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| In Sumerian and Akkadian mythology, '''Pazuzu''' was the king of the [[demon]]s of wind, and son of the god [[Hanbi]].
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| For the Sumerians he also represented the southwestern wind, the bearer of storms.
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| ==Origin==
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| Pazuzu is the demon of the South-west wind that was known for bringing droughts and famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons.
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| 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 demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces, in particular the demoness [[Lamashtu]].
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| ===Appearance===
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| 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.
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| He is also depicted with the right hand upward, and the left hand downward; the position of the hands means life and death, or creation and destruction.
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| ==In popular culture==
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| ===Literature/Movies===
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| *At the beginning of both 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.
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| Later, when he is appointed to perform the exorcism on Regan, he suspects it is Pazuzu that possesses her. The 1977 sequel film ''Exorcist II: The Heretic'' and the 2004 prequel ''Exorcist: The Beginning'' also deals with Pazuzu.
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| ===Music===
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| *There are several heavy metal bands named ''Pazuzu''
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/sp_pazuzu.html The Demon of the South-West Wind]
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| *[http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/HIGH/OIM_A25413_c_72dpi.html Oriental Institute of Chicago] figure of Pazuzu
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| {{wikipedia}}
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| [[Category:Angels and demons]]
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| [[Category:Sumerian mythology]] [[Category:Akkadian mythology]]
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