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Or perhaps not

Related Images

  • Fig. 8. - Clay statue of a seated god wearing a horned crown - British Museum - [122934] (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1931-1010-2)
  • Fig. 9. - Fragment of the Ur-Nammu stela, showing a god with the rod-and-ring symbol - Penn Museum - [B16676.14](https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/251212)

However, there are some problems with this theory concerning Lilitu. The first one is the horned crown on her head. This crown was the typical symbol of divinity in ancient Mesopotamia, and could therefore not have been worn by a demon, simply because demons were no gods (Fig. 8).

The second problem is the size of the relief. Because the relief is so large, it is most likely that we are dealing with a cult relief. Demons were not known to have cults in ancient Mesopotamia.Jacobsen, T., 1987. ‘Pictures and pictorial language (The Burney relief)’. In Figurative language in the ancient Near East. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: 2 Therefore, it is unlikely that this is a depiction of the demoness.

The divine status of the figure is also highlighted by the rod-and-ring symbol that she is holding, which was also only attributed to gods and goddesses (Fig. 9). Collon, D., 2005. The Queen of the Night. London: British Museum Press: 42

Furthermore, the lions and mountains depicted at the bottom of the relief have no connection to either Lilith or Lillitu.Jacobsen, T., 1987. ‘Pictures and pictorial language (The Burney relief)’. In Figurative language in the ancient Near East. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: 42

Because of these reasons, many scientists think that it is unlikely that the Queen of the Night relief is a depiction of Lilith of Lilitu.