Pazuzu
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In Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, Pazuzu was the king of the demons of the wind, and son of the god Hanbi. He also represented the southwestern wind, the bearer of storms and drought.
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[edit] Iconography
Pazuzu is often depicted as a combination of animal and human parts. He has the body of a man, the head of a lion or dog, eagle-like taloned feet, two pairs of wings, a scorpion's tail, and a serpentine vagina. He is often depicted with his right hand pointing upward and his left hand downward.
[edit] Mythology
Pazuzu is the god of the southwest wind known for bringing droughts and famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Recent research suggests Pazuzu may have been associated with a cold, northeasterly wind.[1] Pazuzu was said to be invoked in amulets which combat the powers of the malicious goddess, and hated rival, Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Although Pazuzu is, himself, an evil spirit, he drives away other evil spirits, thus protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
[edit] 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 menacing sculpted figure is Pazuzu, whom he had battled in an exorcism several years earlier. When Merrin is later appointed to perform the exorcism on Regan MacNeil, he suspects it is Pazuzu that possesses her. There is a foreboding scene in which Pazuzu recognizes his old adversary Merrin arriving to perform an exorcism. The 1977 sequel Exorcist II: The Heretic, the 1990 The Exorcist III, the 2004 prequel Exorcist: The Beginning, and the other 2005 prequel Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist also involve Pazuzu.
- Pazuzu is featured as a Demon Lord in the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game.
- Pazuzu is the name of an avantgarde metal band formed by Ray Wells (Raventhrone). There are also three other metal bands named "Pazuzu": one from Brazil, one from Switzerland, and one more from the US.
- Pazuzu is the de facto "mascot" of the second phase of virtual band Gorillaz, his image adorning the covers for the DVD Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades and the album D-Sides, as well as featuring in the videos for "Rock It", "Feel Good Inc." and "Dare".
- Professor Hubert Farnsworth's pet gargoyle in the Futurama episode "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles" and The Beast with a Billion Backs is named Pazuzu.
- The Polish blackened-death metal band Behemoth has a song entitled "Pazuzu," which is the 10th track on their album The Apostasy.
- A demon-like giant monster from Ultraman Gaia is named Pazuzu. Like its mythological counterpart, Pazuzu can create storms.
- Pazuzu appears as a boss in Konami's video game Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance.
- Pazuzu appears in the Square Co. game Final Fantasy Mystic Quest as a boss. He also has a doppleganger named Zuh, who appears later in the game.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Pazuzu at the Internet Movie Database
- The Demon of the South-West Wind
- Oriental Institute of Chicago figure of Pazuzu
