Pazuzu: The Demon Who Fought Evil with Evil

Pazuzu is a demonic deity from the ancient Mesopotamian religion, recognized among the Babylonians and Assyrians during the first millennium BCE. He functions as the king of the lilû wind demons and embodies the southwestern wind, which carries famine, drought, locusts, and plague.

In ancient texts, the demon is both a bringer of harm and a protective force. He is also one of Lamashtu’s fiercest opponents.

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Key Takeaways

Attribute	Details
Names	Pazuzu (primary Akkadian name); also invoked as the king of lilû demons or the demon of the southwest wind; no additional epithets consistently attested beyond contextual titles like Agony of Mankind or Suffering of Mankind in ritual texts.
Title	King of the wind demons; personification of the southwestern wind; apotropaic protector against plague and Lamashtu.
Origin	Mesopotamian (Assyrian and Babylonian traditions, first millennium BCE); sudden emergence in Early Iron Age with no prior evolutionary iconography.
Gender	Male.
Genealogy	Son of Hanbi (also Hanbu or Hanpa), king of the underworld demons; brother to Humbaba (Huwawa), guardian of the Cedar Forest in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Role	Wind demon who brings pestilence but serves as repellant to other demons; domestic protector of homes, pregnant women, and infants.
Associated Deity/Figure	Rival to Lamashtu (demoness of childbirth harm); allied with protective figures like Ugallu and Lulal on amulets; opposed by major gods like Marduk in broader cosmology.
Brings	Famine, drought, locusts, plague, and destructive winds; also misfortune and disease when uncontrolled.
Weaknesses	Repelled or redirected by invocations to higher gods like Ea or Marduk; bound by apotropaic rituals and amulets invoking his own image against himself.
Realm/Domain	Southwestern winds and mountains; traverses the underworld and earthly realms as a wandering spirit.
Weapon/Item	Scorpion tail and snake-headed penis as symbolic weapons; no specific artifact beyond his own statuettes and amulets used against foes.
Symbolism	Duality of chaos and order; uncontrollable natural forces harnessed for protection; fear as a barrier against greater evils.
Sources	Cuneiform tablets from Nineveh, Uruk, and Sultantepe; ritual incantations like the Standard B incantation; amulet inscriptions from Nimrud tombs; bilingual Sumerian-Akkadian compendia; Late Babylonian anti-Lamashtu texts.

Who or What is Pazuzu?

Pazuzu is a powerful demon in ancient Mesopotamian religion. He is typically classified as a lilû wind demon who rules over destructive southwestern gales.

He appears in texts and artifacts from the 8th century BCE onward, primarily in Assyrian and Babylonian contexts. As king of the evil lilû demons, Pazuzu personifies the winds that bring famine through drought in dry seasons and swarms of locusts in rainy seasons.

His form combines elements of multiple creatures, including a canine or leonine head with bulging eyes and horns, a scaly, emaciated body, avian talons, wings, and a scorpion tail. This grotesque appearance highlights his role in apotropaic magic, where his image frightens away lesser spirits.

Despite his malevolent potential, Pazuzu functions as a protector when invoked correctly. He counters threats from other demons (including the terrifying demoness Lamashtu, who causes miscarriages and infant deaths) by driving them back to the underworld.

“Pazuzu” Meaning

The name Pazuzu derives from Akkadian cuneiform, rendered as dpa.zu.zu, where the initial dingir sign (d) indicates divine or demonic status.

Etymological analysis links it to wind-related concepts, possibly from Sumerian roots denoting “hot” or “furious” breath, aligning with his association as the southwestern wind demon.

One speculation connects Pazuzu to historical kings in the Sumerian King List from Tell Leilan: Bazi, followed by Zizi, with Bazi’s father Anbu evolving into Hanbu (Pazuzu’s parent).

This constructs Pazuzu as a conflation: Ba-zi-Zi-zi, transforming royal names into a demonic epithet during the Late Bronze Age transition to Iron Age iconography.

How to Pronounce “Pazuzu” in English

In English, Pazuzu is pronounced as “puh-ZOO-zoo,” with the stress on the second syllable. The initial “pa” sounds like “puh” in “put,” followed by a long “oo” as in “zoo” for both “zu” sounds, creating a rhythmic repetition.

Origins

Pazuzu appears in the archaeological record during the Early Iron Age, with the earliest depictions from 8th-century BCE tombs at Nimrud in northern Iraq. No prior evolutionary forms exist, indicating a deliberate invention around 1000 BCE in Assyrian or Babylonian territories.

His iconography appears fully formed on fibulae, seals, and amulets, spreading to the Levant, western Iran, and even the Greek island of Samos by the Seleucid period.

Texts first mention him in the 7th century BCE, within exorcistic incantations from Nineveh’s libraries. This timing coincides with Lamashtu’s reassignment as a lilû demon, likely suggesting Pazuzu’s creation as her specific counterforce.

Researchers attribute his origins to the need for a potent apotropaic entity amid rising fears of plague and infant mortality. Unlike earlier wind personifications on cylinder seals—winged figures representing the cardinal directions—Pazuzu integrates multiple animal traits, evolving from single-hybrid motifs such as lion-headed humans.

His association with Hanbi (king of underworld demons) ties him to pre-existing storm lore. Still, his protective role marks a shift toward domestic magic.

Genealogy

Pazuzu is the son of Hanbi, a powerful and chaotic force, which helps explain why Pazuzu has control over winds and diseases.

Pazuzu also has a brother named Humbaba, a giant monster who guarded the Cedar Forest and was defeated by the legendary heroes Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Humbaba is described as having unusual features, such as bulging eyes and traits resembling those of a lion.

Interestingly, Pazuzu doesn’t have a spouse or children. His family connections show that he is a significant demon in the mythology, but still below major gods like Anu or Enlil in terms of power.

Relationship	Details
Parents	Hanbi (Hanbu/Hanpa), king of the underworld demons and personification of chaotic winds.
Siblings	Humbaba (Huwawa), demon-god protector of the Cedar Forest in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Spouse	None; no marital or romantic ties documented in texts.
Children	None; Pazuzu sires no offspring in surviving lore.

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Sources

Pazuzu appears primarily in ritual and magical texts from the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian periods, including cuneiform tablets from Ashurbanipal’s library at Nineveh and incantation series from Uruk. These include apotropaic spells, amulet inscriptions, and bilingual compendia detailing his self-proclamations and combats.

Source	Quote
Bilingual Sumerian-Akkadian Compendium (Standard B Incantation, ca. 7th century BCE)	I am Pazuzu, son of Ḫanbu, king of the evil lilû-demons. I was enraged (in violent motion) against the strong mountains and ascended them.
Bilingual Sumerian-Akkadian Compendium (Wind Combat Text, ca. 7th century BCE)	I ascended a mighty mountain that shook, and the (evil) winds I encountered there were heading West; One by one I broke their wings.
Late Babylonian Anti-Lamashtu Ritual Tablet (ca. 6th century BCE)	Agony of Mankind, Suffering of Mankind, Disease of Mankind: do not enter the house I enter, do not come near the house I come near, do not approach the house I approach.
Nimrud Amulet Inscription (8th century BCE)	Pazuzu, son of Hanpa, king of the wind demons: who causes the world regions to quake.
Uruk Ritual Tablet (W 22729/18, ca. 3rd century BCE)	Mighty Pazuzu, dark angel of the four winds, horned, with rotting genitalia: ascend the mountains and break the wings of the contrary winds.
Sultantepe Exorcistic Tablet (K 2547+, ca. 7th century BCE)	Šam-ru ez-zu: the raging storm of Pazuzu, presaging the baneful wind.

What Does Pazuzu Look Like?

Pazuzu’s physical form is a composite of human and animal features, designed for terror and consistent across artifacts from the 8th century BCE.

His head is rectangular, with capricious horns curving backward, massive, furrowed eyebrows arching over deep-set, bulging, round eyes that convey an unrelenting glare.

The face features a canine muzzle with protruding ears, wrinkled cheeks, and an open snarling mouth exposing sharp teeth and a protruding tongue. A long two-pronged beard divides the chin, marked by horizontal lines. At the same time, the overall head blends lion and dog traits, marking the earliest Mesopotamian multi-animal hybrid.

The body is emaciated and scaly (like a lizard or serpent), standing bipedally on bird-like talons that grip the ground. Two pairs of wings sprout from the back, folded or spread to emphasize motion, paired with a long scorpion tail curving upward, tipped with a venomous stinger.

His arms end in clawed hands: the right raised in blessing or command, the left lowered in warding. Most distinctive is the erect snake-headed penis, symbolizing fertility twisted into peril.

Enemies, Rivals, and Allies

Pazuzu’s interactions with other demonic entities revolve around rivalry and reluctant alliance in Mesopotamian magic.

As king of lilû wind demons, he combats subordinate winds and chaotic spirits that threaten human order, breaking their wings in mountain ascents to curb their flight.

His primary foe is Lamashtu, the child-devouring demoness hurled from Heaven by Anu. Various texts and amulets depict Pazuzu chasing her to the underworld, suffocating her allies with pestilential clouds, or shattering her form.

This antagonism originates from shared lilû classification, with Pazuzu’s greater malice overpowering hers to protect births. He also opposes generic evil winds and galla demons that drag souls below, invoked to repel them from thresholds.

Allies include apotropaic figures such as Ugallu (lion-demon) and Lulal (human-headed spirit), inscribed on the backs of Pazuzu amulets to temper his destructive tendencies toward humans.

In broader lore, major gods like Marduk or Ea bind him indirectly, redirecting his storms.

Pazuzu’s network reflects hierarchical demonology: he dominates lesser evils. Still, he submits to divine oversight, used by exorcists to counter threats—like Alu (nightmare spirit) or Namtar (fate demon).

Connections to Other Entities

Name	Folklore	Type	Appearance
Lamashtu	Mesopotamian	Childbirth demon	Lion head, donkey teeth, hairy body with talons, suckling dog and pig.
Humbaba	Sumerian	Forest guardian demon	Gigantic with lion face, staring eyes, dragon scales, cedar-like horns.
Lamassu	Assyrian	Protective spirit	Winged bull or lion with human head and five legs.
Apep	Egyptian	Chaos serpent	Colossal serpent uncoiling in the underworld.
Set	Egyptian	Storm desert god	Unspecified animal head (sha), red-haired humanoid.
Tiamat	Babylonian	Primordial monster	Dragon or serpent with multiple heads and scorpion tail.
Ereshkigal	Sumerian	Underworld queen	Pallid corpse-like woman in dusty robes.
Nergal	Mesopotamian	Plague war god	Lion-headed man with saw-toothed sword.
Anzu	Mesopotamian	Storm bird demon	Lion-headed eagle with massive wings.
Gallu	Sumerian	Underworld hauler	Horned bull-men with clubs and ropes.
Ugallu	Assyrian	Door guardian	Lion-man with bird talons and snake tail.
Lilitu	Sumerian	Wind succubus	Winged woman with bird talons and owl feet.
Namtar	Mesopotamian	Fate plague demon	Emaciated figure with skeletal limbs.

Pazuzu Myths, Legends and Stories

Pazuzu’s Ascent and Combat Against the Winds

A long time ago, the demon named Pazuzu spoke directly to an exorcist. He introduces himself, sharing his background and fierce nature to show his power. Pazuzu describes his travels through wild, chaotic landscapes. Angered by high mountains, he climbs them with such force that the ground shakes beneath him.

As he moves, he encounters malicious winds, known as lilû spirits, which bring sickness and drought to the lands. Pazuzu confronts these winds one by one as they rush toward the west. He grabs hold of their flowing wings, which help them spread their destructive energy.

With determination, he tears their wings apart, making them unable to fly and trapping them on the ground. Because of this, their dangerous powers are weakened, preventing the devastation caused by droughts and plagues.

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The Rivalry with Lamashtu

Lamashtu, known as the daughter of the sky god Anu, is a dangerous creature. With the head of a lion, she stalks around homes at night, searching for the scent of newborn babies.

She’s known for slipping through cracks and stealing infants from their cradles or causing women in labor to experience terrifying complications. Her appearance is fearsome, with hairy limbs, donkey-like teeth, and bird claws, and she is said to pull unborn babies out of their mothers, leaving destruction in her wake.

To combat her threats, Pazuzu is summoned through protective amulets. He is depicted as a powerful demon, standing tall and fierce, ready to confront Lamashtu.

In one artwork on a bronze plaque, you can see Pazuzu looming over Lamashtu, his scorpion-like tail ready to strike. He spreads his mighty wings and, with a loud crack, stops her from escaping. As she flees down a river in the underworld, Pazuzu sends his fierce winds against her, creating a storm that hinders her allies, who are ghostly creatures.

He chases Lamashtu through barren lands, striking out to catch her. The rituals suggest placing an image of Pazuzu’s head above the bed, where it stands guard and keeps Lamashtu away from those in danger.

Other protective beings, like fish-men and lion figures, flank him on the back of the amulet to strengthen this defense. Ultimately, Pazuzu drives Lamashtu away, and her howls fade as the rituals seal off any threats, ensuring the child’s safety until morning.

Invocation Against Household Plagues

In ancient Assyrian culture, there were special rituals to address the challenges posed by powerful spirits, such as Pazuzu. According to a ritual tablet found in Sultantepe, when people suffered from serious conditions like fever or impotence, they believed it was due to harmful influences from Pazuzu and his minions.

The text begins by referring to Pazuzu with titles that reflect the pain and suffering he can bring—calling him the “Agony of Mankind” and “Disease of Mankind.”

To combat Pazuzu’s influence, a priest, an ašipu, performed a specific ritual. He created a small clay head to represent Pazuzu and wrote incantations on its base.

The ritual started at dusk. The priest hung the head at the entrance of a home, using loops and cords to keep it in place. He then placed offerings like bread, water, and even the hearts of small pigs—symbolic gifts meant to deny life to harmful spirits—around it.

As part of the ritual, the priest called out to Pazuzu, asking him not to enter the house they were protecting. He commanded the spirits under Pazuzu’s control to stay away, emphasizing that they could not cross the threshold thanks to the protective power of Pazuzu himself. To enhance the warding effect, black dogs were positioned nearby, their howls mimicking the fearsome sound of Pazuzu.

By the next morning, the sickness began to fade, and the winds turned gentle, bringing the refreshing scent of rain instead of dust and pests.

Pazuzu’s Powers and Abilities

Pazuzu possesses command over elemental and supernatural forces tied to wind and plague, making him a formidable entity in Mesopotamian lore.

As king of the lilû demons, he summons southwestern gales that carry famine, drought, and locusts, capable of scouring the land or infiltrating homes to induce illness and impotence.

His strength lies in duality: unchecked, he inflicts widespread harm, but rituals harness him to repel greater threats, positioning him as a mid-level power below major gods yet above minor spirits.

Pazuzu’s powers and abilities include:

• Wind Manipulation: Controls southwestern winds to bring drought, locusts, or plague; redirects them to suffocate rival demons like Lamashtu’s allies.
• Wing-Breaking: Physically snaps the wings of evil lilû winds encountered on mountains, grounding them and preventing flight-borne harm.
• Plague Infliction: Spreads disease and fever as “Agony of Mankind,” entering homes to cause misfortune unless warded.
• Apotropaic Repulsion: His image frightens away lesser demons, protecting pregnant women and infants from Lamashtu’s grasp.
• Mountain Ascension: Scales and shakes mighty peaks, asserting dominance over chaotic terrains and binding winds to his will.
• Possession Resistance: Invoked to counter other possessions, channeling his grotesque form to expel intruders like Alu nightmares.

Rituals, Amulets, and Protective Practices

Ancient Mesopotamians used Pazuzu in white magic rituals to avert his harm while leveraging his terror against foes. Exorcists (ašipu) used his figurines in household rites, placing them at entrances or wearing them to invoke protection during plagues or births.

Offerings like incense, libations, and animal hearts appeased him, ensuring his winds guarded rather than ravaged.

Incantations and Ceremonies

Incantations against Pazuzu or invoking him were part of many ancient exorcisms, often recited over his head during ceremonies at doorways or at sickbeds.

Priests purified the space with fumigation, then positioned the artifact facing outward. For Lamashtu threats, a Late Babylonian rite involved crafting a Pazuzu necklace from bronze and hanging it on the afflicted while chanting to drive her down.

Ceremonies also included sacrifices: bread and water for sustenance denied demons, piglet hearts symbolizing devoured vitality, and black dogs led around the home to echo his roar.

The Standard B incantation, inscribed on amulets from Nimrud and Uruk, forms the core text, recited verbatim: igi-ir kal-’a-a šam-ru ez-zu munā’i[šu]. It translates as “who causes the world regions to quake, the raging storm, [his] shaking.”

A full variant from Sultantepe tablets (K 2547+) expands:

Mighty Pazuzu, son of Hanbu, king of the lilû-demons: I am Pazuzu… enraged against the strong mountains, I ascended them. The mighty mountain shook; the evil winds heading westward, I encountered—one by one, I broke their wings. Agony of Mankind, do not enter the house; Suffering of Mankind, approach not the threshold.

Amulets and Talismans

Throughout history, people have created various amulets and charms to protect against negative influences. One of the most popular figures for these protective items was Pazuzu.

Starting around the 8th century BCE, amulets featuring Pazuzu’s head were made from clay, metal, glass, and bone. They were commonly worn as necklaces by pregnant women to safeguard their babies.

In addition to necklaces, people also crafted rectangular plaques and small figures for hanging on walls. For instance, one such piece, found in an ancient reception room at Dur-Katlimmu, faced the entrance, serving as a guardian against evil. The back of these items often included symbols or names of other protective figures, enhancing their power.

In burial sites like Nimrud, fibulae—decorative pins used to hold clothing together—also depicted Pazuzu, making them another form of portable protection. Larger stone amulets were created for places to help protect against general bad luck.

Ancient texts from Uruk even mentioned that bronze versions of these charms were specifically made to prevent miscarriages, highlighting the importance of their design and placement.

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Frequently Asked Questions