by Margi B. in 2004-2005, from LilithGate Website
Most materials I have found relevant to Lilith focus solely on the demonized aspects of her character. Lilith, however, has less than obvious origins in angelic mythology. While there is not a specific “angel named Lilith” there are clues that point to her origins sharing angelic traits and similar functions as the Cherubim.
The paradox of the demonic and the angelic contained in Lilith seems rather conflicting until I came across an explanation in the Zohar.
Quoting Zohar 3:76b-77a
“Therefore, all the spirits and demons have one half from man below, and the other half from the angels of the supernal realm.”
It appears that after uttering the Ineffable Name of God that Lilith then became half angel and half human, flying away on heavenly wings and by default becoming a “demonic” entity. However, Lilith’s specific “Cherubim“ qualities seem to appear after she left Eden, and offering the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge to Eve.
Demons: The Pagan Gods of Hell – Library of Rickandria
While looking through Alan Humm’s Lilith pages, I studied the pictures of Lilith that relate to the Serpent in the Garden of Eden that tempted Adam and Eve. Most intriguing was the Cherub depiction of the Serpent, while all the rest are clearly feminine in form.
I found another picture of Lilith as the Serpent from the same time period for comparison:
How is Lilith connected or related to the Cherubim? I searched through Alan Humm’s older sources from the Zohar to discover that Lilith appears to originate from an energy, or quality of the Cherubim’s flaming swords:
Quoting from Zohar 1:119b
“She approached the gates of Paradise on earth, and saw the Cherubim guarding the gates of Paradise, and sat down facing the Flaming Sword, for she originated from that flame. When that flame revolved, she fled.”
Lilith’s earliest connection to the Cherubim has roots in Mesopotamia. Various definitions of “Cherub“ are proposed to be “to be blessed” (to be propitious or blessed – a name applied to spirits who served the Gods as advisors and intermediaries [De Vaux, 1961]) [1] and “to be near“ (near ones, familiars, personal servants, bodyguards, courtiers) [3]. The earliest representations of Cherubs were protective spirits, and guardians of the Gods in temples where they were carved.
That would designate Lilith as guardian of the Tree of Knowledge. Cherubim were also associated with great wisdom and keepers of knowledge and records – could this be why Lilith as the Serpent had the power to offer the symbolic source of knowledge?
Also intriguing, is that the Cherubim guard the fixed stars, and the fixed constellations. In a previous essay, I explained how Lilith governs Algol, a fixed star in the constellation of Taurus. This definitely solidifies the link between Lilith and the Cherubim.
Algol
Arabic name, Ras al-Ghul, or the “Demon’s Head.” or, “The Demon,” can be seen between the constellations Perseus and Pegasus. Today it is classified as the beta star in Perseus.
The Hebrews identified this star in two ways: Rosh ha Satan or, “Satan’s Head,” or, Lilith. Lilith is referenced in Isaiah 34:14 who describes the destruction wrought by an angry Jehovah which leaves the land so desolate that Lilith translated as “the screech owl,” ” shall also settle there and find a place for herself.” The Interlinear Bible.
The Greeks referred to the star as the “Eye of the Medusa.” The star appears in Ptolemy’s Catalogue as “the bright one in the Gorgon’s Head.”
La Hire, Phillipe, Planispehere Celeste, Paris, 1705
From the Earth, Algol appears to blink every 68 hours 48 mins 55 secs. An observer over a period of two to three days will see the star blink.
The blinking is caused by mutual eclipse of a pair of stars (binary) which we see as one star. The ancients, by general agreement, depicted Algol as a malevolent star which was thought to be the cause of sudden death.
Perhaps Lilith is an anti-Cherub – instead of protecting, she preys. Instead of protecting knowledge, she gives it out freely.
Also, The Ancient Fragment of the Key of Solomon has some particularly interesting information concerning Lilith, Cherubim, and the bull (Algol is in the constellation of Taurus):
“The ninth Number is nine.
The ninth Sephira is Yesod, or the fundamental principle.
“The Spirits of Yesod are the Cherubim or Angels, those powers which fecundate the earth, and which are represented in Hebrew symbolism under the form of bulls.
Their empire is that of fecundity.
They correspond to true ideas.
“They have for adversaries the Gamaliel or obscene, whose Queen is Lilith, the Demon of debaucheries.”
The Key of Solomon: Appendices: Ancient Fragment of the Key of Solomon
Footnotes
- Cherub – Wikipedia
- Cherub – Jewish Encyclopedia
- Cherubim – Catholic Encyclopedia