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[German version] I. Mesopotamia Mesopotamia did not develop a generic term for demons. A large number of immortal beings was known that each had their own name and acted as servants of the gods and as enemies or helpers of humans. They did not have cults of their own. Since demons were only able to exercise their limited powers, which manifested themselves in physical and psychological illnesses, with the approval of the gods, they were part of the existing world order. Thus, in the Babylonian tale of the Great Flood ( Atraḫasis myth, see TUAT 3, 644 vii 3) the gods ─ after a promise to never again unleash a flood destroying all ─ installed the demoness Lamaštu, who was made responsible for childbirth fever and infant mortality, to prevent excessive multiplication of humans in the future. Other demons became ‘watchmen’ and worked on divine orders to the benefit or harm of humans. Some ancient Near Eastern myths relate that the demon-like creatures of the Primal Chaos were defeated by the hero gods that created the ordered world and then made guardians of sanctuaries. Many evil demons were personifications of diseases, epidemics or winds that were considered bearers of disease. Unlike the gods, who were always imagined as being anthropomorphic, demons were depicted as fear-inspiring  monsters. For example, the lion's head and paws, bird's wings and talons of bloodsucking Lamaštu [2] symbolized her dangerousness and fast attack. The residences of evil demons were the arid lands hostile to cultivation and the Underworld. Evil demons were often not clearly differentiated by their mode of action from vengeful spirits of the dead returning to earth. Often they were named together. Unlike the other demons, Lamaštu was considered a daughter of the highest god Anu that had been cast out of Heaven. In…

I. Ancient Orient, Egypt and Iran [German version] …

[English version] I. Alter Orient Die F. in Mesopot. war patrilinear organisiert; Reste von matrilinearen F.-Strukturen finden sich in hethit. Mythen, bei den amoritischen Nomaden des frühen 2. Jt. v.Chr. sowie den arab. Stämmen des 7. Jh. v.Chr. In der Regel herrschte Monogamie; Heirat mit Nebenfrauen minderen Rechts war möglich, Polygamie ist v.a. in den Herrscher-F. bezeugt. Die F. bestand aus dem Elternpaar und seinen Kindern, über deren Zahl keine verläßlichen Angaben möglich sind. Unverheiratete Brüder des F.-Oberhauptes k…

I. Alter Orient, Ägypten und Iran [English version] A. Einführung Die Kenntnis über den Status von F. beruht weitgehend auf Texten juristischer Natur (Rechtsurkunden, Rechtsbücher, königliche Erlasse). Dementsprechend betont die bisherige Forschung v.a. die rechtlichen Aspekte der Stellung von F. in Familie und Gesellschaft. Nichtjuristiche Texte unterschiedlicher Genres enthalten Nachrichten über das Wirken von F. aus den Familien der Eliten, insbes. denen der königlichen Clans. So nimmt die heth…

[English version] I. Mesopotamien …