The Sumerian Legend of Lilith
The following text was translated from an ancient hebrew version of the Sumerian legend of Lilith (called Lilitu in Sumerian). Lilith is an agricultural/fertility goddess, her myth is found in over 100 different religions and has numerous variatians on her name (Lilit, Lolita, Lilitu, Lilith). For example in the ben-Sira version of the Bible Lilith is the first wife of Adam and in Greek mythology she is the goddess of the dark moon (Artemis is the goddess of the full moon).
Before the stars were born
Before people built great cities
The great mountain Atlen shook
And bled fiery bloodAs it gave birth to Lilitu
The land all around burned
Many animals and people diedWhen Lilitu opened her eyesLilitu saw the ashes of her birthAnd wept tears like rain
Lilitu's tears became rivers and streamsFlowers grew where Lilitu walkedTrees grew where Lilitu satThe ashes became fertile soilAnd an orchard became Lilitu's home In Lilitu's orchard many animals arePeople came to live in paradiseLilitu gave them grain and taught them to harvestLilitu made bread and beerThe people rejoiced, ate and drank One day a great prince came to the land of AtlenHe spied Lilitu and wooed herBut Lilitu spurned and rejected himThe great prince became very angryHe spied two lions and killed them bothLilitu wept for the lionsShe cradled their heads in her armsThe lions awoke to her tearsThe lions licked away her tears and became strongThey became Lilitu's loyal friends The great prince saw thisAnd again he wooed LilituBut Lilitu became a birdShe flew away from himAngry, the prince began hunting birds Lilitu saw this and was upsetTo spite the prince she spat at himAnd mated with a serpentLilitu gave birth very quicklyHer child was like no otherThe child had six armThe child had a serpent's tailThe child was very strongLilitu called the child a marilituThe Marilitu attacked the great princeThe great prince and the marilitu foughtThe fought day and nightFor night after nightAnd day after dayBut neither could win the fight Lilitu saw this and mated againAnother marilitu was bornAnd another and anotherTwo hundred and sixteen were bornIn fear the great prince ran away The people of the orchard rejoicedThe marilitu's farmed the landThe marilitu's protected the peopleBut the great prince swore vengeanceHe cursed the mountain Atlen and its land Atlen became angry at this curseThe mountain and the land shookAtlen shook and bled and criedIts fiery blood made firesAnd its tears made floodsAfraid Lilitu turned into a great birdShe grasped people in her feetShe carried animals on her backThe marilitu's and the lions carried people tooTogether they fled the land of Atlen Lilitu went west and eastLilitu went north and southFinally she came to dry landThe people thanked Lilitu greatlyThe people built statues in her honour Lilitu wept for her lost homeHer tears formed two riversThe rivers joined togetherThey flowed into the oceanThe people grew grain by the river The people grew great orchardsThey built buildings and towers of stoneThe people grew healthy and the land richMerchants from far places travelled thereNews of the wealth of the land grewThe great prince heard of the landHe sent his heralds to inquire of its ladyBut Lilitu fed his heralds to her lionsThe great prince sent an armyBut the marilitu's destroyed his army Finally the great prince wentWhen he saw the beautiful orchardsWhen he saw the six-armed marilitusThe great prince knew the lady was LilituIn fear he disguised himself as a woman The great prince went to Lilitu's templeHis disguise fooled the peopleBut the lions knew his scentThe two lions warned LilituSo Lilitu prepared a trap Lilitu summoned thirty-six young menShe filled a hall with thirty-six silver plattersShe ordered thirty-six beasts slaughteredAt last she was readyShe invited the people to the feast People came from all over the landThe great prince came tooThe great prince arrived in disguiseBut Lilitu knew him eagerlyShe welcomed him as an honoured guest The great prince accepted her hospitalityHe sat before all the peopleThe thirty-six young men were brought forth"Please choose a man," Lilitu commandedNot wanting to be rude the great prince chose one Lilitu bade the great prince to sit beside the young manThe silver platters were brought forthThe people feasted on the meat of thirty-six beastsGreat gifts were brough forthLilitu gave the gifts to the great prince Confused the great prince acceptedThen the feast was finally overCurious, the great prince questioned Lilitu"Do you always give such grand gifts to strangers?""Only when someone is married," Lilitu answeredRealizing what had happened the great prince became angryHe ripped off his disguiseHe drew his sword and his dagger"Why have you made me marry this man?" he demanded"Because you can never marry me," Lilitu answeredEnraged the great prince attacked LilituThe two fought endlessly for Lilitu was very strongWhenever the prince would get too boldLilitu would change into a birdThe great prince fell to the ground and wept in despair The great prince professed his loveHe promised that he would never quitHe prepared to cut his own throatFinally Lilitu grew tired of this gameShe felt pity for the great prince "I will grant you one kiss," Lilitu declaredDesperate the great prince acceptedThe moment the great prince's kiss had been dealtHis body flooded with life and then deathSo great was the pleasure of one kiss that he died Lilitu wept for the great princeBut the great prince remained deadSaddened Lilitu knew she could never loveNo mortal man could taste her kiss and liveHer tears brought life, but her kiss brought death