Iconography

Pazuzu is often depicted with the body of a man but with the head of a lion or dog, talons instead of feet, two pairs of wings, the tail of a scorpion and a serpentine penis. He is often depicted with the right hand upward, and the left hand downward; the position of the hands means life and death, or creation and destruction.

Mythology

Pazuzu is the god of the South-west wind that was known for bringing droughts and famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in amulets aimed at fighting against the powers of his hated rival, the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Pazuzu is also a god who protected humans against plague and evil forces, in particular the evil goddess Lamashtu.

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 figure that threatens him — seemingly an illusion — is Pazuzu, whom he had battled many years earlier. Later, when he is appointed to perform the exorcism on Regan, he suspects it is Pazuzu that possesses her. There is a very tense scene in the movie in which the demon recognizes an old enemy when Merrin arrives at the house to perform the exorcism. The 1977 sequel film Exorcist II: The Heretic and the 2004 prequel Exorcist: The Beginning also deal with Pazuzu.
• There are several heavy metal bands named Pazuzu.
• The name or figure of Pazuzu is also referenced in a number of other fictional works; see Pazuzu (disambiguation) for further information.
• In the American animated television show, Futurama, the gargoyle that Professor Farnsworth was searching for in the episode "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles" (Season Four Episode Seven) is named Pazuzu.
• The music video for the song "Rock It" by the cartoon band Gorillaz features a Pazuzu statue singing the chorus.
• In an album from Tardi's series Les Aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec: The Demon of the Eiffel Tower (Le Demon de la Tour Eiffel), the title character (Adele) faces a murderous sect worshipping Pazuzu.