The Lilith
Lilith is an invisible demon who can probably take the form of a young woman. Her name is derived from “lil” (wind/invisible force). She lived in the Huluppu tree, which serves as a gateway to the netherworld, and probably lured people there through deception—presumably so that gods could take over their bodies. In the Etana myth (ca. 2850 BC), she is mentioned as a “wind animal.” Around 2600 BC, Gilgamesh drove her into the mountains when he cut down the tree.
The Lilith
Lilith’s Appearance
Lilith’s appearance is disputed. The Akkadian name of Lilith is “Lilitu.” The term Lilitu derives from the root “lil,” which means ‘wind’ or ‘invisible force,’ and the ending “itu,” which indicates belonging. The Lilith thus belongs to the invisible forces.
An alternative term for Lilith is “Ki-sikil-lil-la-ke.” In the myth Inanna and the Huluppu Tree, this term is used to designate the being that lives in the Huluppu tree besides the snake and the eagle. Here “Ki-sikil” literally means “young woman” and “lil” means “wind” or “invisible force.” Thus Lilith would be an invisible demon that can take the form of a young woman.
An alternative translation of the term “Ki-sikil-lil-la-ke” is night owl or screech owl. This translation stems from the fact that one can hardly imagine a young girl living in a tree and that Lilith, like the eagle and snake, must have an animal form. However, this translation is not tenable: Lilith does not live in the Huluppu tree because she likes to live in trees, but because this tree is the gate to the netherworld for her.
In summary, Lilith is probably an invisible demon that can take the form of a young woman.
Lilith’s Tasks as Demon
Lilith is a demon that lives in the Huluppu tree. According to the myth Enki and Ereshkigal, the Huluppu tree serves both as a gate to heaven and as a gate to the netherworld. Since the eagle can transport humans to heaven and the snake has the task of guarding the tree, it is reasonable that Lilith’s task is to transport humans to the netherworld.
Lilith’s Personality
As derived above, Lilith is likely a demon who has powers with which she can kill humans and transport their souls to the netherworld. That she can take the form of an innocent young woman suggests that she accomplishes this through deception. The reason why Lilith did this is probably that the gods needed either the soul or the body of the person.
Lilith’s Development
The possibility of translating the syllable “lil” with wind suggests that the first mention of Lilith takes place in the Etana myth, which plays shortly after the deluge, i.e., around 2850 BC. It is written there:
“In the crown [of the Huluppu tree] the eagle [Anzu] settled, at its root the [Usumgallu] snake. Daily they observed the wind animals [the Liliths?].”
Before the eagle and snake become active, thus only Lilith is active first. Possibly Lilith had transported human souls to the underworld at this time so that the gods could incarnate in their human bodies to consolidate the land.
The second mention of Lilith in Sumerian mythology is found in the myth Inanna and the Huluppu Tree, which takes place during Gilgamesh’s lifetime, i.e., around 2600 BC. There it is confirmed that the Huluppu tree was occupied by an eagle, a snake, and by Lilith. When the Huluppu tree was felled, Lilith was driven into the mountains.