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Lillith.

Lillith appears in John Webster’s The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft, published in London in 1677. Chapter II discusses the use of names and descriptions in accounts of witchcraft.

Webster’s nocturnal-bird interpretation

In his discussion of strix and striges, Webster prints Lillith alongside Hebrew lettering and refers to Isaiah 34:14. He interprets the term as a nocturnal bird. He then questions the appropriateness of applying that bird name to witches.

This account concerns Webster’s particular historical interpretation of the name.

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Consult the guide to source traditions.

Source

John Webster, The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft, London, 1677, chapter II; Project Gutenberg transcription.

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