4261 – Lilith Goddess statue

Physical description:

laser cut from wood

Museum classification:

Goddess

Size:

H-23cm x W-9.5cm x D-4cm

Information:

Wooden laser cut statue of the winged Goddess Lilith with a serpent wrapped around her and flanked by two owls

In some versions of the Bible/Hebrew mythology, Lilith is Adam's first wife.  She was made from clay at the same time as Adam and was his equal (not made from his rib and his subordinate like Eve).  She was disobedient/independent.  Medieval legends said that all witches were derived from Lilith.  

Lilith is now recognised as a Goddess by many modern witches.

See also: https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/object/lilith-painting-reproduction-art-print/

The earliest representations of Lilith seem to be as a great winged Bird Goddess, a wind spirit, or one associated with the Sumerian, Ninlil, Goddess of the Grain, and wife to Enlil. As the “hand of Inanna”, Lilith was notorious for bringing men from the street and fields of war to Inanna’s temple for holy sexual rites, in which the intention was to civilize the people. The sacred sexual customs were, in fact, considered the greatest gift of Inanna.

As Adam’s first wife, however, Lilith really got into trouble with the patriarchy. She had the audacity to want to be treated as Adam’s equal. According to Hebrew mythology, the Babylonian Talmud, the Zohar, and the Alphabet of Ben Sira, Lilith refused to lie below Adam, and thus set the archetypal example for later feminists. God allegedly threatened her by decreeing if she did not submit to Adam, that “one hundred of her children would die every day.” Lilith chose exile.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

wood

Wooden laser cut statue of the winged Goddess Lilith with a serpent wrapped around her and flanked by two owls

In some versions of the Bible/Hebrew mythology, Lilith is Adam's first wife.  She was made from clay at the same time as Adam and was his equal (not made from his rib and his subordinate like Eve).  She was disobedient/independent.  Medieval legends said that all witches were derived from Lilith.  

Lilith is now recognised as a Goddess by many modern witches.

See also: https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/object/lilith-painting-reproduction-art-print/

The earliest representations of Lilith seem to be as a great winged Bird Goddess, a wind spirit, or one associated with the Sumerian, Ninlil, Goddess of the Grain, and wife to Enlil. As the “hand of Inanna”, Lilith was notorious for bringing men from the street and fields of war to Inanna’s temple for holy sexual rites, in which the intention was to civilize the people. The sacred sexual customs were, in fact, considered the greatest gift of Inanna.

As Adam’s first wife, however, Lilith really got into trouble with the patriarchy. She had the audacity to want to be treated as Adam’s equal. According to Hebrew mythology, the Babylonian Talmud, the Zohar, and the Alphabet of Ben Sira, Lilith refused to lie below Adam, and thus set the archetypal example for later feminists. God allegedly threatened her by decreeing if she did not submit to Adam, that “one hundred of her children would die every day.” Lilith chose exile.