Demons in Mandaeism

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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. Mandaic Incantation Bowl.jpg
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.

Contents

Types

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]

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: [3] [4]

Minor demons

Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are: [4]

Demons mentioned in the Diwan Abatur who often accompany Ur and Shdum include: [5]

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]

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). [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]

See also

Related Research Articles

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In Mandaeism, Rūha is the queen of the World of Darkness or underworld. She rules the underworld together with her son Ur, the king of the World of Darkness, and her entourage of the seven planets and twelve constellations, who are also her offspring with Ur.

In Mandaeism, Ptahil also known as Ptahil-Uthra, is the Fourth Life, the third of three emanations from the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi, after Yushamin and Abatur. Ptahil-Uthra alone does not constitute the demiurge but only fills that role since he is viewed as the creator of the material world in the Ginza Rabba, often holding an inherently malicious character.

An uthra or ʿutra is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras ." Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the yazata of Zoroastrianism. According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life."

In Mandaeism, ʿUr is the king of the World of Darkness or underworld. He is the son of Ruha, the queen of the underworld, and her brother Gaf, one of the giants in the World of Darkness described in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Ur is typically portrayed as a large, ferocious dragon or snake. He is represented by the image of a serpent on the skandola talisman.

Mandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism.

In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia is an uthra sent by the Great Life as a messenger to John the Baptist. Manda d-Hayyi is considered to be the most important uthra, since he is the one bringing manda to Earth (Tibil).

In Mandaean cosmology, a maṭarta is a "station" or "toll house" that is located between the World of Light from Tibil (Earth). It has variously been translated as "watch-station", "toll-station", "way-station", or "purgatory". Maṭartas are guarded by various uthras and demons. Ruha, the queen of the underworld, is the ruler or guardian of one of the maṭartas.

In Mandaeism, Hibil or Hibil Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.

In Mandaeism, the World of Darkness is the underworld located below Tibil (Earth). It is ruled by its king Ur the Leviathan and its queen Ruha, mother of the seven planets and twelve constellations.

In Mandaeism, Gaf or Gap is the male consort of Ruha, the queen of the World of Darkness or underworld. His son is Ur, king of the World of Darkness. He is mentioned in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Gaf is typically portrayed as a giant.

In Mandaeism, Shilmai or Shalmai (Šalmai) is an uthra who serves as one of the two guardian spirits of Piriawis, the heavenly yardna (river) in the World of Light. In the Ginza Rabba and Qulasta, he is usually mentioned together with Nidbai.

In Mandaean cosmology, Piriawis, also known as the Yardna Rabba, is the sacred life-giving river (yardna) of the World of Light. It is the heavenly counterpart of rivers on Earth (Tibil), which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of the heavenly Piriawis.

In Mandaeism, Yawar Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. He is the personification of light.

The Mandaic word mana (ࡌࡀࡍࡀ) is a term that is roughly equivalent to the philosophical concept of nous. It has been variously translated as "mind", "soul", "treasure", "Garment", "Intellect", "Intelligence", "Heart", "Spirit", "Being"; or alternatively as "nous", "consciousness", or "vessel".

In Mandaeism, Anathan or Anatan is a demon in the World of Darkness or underworld. He is the husband of Qin, a demoness who is the mother of Ruha and Zahreil. Hibil Ziwa encounters Anathan during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza. In the aforementioned chapter, Anathan is described as "the warrior of darkness" and also as a "warlike giant." Together with Qin, the couple is described as the "giants of darkness".

In Mandaeism, Hag and Mag are a pair of demons that are usually mentioned together. Hag is a male demon, while Mag is a female demon. Hibil Ziwa encounters Hag and Mag during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza, where they are described as "the two manas of darkness." Hag is represented by the image of a scorpion on the skandola talisman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skandola</span> Talismanic seal used by Mandaeans

The skandola is a ritual talismanic seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.

In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ is an uthra who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba or Nbaṭ Ziwa "the Radiant Nbaṭ", literally "Radiance Burst Forth". In The Thousand and Twelve Questions , he is also known as Kušṭa Yaqra "Solemn Truth".

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Mandaeism.

References

  1. ↑ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  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.
  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.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN   9780958034630.
  5. ↑ Drower, Ethel S. (1950). Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories. Studi e Testi. Vol. 151. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
  6. 1 2 3 Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
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