The Myth of Lilith

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that the myth of Lilith was created to justify the suppression of women in Jewish culture. The author begins by recounting the history of the myth. It continues to present its literary analysis. The paper also touches upon the myth versus creation story in Genesis. It also explains the modern day implications of the Lilith story. In conclusion, the author of the paper, offers a personal opinion on the topic.

Table of Contents:
History of the Lilith Myth
The Alphabet of Ben-Sira
Analysis of the Myth
Myth versus Creation Story
Modern Day Implications of the Lilith Story
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"The Alphabet of Ben-Sira, believed to have been written sometime between the 7th and the 11th centuries AD, is the first fully developed account of the mythology of Lilith. The authors of the Alphabet are not known but are believed to have been Jewish rabbi of Arabic origins. According to the Alphabet, when God decided to create a female companion for Adam, he created the first woman out of earth in the same way as he had created the first man, except that he used the earth's clay for creating Adam and slime for creating Lilth. The pair immediately began to quarrel because Lilith refused to submit into a subservient role to Adam. In specifically sexual terms, Lilith refused to assume the "missionary position" during sexual intercourse as demanded by Adam. Refusing to compromise, Lilith uttered the secret name of God, which gave her the power to fly away from the Garden of Eden, settling on the Red Sea coast, where she mated with various demons, giving birth to countless other lilins."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bronznick, Tr. Norman, David Stern & Mark Jay Mirsky. "The Story of Lilith: The Alphabet of Ben Sira." Alan Humm's Lilith Page. n.d. March 2, 2006 <http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/Lilith/alphabet.html>
• Grenn-Scott, Deborah. "Understanding Lilith" Awakened Woman: e-magazine. September 19, 2000. March 2, 2006. <http://www.awakenedwoman.com/lilith.htm>
• Humm, Alan. "Does Isa. 34 refer to Lilith?" Alan Humm's Lilith Page. May 6, 1996. March 2, 2006 <http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/Lilith/isaiah_dsc.html>
• Lynn, Mary. "The Oldest History of Lilith." Witchcraft Dawning. n.d. March 2, 2006. <http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/lilith.html>
• Noble, Vicki. Shakti Woman: Feeling Our Fire, Healing our World. San Francisco: Harper, 1991

More papers on The Myth of Lilith:

• Research Paper # 97190 : "The Image of Lilith"
• Comparison Essay # 73771 : "The Myth of Psychotherapy" and "Hunger of Memory"
• Book Review # 21650 : " Henshall's "The Myth of Absolutism, Change and Continuity in Early Modern European Monarchy","

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