Adam Kasia (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡃࡀࡌ ࡊࡀࡎࡉࡀ; also referred to using the portmanteau Adakas ࡀࡃࡀࡊࡀࡎorAdakas Ziwa in the Ginza Rabba[1]) means "the hidden Adam" in Mandaic.[2] The hidden Adam is also called Adam Qadmaiia (ࡀࡃࡀࡌ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡉࡀ, "The First Adam").[2]InMandaeism, it means the soul of the first man.[3] He is also identified as Shishlam, the primordial priest.[4]
Among the Mandaeans, Adam Kasia means the soul of every human.[2][5][6] Adam Kasia shows many similarities with the Jewish idea of Adam Kadmon.[7]
Prayers in the Qolasta, such as the Asiet Malkia, also refer to Adam as "Adam the First Man" (Adam Gabra Qadmaiia).[8] The Thousand and Twelve Questions, a Mandaean priestly text, also refers to Adam KasiaasAdam-S'haq[9] ('Adam-was-bright'), Adam-S'haq-Ziwa,[3]orAdam-S'haq-Rba, who is described as the father of Shishlam, the archetype of the prototypical Mandaean.[10]
The wife of Adam KasiaisHawa Kasia ('hidden Eve'), also known as Hawa Ziwa ('radiant Eve') or Anana Ziwa ('radiant cloud').[11]
