So, there is more than one Lilith?
From the same link I provided above, I read this:
Etymology
Hebrew Lilit, Akkadian;tu are female nisba adjectives from the Proto-Semitic root LYL "night," literally translating to nocturnal "female night being/demon", although cuneiform inscriptions where; and tu refers to disease-bearing wind spirits exist.
Another possibility is association not with "night" but with "wind," thus identifying the Akkadian Lil-itu as a loan from the Sumerian lil, "air", specifically from NIN.LIL "lady air," goddess of the South wind (and wife of Enlil) and itud, "moon."
The Akkadian masculine l� shows no nisba suffix and has been compared to Sumerian (kiskil-) lilla.
Lilitu demons
The earliest reference to a demon similar to Lilith and companion of Lillake/Lilith is on the Sumerian king list, where Gilgamesh's father is named as Lillu. Little is known of Lillu ("Wind[wer]man"; or Lilu, Lila) and he was said to disturb women in their sleep and had functions of an incubus, while Lilitu appeared to men in their erotic dreams. Such qualities are further suggested by the Semitic associations made with the names Lila and Lilitu, namely those of lalu, or wandering about, and lulu, meaning lasciviousness.
The Assyrian Lilitu were said to prey upon children and women, and were described as associated with lions, storms, desert, and disease. Early portrayals of such demons are known as having Zu bird talons for feet and wings. They were highly sexually predatory towards men, but were unable to .... normally. They were thought to dwell in waste, desolate, and desert places.
Michaelangelo and other Masters have painted Lilith as the serpent of the Garden of Eden.
I still do not see what all this mythology has to do with caulbearers and the subject of this thread - but, it is interesting. However, I think I am backing out of this conversation on "Lilith". It would make a good article though.
Last edited by Phyllis, NA and Folk; 05/04/09 12:28 PM.