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Ancient Near East & Levant · c. 6000 BCE – 650 CE

Pazuzu heads & figures

Meaning

Pazuzu, son of Hanbi, is king of the evil wind-demons. He has a dog- or lion-like face, bulging eyes, scorpion tail, bird talons and four wings, and brought pestilence on the hot winds. He is terrifying by design.

Intent

His image was used against a greater evil: Lamashtu, the child-killing demoness, whom only he could drive back to the underworld. Pazuzu heads were hung on cords by pregnant women and infants, placed in houses, and set on Lamashtu plaques. The principle is 'set a monster to catch a monster'.

Significance

Pazuzu is the classic case of an apotropaic demon: a malevolent being enlisted for protection. The same logic runs through the gorgoneion and gargoyles. Modern audiences know him as the demon of The Exorcist (1973), whose opening scene features a Pazuzu statue in Iraq.

History

Pazuzu amulets date to the first millennium BCE, especially the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian periods (c. 900–539 BCE). They are found in Assyria, Babylonia, Iran and as far as the Mediterranean coast. The Louvre bronze statuette (AO 22205) is the best-known image.

Making yours
Heads 2–10 cm with a loop on top. Cast bronze, or carved faience and stone. Deeply grooved snarling face and hollow eyes.
Ancient Near East & Levant: the tradition

Mesopotamian protection grew out of a world crowded with named demons, each with a job: Lamashtu killed infants, the utukku haunted, fever demons struck. Exorcists (ashipu) wrote incantation series such as Maqlû and the Lamashtu texts, and amulets put those texts and images to work. Carved stone animal seals of the Uruk period (c. 3500 BCE) are among the oldest amulet-seals anywhere. In the first millennium BCE, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian households hung Pazuzu heads and Lamashtu plaques. Phoenician traders spread Egyptianising amulets and glass faces across the Mediterranean, and in Sasanian Mesopotamia Jews, Christians and Mandaeans buried inscribed incantation bowls under their floors.

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Kopf des Dämons PazuzuKopf des Dämons PazuzuKarlsruhePazuzu-Amulett mit sumerischer InschriftPazuzu-Amulett mit sumerischer InschriftGermanyAmuleto de Pazuzu, British MuseumAmuleto de Pazuzu, British Museum800-500 a.C.Pendant with the head of PazuzuPendant with the head of Pazuzuca. 8th–7th century B.C.Hellfest2018OranssiPazuzuHellfest2018OranssiPazuzuOranssi Pazuzu @ Roadburn Festival 2017Oranssi Pazuzu @ Roadburn Festival 2017Oranssi Pazuzu @ Soulcrusher 2021-10Oranssi Pazuzu @ Soulcrusher 2021-10Oranssi Pazuzu at Doornroosje 2024Oranssi Pazuzu at Doornroosje 2024Pazuzu-N 8287-IMG 8961Pazuzu-N 8287-IMG 8961Sólstafir at Le Metronum, 20241128Sólstafir at Le Metronum, 20241128Pazuzu jaspe rouge AO 26056Pazuzu jaspe rouge AO 26056British Museum Bronze head Pazuzu B 27072013 BBBritish Museum Bronze head Pazuzu B 27072013 BBMesopotamian pendant with the head of PazuzuMesopotamian pendant with the head of PazuzuPazuzuPazuzuPazuzu amulet 86263Pazuzu amulet 86263Sceau cylindre tete Pazuzu AO 21111Sceau cylindre tete Pazuzu AO 21111Oranssi Pazuzu 2024Oranssi Pazuzu 2024Pazuzu demon figurine, Iraq, Neo-Assyrian period, 900-612 BC, bronzePazuzu demon figurine, Iraq, Neo-Assyrian period, 900-612 BC, bronzeOranssi Pazuzu Roadburn 2017 2Oranssi Pazuzu Roadburn 2017 2British Museum Bronze head PazuzuBritish Museum Bronze head PazuzuPazuzu amuletPazuzu amuletPazuzu tete pierre rouge AO 1000Pazuzu tete pierre rouge AO 1000Periodo neo assiro, figurina del demone pazuzu, 900-612 ac caPeriodo neo assiro, figurina del demone pazuzu, 900-612 ac caTerracotta amulet of Pazuzu, 2x1 cm. From Iraq. Old-Babylonian period 2004-1595 BCE. Sulaymaniyah Museum, IraqTerracotta amulet of Pazuzu, 2x1 cm. From Iraq. Old-Babylonian period 2004-1595 BCE. Sulaymaniyah Museum, IraqBritish Museum Stone head PazuzuBritish Museum Stone head PazuzuPazuzu heads BMPazuzu heads BMOranssi Pazuzu - FME 2012Oranssi Pazuzu - FME 2012Neo-Assyrian head of Pazuzu c600-700 BCE. Eltringham CollectionNeo-Assyrian head of Pazuzu c600-700 BCE. Eltringham CollectionPazuzuDemonAssyria1stMil 2PazuzuDemonAssyria1stMil 2Pazuzu bronze AO 6692Pazuzu bronze AO 6692Oranssi Pazuzu Roadburn 2017Oranssi Pazuzu Roadburn 2017Oranssi Pazuzu live 2014Oranssi Pazuzu live 2014

More from Ancient Near East & Levant: Lamashtu plaques · Stamp-seal & animal amulets · Eye idols · Phoenician & Punic glass faces · Aramaic incantation bowls · Luristan & Iranian bronze charms · Other & unsorted Ancient Near East
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