Lilith is a female figure in Mesopotamian and Judaic mythology, the first wife of Adam, and a supposed primordial she-demon. She is described in the Zohar as being a “hot fiery female who first cohabited with man”. Lilith was created alongside Adam, at the same time and from the same clay. When Adam insisted upon having sex with only himself on top, and demanded that Lilith be submissive and obey him in all matters, Lilith refused and expected to be treated as an equal. Lilith eventually left Adam to live alone in a cave. She and Adam were the only two humans on earth, so she was now alone. And she was pregnant with his children.

Because of her refusal to submit to Adam, God sent three angels to visit Lilith and convince her to return to Adam. She continued to refuse. The angels then killed all of her children that she had given birth to as a warning, and encouraged her again to return to Adam. Devastated over the loss of her children, Lilith agreed to return to Adam. But upon her return, she found Adam copulating with another woman, Eve, who was created as a lesser being from Adam’s rib.

While heart-broken from the death of her children and infidelity of her mate, Lilith was approached by Satan and asked to be his wife. In her grief, she accepted. She then became the Empress of Hell, and the mother of demons.

Lilith symbolizes women’s liberation and independence. She is called upon for strength by women in times of oppression by men.