Appealing to both magicians and feminists past and present, Lilith, or Lilitu ('wind-spirit' in Assyrian-Babylonian mythology) was a ravenous sexual entrepreneur. In legend, Lilith was the first wife of Adam. She was either created as Adam's Siamese twin (joined together at the back), or was made from filth. Either way, Lilith demanded equality with Adam.

Presumably, Lilith and Adam led a happy enough life until they got horny. When it came time for Lilith and Adam to share carnal knowledge, Adam was upset that Lilith wouldn't assume the missionary position. She wanted, according to some accounts, to lay side-by-side. In other accounts, she wanted to be on top. In either case, Adam was miffed and refused Lilith's wants. When he tried to force himself upon her, she uttered the magical name of God, rose into the air, and flew away to find more amenable sexual partners.

Lilith Her sex life soon changed dramatically. She had riotous erotic adventures with fallen angels, and together they spawned a huge family of demons called the lilim, creatures virtually identical to the succubi of Christian demonology.

In Muslim lore, however, Lilith indulged in her sexual wants with Satan, and together they spawned the djinn or genies.

Because Lilith left before the Fall, she wasn't plagued by the curse of death as were Eve and Adam. Lilith went on to become a demon in her own right, or perhaps an avenging angel. She sought revenge for the deaths of her children. She launched a war on women in childbirth and on newborn babies (especially boys).

Nevertheless, she was forced by three angels to swear she would not harm mothers and children protected by certain amulets. These amulets bore the names of Sanvi, Sansanvi, and Semangelaf. As late as the 18th century, mothers and children across many cultures took advantage of the protection offered by these amulets. Charms and rituals accompanied the use of the amulets, protecting mothers and infants from the retribution of Lilith. Baby girls were considered vulnerable in their first three weeks of life. Boys were believed to be vulnerable for longer periods of time, however. Any boy under the age of eight was possible prey.

To protect their children, parents drew a charcoal or natron circle of protection on a wall of the child's bedchamber. Inside the circle was written 'Adam and Eve, barring Lilith,' 'protect this child from harm,' or 'Adam and Eve. Out, Lilith!' The names of Sanvi, Sansanvi, and Semangelaf were written on the door. Sometimes amulets with such inscriptions were placed in all corners and throughout the bedchamber. If a child laughed in its sleep, it was a sign that Lilith was present. Tapping the child on the nose made the demon go away.

However, it wasn't only women and children who feared Lilith. Men sought explanation for their wet dreams. The retribution unleashed by Lilith in response to her children's deaths was also aimed at men who slept alone. According to the Talmud, "It is indiscreet for one to sleep in a house as the sole occupant, for Lilith will seize him." (Tough luck for people who live alone.)

Men who experienced nocturnal emissions believed they had been seduced by Lilith, queen of the succubi, in their sleep. These men said incantations in order to prevent any resulting offspring from becoming demons. Some men weren't so lucky. The unlucky ones had their blood sucked out of them. In this way, the insatiable Lilith, along with the equally ancient Lamia, was a vampire. As queen of the succubi, Lilith was believed to have been aided in her nightly endeavours by her minions. Her demon lover Samael (whose name means 'sinister' or 'left') would frolic with Lilith and the succubi near the 'mountains of darkness.'