Dec
Seven Sumerian DEMONs who are great princes of HELL or princes of the abyss, considered to be among the most powerful of all. Maskim means “ensnarer” or “layers of ambush.” The Maskim seem to be primeval entities and offspring of the god Anu, and an evil / dark counterpart of the seven main gods, who correspond to the constellation of Pleiades.
The information about them comes from a series of tablets. The description from the tablets depicts them as the messengers of Namtar and
the throne-bearers of Ereshkigal, which underlines their connection to the Underworld. Ereshkigal is the “Queen of the Great Below”, the goddess who rules the land of the dead, together with her consort, Nergal. Namtar is her messenger and minister, one of the demons of the nether regions, the bringer of death. His name means “destiny” or “death”.
The maskim have the power to affect the earth and the cosmic order. They can cause earthquakes and alter the courses of the stars in the sky. While the seven underworld demons cause plagues and disasters on the earth (like earthquakes), the sky spirits manifest as raging storms, hurricanes, bolts of lightning, and destructive winds “that bring darkness in heaven” and “cast gloom over the bright day”.
The Maskim exist on both macrocosmic and microcosmic level. They are principles of chaos which act against the divine order: against light, peace, laws, civilization, and other human and god’s inventions. But they also represent dark instincts, hidden lusts, savage urges, atavistic and primal – inherent in human spirit, but repressed to the utmost regions of consciousness. On the microcosmic level they represent the antinomian impulses which drive man towards individual isolation and self-deification. They are the hurricane of changes, initiators of dynamics, so essential for the maintenance of cosmic harmony.
Known as:
- planetary demons of ancient Babylon
Sumerian descriptions of the maskim say they are neither male nor female, they take no wives and have no children, they are “strangers to benevolence,” and they pay no attention to prayers or wishes. They rush like flood over the earth:
“From house to house they dash along. No door can shut them out, No bolt can turn them back. Through the door, like a snake, they glide, Through the hinge, like the wind, they storm. Tearing the wife from the embrace of the man, Snatching the child from the knees of a man, Driving the freedman from his family home.”
These ancient gods belong to the energy of Mars. They have a lust for war and for the destruction of what they desire.
.The number seven in Mesopotamian mythology has a great significance. There were seven protective gods, seven wise men (apkallū), seven children of the goddess Ishara, seven sons of the god Enmessara (both deities of the Underworld), and we have analogous seven main demons.
Magical spells had to be spoken seven times, also ritual customs were performed in this number of times (or seven times seven), seven seals were hanged around the neck of an exorcised person etc.
It is hard to find the seven names, normal you will only find these three…
- Azza
- AZAZEL
- MEPHISTOPHELES
MEPHISTOPHELES – Does not have an ancient Sumerian background, so I do question why this name is even on this list. It’s almost like the original author who published the information, gave up the idea of making up more information about this class of Demons!
According to certain extra-biblical texts relating to Christian mysticism, and a number of related works written during the 17th century, Mephistophiles was the first to join with Lucifer during the rebellion against God at the beginning of time. When the rebel jinn were banished from Heaven, Mephistophiles was the second to fall, after Lucifer. In exchange for his loyalty, Lucifer granted him power in Jinnestan, appointing him his second-in-command.
Other authors have perspective about each Demon of the Maskim in context of its Planetary nature (4):
“The first of the Maskim is “the South wind” demon. It is connected with the desert, the heat of the sun and the drought which brings death of humans and animals, diseases and the destruction of crops. It is an extremely hot dark wind, burning everything that it encounters on its way, like a black, demonic fire or a destructive tornado.In the magical work with this demon one may also experience physical sensations of heat, dry air in the temple, or extreme thirst.
The second demon is the dragon “whose mouth is opened … that none can measure”. While working with this demon, one may
experience visions and dreams of astral transformation into a dragon’s form, or flying on the dragon’s back. One may also see an eternal cosmic dance of the Kundalini serpent.
The third demon is “a grim leopard which carries off the young”. This entity embodies atavistic instincts of savage hunting. A leopard is an emblem of a wild predator, a shadow demon which hunts under the cloak of the night, searching for a prey. In magical practice, it replaces the art of shape-shifting on the mundane level. It induces a particular kind of a trance which allows for moving onto the astral level and for a complete transformation into a beast – a manifestation of one’s hidden instincts and lusts. In the case of this Maskim demon, this is a manifestation of atavistic predatory instincts, which become awakened by absorption of this dark energy.
The fourth of the Maskim is “a terrible Shibbu”. The magical power of this Maskim demon is the art of bestial shape-shifting, this time into a serpent, in a trance of hallucinatory intoxication with the astral venomous elixir vitae. The energy of the demon is also very vampiric in its nature and apart from self-initiatory purposes, it could be used in astral vampirism – to poison the victim and drain one’s astral energy through the form of this shadowy wraith.
The fifth demon is “a furious wolf who knoweth not to flee.” During exploration of this Maskim demon, the magician may also experience a rush of insanity, rage and fury, until complete loss of human consciousness. Yet, the cautious approach to this entity may transform it into a guide and spiritual familiar, as it is in the case of totemic animals.
The sixth demon is a mysterious “rampant … which marches against god and king”. This vague description suggests a force of chaos and disorder, a spirit of rebellion against artificial structures established by humans.
The seventh and the last of the demons is “a storm, an evil wind which takes vengeance”. This spirit reveals a close connection with violent forces of nature: storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy rains, thunders and lightning – with all fierce phenomena which belong to the sphere of air. It may appear to the summoner in a form of a black winged figure, or as an airy serpent with a human-like head and horns. It may also manifest as a destructive power of nature: a violent wind that tears trees out of the ground, collapses buildings, and destroys everything on its way. It enters the temple like a hurricane and lifts the magician onto the dark side of nature. On the astral level the demon might be used for offensive attacks. It raises storms on the astral plane and causes severe damage to the enemy. It may also be used to force a change through the astral level which will manifest in the mundane life. Yet, it is a violent demon, and should be approached carefully.”
There are other spirits that would fall under this category:
GALLA – The Sumerian demons of the underworld who drag humans down to the realm of Ereshkigal. The Galla are featured in the Hymn to Igalima and in The Descent of Inanna where they are sent by Enki to help Inanna and also drag Dumuzi to the underworld.
IMDUGUD – The Sumerian version of Anzu, Pazusu and Zu who had a tendency to whip rainstorms into whirlwinds by flapping his wings. He was especially venerated in the region around the City of Ur.
ISHKUR – (Also known as Iskur, Adad, Addu) – The Sumerian god of weather and storms, twin brother of Enki in some myths.
NERGAL – Also known as Erra/Irra, the Sumerian god of war, pestilence, destruction, death, and the underworld, co-ruler with Ereshkigal, but originally associated with Shamash, the sun god, and a solar deity. His cult center was at Kutha where he was first known as Meslamtaea, an agricultural god associated with the heat of the sun in its negative aspects. The intensity of the summer sun (or the sun at midday) was thought to be caused by Meslamtaea’s fury and shifted from a regional god to a universal god associated with the negative aspects of life. Nergal is best known for insulting Namtar, Ereshkigal’s representative at the feast of the gods, and having to make amends to her, resulting in their love affair and his eventual move to the underworld to live with her. In some myths he is credited with creating human beings and in incantations is invoked for protection because of his great strength. As Erra he is famous from the work The Wrath of Erra in which he destroys Babylon for no reason.
NETI – The Sumerian guardian of the gates of the underworld and scribe. Neti features prominently in The Descent of Inanna.
NINLIL – The Sumerian goddess of air, `The Lady of the Air’, whose name was originally Sud until she married Enlil. In one version of the story, Enlil seduces Ninlil and is banished to the underworld. Ninlil follows him there and gives birth to the gods Nanna, of the moon; Nergal, of war and death; Ninazu, of the underworld, healing and magic incantations; and Enbilulu, of rivers and canals. These gods then rise from the underworld to earth and sky in keeping with the motif of the fertility myth of the dying and reviving god. The Babylonian goddess of the same name is derived from this Sumerian deity, originally introduced by the Akkadians.
SEBITTI – According to Babylonian sources, the Sebitti were seven minor warrior gods, sometimes associated with the Anunnaki of the underworld, who followed the demon Irra into battle. The Sebitti were not comprised of any of the major gods but seem to have been associated with Nergal. They are also associated with the Pleiades.
The seven planetary Demons of ancient Babylon were as follows:
- Ninurta
- Istar
- Marduk
- Nabu
- Nergal
- Nanna Suen
- Utu
You may also be interested in this class of Demon:
udugg (utukku) – A type of Babylonian DEMON who can be either good or evil. A group of evil ones are known as the Seven; they are offspring of the sky god, An, and the Earth goddess, Ki, and they act as assistants to the underworld god, Nergal. In Akkadian lore, the utukku are servants of the underworld, whose task is to fetch the sacrificial offerings made by humans, especially the BLOOD, liver, and organs of animals. The evil utukku are the ekimmu and the good ones are the shedu.
Warning: They do not like humans and attack them with the most severe evil and spells
This post will be updated as I research and find out more information.
Recommended reading:
- Chaldean Magic: Its Origin and Development
- MASKIM HUL: Babylonian Magick by Michael Ford
- Techniques of Solomonic Magic – The Maskim influence on Solomonic magick is examined in Stephen Skinner’s new book
- Seven Babylonian Demons of the Underworld by Lodge Magan
