Pazuzu figurine: An ancient statue of the Mesopotamian ‘demon’ god who inspired ‘The Exorcist’
Rapid facts
Name: Pazuzu statue
What is: A bronze figurine
Where he comes from: THE Assyrian Empire
When it was done: THE Neo-Assyrian period, around 900 to 600 BC
This small bronze figurine is the best known representation of the Mesopotamian God Pazuzu, who was the inspiration for modern demons presented in “The Exorcist” and “The Simpsons” – but apparently not the basis of the Labu collection toy.
Exposed to LustThe winged figurine 6 inches high (15 centimeters) stands on a base with its raised right arm. But on his back is a frightening inscription which has probably contributed to the infamy of the demon: “I am Pazuzu, son of Hampa, the king of the evil spirits of the air which violently emerges from the mountains which are raging; it is me.”
In the old Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu was a demon of the wind of the world. Although the representations of him differ, Pazuzu typically Has a dog -shaped face with huge and curved eyes; an open mouth with sharp teeth; the greenhouses and wings of a bird; the horns of a goat; And a scaper body with genitals with a snake head and a scorpion tail.
Ancient texts suggest that Pazuzu was responsible for the invocation of destructive winds, to cause droughts and famine and the introduction of a disease.
A huge number Pazuzu figurines made from a variety of materials have been found on archaeological sites over the years, but Pazuzu has not entered the modern cultural zeitgeist half a century ago.
In relation: Sabu Disk: a mysterious 5000 -year -old Egyptian stone sculpture that looks like a hubcap
More amazing artifacts
The Mesopotamian “Demon of the Southwest Wind” inspired a character in William Peter Blatty’s book in 1971 “”The exorcist“Where the mind has a little girl. In 2017, a character named Pazuzu appeared in an episode of” “Simpsons“Where the statue has the family. And more recently, some people have brought the internet to speculate that fur Toy to collect LABUBUWith his huge eyes and tiny hooks, is based on Pazuzu.
But Pazuzu obtained some bad rap. Despite its destructive nature, it was also considered a protector of the domestic domain. His work consisted in repelling other demons of people’s houses, and he took care of pregnant women and mothers.
