahrÊ¿il) – daughter of Qin and wife of Hibil Ziwa
  • Zartai-Zartanai

Minor demons

Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:

  • Aá¹­irpan (Aá¹­arpan), literally "foliage," mentioned with Lupan in Book 3 of the Right Ginza
  • Lupan, mentioned with Aá¹­irpan 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 (Å iqlun), 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:

  • Baz
  • Miá¹­iaiel
  • Gargiel
  • Å ahra
  • Nufsai
  • El-Sfar the Small
  • Ṭabadaga
  • Zuá¹­
  • Gaá¹£iaiel
  • 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:

Pillars of Jerusalem

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

  • Ê¿UsraÊ¿il
  • Yaqip
  • Adunai
  • Zatan
  • á¹¢ihmai
  • 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).

Five Lords

Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:

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.

Skandola demons

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

See also

References