Vite troncate e bisogni inappagati: Il femminile pericoloso nei demoni mesopotamici tra sessualità, morte e sterilità

The article addresses the demon Ki-sikil-lila / Ardat-lilî and her connections to the term “maiden” (ki-sikil), the goddess Inanna/Ištar, and other female demons. The article opens with the story of the halub tree and the demon who haunts it (Gilgameš, Enkidu and the Netherworld), offering an overview of the usage and significance of the term ki-sikil. The latter is a common epithet of Inanna and a component of the demon’s name. The study explores the name and epithets of the Ki-sikil-lila / Ardat-lilî and analyzes her features, i.e., her origin (a maiden that has never had sex nor a family) and her related behavior (targeting young males). It discusses the ritual use of figurines and mocking wedding to chase away the demon, drawing comparisons with the phenomenon of ghost marriages in other civilizations. Other aspects are examined, specifically the motif of the “maiden ransomed by the storm” and the association of the goddess Inanna/Ištar with female demons.