Lilith

Lilith is a figure found in Jewish folklore, most prominently in the medieval Kabbalistic text, the Alphabet of Ben Sira. According to this tradition, Lilith was the first wife of Adam, created by God at the same time and from the same earth as him. Unlike Eve, who was created from Adam's rib, Lilith was considered his equal, also formed from the dirt.

The texts describe Lilith as refusing to be subservient to Adam. She insisted on equality in their relationship and demanded to lie on top of him during intercourse. When Adam resisted this, Lilith, uttering God's ineffable name, flew away from the Garden of Eden. God then sent three angels to bring her back, but she refused, choosing exile and independence over submission.

As a consequence of her defiance, Lilith is often depicted as a demon in later folklore. She is associated with seduction, child-killing, and the night. The tales suggest she haunts the night and preys on infants, hence the tradition of amulets worn to protect newborns. Her story is interpreted in various ways, sometimes as a symbol of female rebellion and independence, and at other times as a cautionary tale about disobedience. Lilith has also been adopted into modern occultism and feminist spirituality as a complex and powerful female archetype.