Simple facts
Name: Pazuzu statue
What it is: Bronze figurine
Birthplace: Assyrian Empire
When it was made: Neo-Assyrian period, 900-600 BC
This little bronze figurine is the most famous portrayal of the Mesopotamian god Pazzu and the inspiration for modern demons from “The Exorcist” and “The Simpsons,” but it is clearly not the basis of the collectible toy Lovebu.
As it is on display at the Louvre, a 6-inch (15 cm) high winged figurine stands on a base with its right arm raised. However, on his back is a cold inscription with bones, which is likely to have contributed to the devil’s infamy.
In ancient Mesopotamian religions, Pazuzu was the world-class wind demon. Although his portrayals are different, Pazzu usually has a dog-like face with huge, bulging eyes. Mouth with sharp teeth. Bird’s claws and wings. Goat’s horns; and a scaly body with genitals of the snake’s head and scorpion’s tail.
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Ancient texts suggest that Pazzu was in charge of summoning destructive winds, bringing drought and hunger, and introducing diseases.
A huge number of Pazzuzu figurines made from various sources have been discovered in archaeological sites for many years, but Pazzu did not enter modern cultural periods until half a century ago.
Related: Sub-disc: A 5,000-year-old Egyptian stone carving that looks like a hub cap
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Mesopotamia’s “The Devil of the Southwest Wind” influenced the characters in William Peter Blatty’s 1971 book, The Exorcist. In 2017, a character named Pazuzu appeared in an episode of “The Simpsons.” And recently, some people have taken them to the internet to speculate that their huge eyes and small fangs of the furry collectible toy Lovebu is based on Pazzu.
However, Pazzu got a bit of a bad rap. Despite his destructive nature, he was also considered a guardian of the territory of the country. His job was to fight back other demons from people’s homes, and he cared for a pregnant woman and mother.
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