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]

Illustrations of various demons in the Scroll of Abatur (DC 8), including Sdum, Baz, Mitiaiel, and Gargiel MS DC 8 - demons.jpg
Illustrations of various demons in the Scroll of Abatur (DC 8), including Šdum, Baz, Miṭiaiel, and Gargiel

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

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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