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:
Other types of demons mentioned in Book 18 of the Right Ginza are:
The Right Ginza describes them as:

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:
Other demons mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:
  • Aṭirpan, 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, 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, mentioned in Book 15, Chapter 6 of the Right Ginza
  • Zamur, described as an "evil spirit" in Book 8 of the Right Ginza
File:MS DC 8 - demons.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Illustrations of various demons in the Scroll of Abatur, including Šdum, Baz, Miṭiaiel, and Gargiel
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, Hibil Ziwa descends the worlds of the "kings" and "giants of darkness" in the following order:
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.

Five Lords

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

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