Pazuzu
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This article is about the Sumerian demon Pazuzu. For other uses, see Pazuzu (disambiguation).
In Sumerian and Akkadian mythology, Pazuzu was the king of the demons of wind, and son of the god Hanbi. For the Sumerians he also represented the southwestern wind, the bearer of storms.
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Mythology
Pazuzu is often depicted with the body of a man but with the head of a lion or dog, talons instead of feet, two pairs of wings, the tail of a scorpion and a serpentine penis. He is also depicted with the right hand upward, and the left hand downward; the position of the hands means life and death, or creation and destruction.
Pazuzu is the demon of the South-west wind that was known for bringing droughts and famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in amulets aimed at fighting against the powers of his hated rival, the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Pazuzu is also a demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces, in particular the demoness Lamashtu.
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In popular culture
At the beginning of the book and film The Exorcist, when Father Merrin is at the site of an archaelogical dig in Northern Iraq, the figure that threatens him — seemingly an illusion — is Pazuzu, whom he had battled many years earlier. Later, when he is appointed to perform the exorcism on Regan, he suspects it is Pazuzu that possesses her. The 1977 sequel film Exorcist II: The Heretic and the 2004 prequel Exorcist: The Beginning also deal with Pazuzu.
There are several heavy metal bands named Pazuzu.
The name or figure of Pazuzu is also referenced in a number of other fictional works; see Pazuzu (disambiguation) for further information.
In the American animated television show, Futurama, the gargoyle that Professor Farnsworth was searching for in the episode "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles" (Season Five Episode Seven) is named Pazuzu
In an album from Tardi's series Les Aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec: The Demon of the Eiffel Tower (Le Demon de la Tour Eiffel), the title character (Adele) faces a murderous sect worshipping Pazuzu.
