Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-28
ADAMS FIRST WIFE.
Revival Of Strangely Interesting OIL
Legend.


Among the mighty pictures with which
the genius of Michael Angelo has adorned
the Sistine chapel of Rome, perhaps none
attracts more general admiration than |
the Temptation and Expulsion. In the |
centre stands the fatal tree which brought |
"death into the world and all our VICE."
Around its trunk Is coile1 the serpent. |
out of whose tolds-or rather, forming a
part of them-rises the figure of a beau
tiful woman, who hands to the reclining
Eve the accused apple; while Adam,
leaning over Eve, seems more fascinated
by the fair temptress than by the golden
fruit. On the right, an angel is driving
from Paradise the unhappy PAIR, who fell
before temptation that none but angels
could resist. The serpent-woman is sup
posed to be mere fancy OF the artist,
but it is something much more interest
ing and important; for it may be said to
have originated in what Biblical critics
call the Zionist and Jehovist accounts of
the creation. In the first of these (Gene.
sis j., 27) we read: $50 God created man
in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created
he them" In the second Genesis IL,
81, 22l we read: "And the Lord God
caused deep sleep to fall upon Adam,
and he slept; and he took one of his RIBS,
and closed up the flesh instead thereof.
And of the rib, which the Lord God had
taken from man, made he a woman, and
brought her TO the man." This apparent
contradiction, or difference, gave rise to a
curious Hebrew myth which we will now
present-in condensed torm-as mar
rated by Mr.. NJ. D. Conway, in his
''Demonology and Devil Love-" That
author draws his material from Elsen-
menger's 'Entdeckes Judenthum, "where
it is accompanied by sample references
to rabbinlcal authorities"
The serpent-woman of the Sistine fres-
CO is none other than Lilith, the first
wife of Adam. The name is derived
from the Hebrew Lil, which means
'snight.'' 1t occurs in the Bible only
once-Isalah xxxiv., 14-where it is trans
lated "screech-owl." In the Vulgate it
is rendered "Lamia," aud in Luther's
Bible, "kobold," or goblin, ghost, night
specter. The legend says that Adams
first conversation with Lilith was devot-
ed to the question of matrimonial rights,
he claiming to be her superior and mas
ter. She denied the claim on the ground
that both were created at the same time,
which forbade the idea of any superior
ity or mastership on his part. The re-
suit was quarrel, followed by an eter-
nal separation. Lilith pronounced GER
tain magical words which brough her
wings, with which she few out of Eden
and out Of sight. Whereupon Adam
cried unto the Lord, saying, master of
the world, the woman whom thou didst
give me has flown away" Three angels
were then sent in search of the lost one.
They found her floating in the air over the
Red sea, but in answer to all their ar
guments in favor of return she said that
Paradise was no Paradise to her if she
was to be the servant of an autocratic
spouse. The angels went back and re-
ported, and were again sent. Again she
refused, and they then doomed her to be
the mother of many children, all of whom
would die in infancy. The terrible pen
: atty drove her to despair, and she was
about to commit suicide, when the celes.
tial messengers promised her-by way Of
compensation-that she should have full
power over all children from birth up to
the 18th day, she promising never to dis
, turb any babes who were under theil
protection. So the charm hung round
!. the necks of the Hebrew infants the
; three angels-Senoi, Sansenoi Samman
: gelof. Lillth is supposed to exercise
malignant care over all children borr
out of wedlock. She also has especla
power on the first day of the month anC
on the Sabbath evening. In old time
among the Jews it was believed tina
when child laughed in its sleep Lilitl
: was with it, and the little sleeper wa
then struck three blows on the nose; Thu
sentence being thrice repeated. "Awa!
. cursed Lilith thou hast no place here
. Adam, now the first grass-widower
= had Eve made for him out Of the rib
and the second wife, remembering he
humble origin, became that model O
obedience which all OF her daughters d
i not initiate. Meanwhile-so runs th
legend-the devils were created and thei
chief was fallen angel-Samsel- wh
. had been flaming serpent, leader of tn
Seraphim. He witnessed with envy an
hatred the happiness of the young coupl
: in Eden, and found in Lilith a read
: sympathizer and congenial companion
l. They were married, and celebrated thei
unhallowed nuptials by a conspirac
l. against Adam aud Eve. The Temptation
OF the latter was said to be the work c
Lillth, who persuaded the serpent o
{. guard at the gate of Eden to lend he
% his body, and in that body she did th
e deadly mischiof-and it is to be hopeG
8, fully satisfied her womanly wratl
e Hence the curse upon the serpent, whic
.e also may have included the keepin
sr of Lllith forever in the shape she ha
assumed. This probably was the or
B. gin of the notion, mentioned by a
l. ancient commentator, that while til
=, serpent was yet erect it had virgin.
{; head. It is 80 represented in some illu
rs trated medieval missals, from whence "
have no doubt Michael Angelo derive
his idea. Other traditions declare tn;
nt Lilith regained her original form; was a
re ways young, marvelously beautiful an
"a gorgeously dressed. She was-or is
10 what is now called decided blonde; an
her glorious golden hair an irresistab
Ii attraction. According to the same a.
thority she was the mother OF Leviathal
Asmodeus and all the other most celebr
m ted and aristocratic devils. Mephis
a opheles is thought to have had LiIith
his eye when he warns Faust against tt
= lovely witch who appears at the Walpur
he is night orgie. A more modern poe
m Rosetti, says:
ne "The rose and poppy are her flowers;
where
~ Is he not found, o, Lilith, whom shed see
~ And soft-shed kisses and soft sleep shall snar
~ Lo! as that youths eyes burned at thine,
LII went
Thy spell through him, and left his straig
)k neck bent,
av And round his heart one strangliDg gold
y hair"
J" The "Lamia" of John Keats is base
no on the story of serpentmaiden !.
Crete, whose earth bern husband wit
m cred and died in her embrace. The nan
he of Lamia was long used to brighten Ita
- ian children, as that of Lilith was
Hebrew nurses. Singularly enough,
~ one of the Egyptian sculptures in Il