Before: Despite the popular belief that Eve was the first woman on Earth, there are various rabbinical texts that dispute that argument. According to the Alphabet of Ben Sira, there was another woman, Lilith, who was formed from the earth the same as Adam. It is theorized that Lilith is often erased from history because she demanded to be seen as Adam’s equal. Adam quickly rebuffed Lilith’s desire to be equal, and instead of submitting to him, she fled Eden. Ultimately Eve’s narrative was the one canonized by the Septuagint while Lilith’s remained a part of the uncanonized Ben Sira. However, if Lilith’s story had been included, it would have altered the perception and position of women throughout history. Despite negative connotations surrounding Lilith, she is not the opposite of Eve; rather, she is the pinnacle of womanhood representing the extremes of good and bad that women experience.
After:
From Lilith Fair to Scooby-Doo, Lilith has sparked a cultural reset encouraging women to embrace their independence and sexuality. She has become a trope used throughout popular culture to represent what it means to be a strong, independent, and ambitious woman outside of cultural norms. Despite growing popularity, few people know the roots behind Lilith's existence. According to the Alphabet of Ben Sira, Lilith was formed from the earth the same as Adam. Lilith desired to be Adam's equal and when he refused, she fled Eden. She never returned, so God created another woman, Eve, to take her place. Ultimately Eve’s narrative was the one canonized by the Septuagint while Lilith’s remained a part of the uncanonized Ben Sira. However, if Lilith’s story had been included, it would have altered the perception and position of women throughout history. Despite negative connotations surrounding Lilith, she is not the opposite of Eve; rather, she is the pinnacle of womanhood representing the extremes of good and bad that women experience.