Lilith (לִילִית, meaning ‘nocturnal’) was a figure in Jewish mythology that was believed

Lilith (לִילִית, meaning ‘nocturnal’) was a figure in Jewish mythology that was believed to derive from a class of female demons known as the Lilitu found in the religions of Mesopotamia. The Lilitu were malicious, winged spirits which had the tendency to prey on pregnant women and infants. Amulets and incantations were used as protection against such evil spirits. The earliest recordings of Lilith’s story are from the Medieval period. The story states that GodcreatedAdam and Lilith at the same time on the seventh day. Trouble soon started when Lilith wanted to be the dominant partner sexually, which Adam refused. In anger she uttered a forbidden name of God and left the Garden, becoming a type of demon. Adam begged God to bring her back, but when his angels tracked her down, she refused. Lilith became known as a demon of lust and death. She was known to cause miscarriages and sudden infant death, but it was said that talismans with the names of the three angels responsible for tracking Lilith could protect people from her harm. She was also known as the ‘Mother of Demons’ and the ‘Goddess of the Night.’

(Georges Hobeika Fall 2018 Haute Couture Collection)