# Demons in Mandaeism

In Mandaeism, various beings inhabit the World of Darkness.

## Types

According to the Right Ginza, the World of Darkness consists of many demons, dewis, and evil spirits, including:
* 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"
Other types of demons mentioned in Book 18 of the Right Ginza are:
* dagalta "female demon"
* diba < Middle Persian dēw
* patikrā < Old Persian patikāra 'sculpture, image'
* šidā < Akkadian šēdu 'a protective genius with the head of a man and the body of a winged lion'
The Right Ginza describes them as:
* haškia "gloomy"
* kumia "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 Rabba
### Main demons

Other than Ur, Ruha and her entourage of the 7 planets and 12 constellations, some infernal beings mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:
* 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 (Šdum; Ashdum, Ašdum) – a ruler of the underworld
* Zahreil (Zahrʿil) – daughter of Qin and wife of Hibil Ziwa
* Zartai-Zartanai

### Minor demons

Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:
* 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 (Šiqlun), mentioned in Book 15, Chapter 6 of the Right Ginza
* Zamur, described as an "evil spirit" in Book 8 of the Right Ginza
Demons mentioned in the Diwan Abatur who often accompany Ur and Shdum include:
* Baz
* Miṭiaiel
* Gargiel
* Šahra
* Nufsai
* El-Sfar the Small
* Ṭabadaga
* Zuṭ
* Gaṣiaiel
* Ṭarfan
* Zamriel
* Qardum
* Simiaiil

### Right Ginza 5.1

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:
* 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 Jerusalem

In Book 15, Chapter 11 of the Right Ginza, the pillars of Jerusalem are named as:
* ʿUsraʿil
* Yaqip
* Adunai
* Zatan
* 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).

## Five Lords

Mandaeans also consider the "Five Lords of the World of Darkness" to be:
* 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.

## Skandola demons

Krun, Hag, and Ur are depicted on the skandola, a ritual talismanic seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.