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Demons in Mandaeism
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In Mandaeism, various beings inhabit the World of Darkness.

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.
TypesEdit

According to the Right Ginza, the World of Darkness consists of many demons, dewis,
and evil spirits, including:[1]

hmurtha "amulet-spirit"
lilith
ʿkuri "temple-spirit"
priki "shrine-spirit"
patikri "idol-demon"
arkoni "archon"
malaki "angel"
nalai "vampire"
niuli "hobgoblin"
piga "misadventure demon"
pilgi "mutant demon"
latabi "devil"
lihani "net-spirit"
gadulta "ghost"
saṭani "Satan"

The Right Ginza describes them as:

haškia "gloomy"
ʿkumia "black"
ṭupšania "filthy"
mriddia "rebellious"
rgizia "furious"
zidania "wrathful"
zihirania "venomous"
saklia "foolish"
ndidia "repulsive"
ṣahnia "stinking"
zapuria "putrid"
harašia "mute"
ṭriṣia "deaf"
ṭmimia "insensible"
tahmia "dull"
algia "stuttering"
dugia "unhearing"
gugia "babbling"
pigia "idiots"
šgišia "frightful"
laiadita "ignorant"
 haṣipia "arrogant"
hamimia "hot-headed"
taqipia "powerful"
haripia "harsh"
rugzania "ill-tempered"
raktania "lustful"
bnia zma "children of blood"

Demons in the Ginza RabbaEdit

Main demonsEdit

Other than Ur, Ruha and her entourage of the 7 planets and 12 constellations, some
infernal beings mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:[2][3]

Anathan (Anatan) – husband of Qin; described as a "warrior" and "war-like" in

Book 5, Chapter 1 of the Right Ginza
Gaf and Gafan (Gap and Gapan)
Giu (Giuo)
Hag and Mag (Hagh and Magh) – a male and female pair of demons, respectively
Krun (Karun)
Qin – queen of darkness, mother of Ruha, grandmother of Ur; one of her epithets
is Sumqaq
Shdum (Ashdum) – a ruler of the underworld
Zahreil (Zahrʿil) – daughter of Qin and wife of Hibil Ziwa
Zartai-Zartanai

Minor demonsEdit

Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:[3]

Aṭirpan (Aṭarpan), literally "foliage," mentioned with Lupan in Book 3 of the

Right Ginza
Lupan, mentioned with Aṭirpan in Book 3 of the Right Ginza
Himun, described as a "man" in Book 5, Chapter 2 and Book 6 of the Right Ginza;
one of the matarta guards
Karipiun (Karafiun), described as a "devourer" in Book 5, Chapter 3 of the
Right Ginza
Karkum, described as a son of Ur in Book 4 of the Right Ginza
Shiqlun, mentioned in Book 15, Chapter 6 of the Right Ginza
Zamur, described as an "evil spirit" in Book 8 of the Right Ginza

Right Ginza 5.1Edit

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:[3]

Zartai-Zartanai and his wife Amamit (an epithet of Libat, or Venus)

Hag and Mag, the two manas of darkness
Gap and Gapan, the mighty giants of darkness
Anatan and Qin
Šdum (Ašdum), king of darkness
Giu
Krun, King of Darkness, great mountain of flesh (ṭura rba ḏ-bisra)

Pillars of JerusalemEdit

In Book 15, Chapter 11 of the Right Ginza, the pillars of Jerusalem are named as:
 ʿUsraʿil (Israel)
Yaqip (Jacob)
Adunai (Adonai)
Zatan (Satan)
Ṣihmai
Karkum

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).[3]
Five LordsEdit

Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:[4]

Zartai-Zartanai
Hag and Mag
Gap and Gapan
Šdum
Krun

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.[4]
Skandola demons
See also
References
Last edited 5 months ago by LGLou
Related articles

Hibil

Qin (Mandaeism)

Anathan

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