Pazuzu is a fearsome demon that was first introduced through Sumerian mythology. While Pazuzu is considered a fearsome demon, he is also seen as a protector against certain evils. Pazuzu’s origins as a demon have become confused over time, as is often the case with Lilith and sometimes with the Antichrist.
In Babylonian mythology (where Pazuzu was originally created), Pazuzu may have always existed as a demon. In their culture, a demon was an evil entity, although that did not mean that all of its actions were evil in nature. Thanks to this, Pazuzu could also exist as a protective spirit.
Pazuzu Transforms
When Christians were introduced to Sumerian myths, they created an alternative story. Because their religion had only one benevolent god, it was necessary to portray all demonic spirits as purely evil entities whose sole purpose was to corrupt those who served God.
It was then that Pazuzu became known as Lucifer’s right-hand man. It was said that the two conspired together to overthrow God, but they were unsuccessful and were cast out of heaven as punishment. It was through this interpretation that Pazuzu became known as a fallen angel who had transformed into a demon.
Although modern perspectives on Pazuzu may be limited by the Christian interpretation of this Sumerian demon, Pazuzu was seen as a very powerful and respected demon of his time. He was the son of Hanbi, an evil god who ruled over all evil spirits. He was also the brother of Humbaba, a demonic spirit known for guarding the Cedar Forest where the gods lived.
Pazuzu according to legend
Pazuzu himself was also known for having an impressive history and list of abilities. He was a primordial being called an obirito and was said to predate the existence of the Abyss itself. He was known for ruling over the first layer of the Abyss, which was named Pazunia in his honor. There are even stories suggesting that Pazuzu may have been responsible for the creation of the Abyss through the manipulation of the god Tharizdun.
Pazuzu’s powers were known to be numerous and powerful. He was said to have control over the west and southwest winds, which were believed to come from the land of the dead. As the controller of these winds, he also had the power to bring pestilence and famine upon any land he desired. He was also known to breathe swarms of locusts and could create poisonous clouds of acid waste with his breath at will.
Similarly, he was known to have poor eyesight, as well as blind vision (the ability to perceive the environment without visual sight). He spoke many languages and was also thought to have some form of telepathic abilities. Pazuzu is also known for having a large magical sword that gave him impressive agility and speed.
It is important to note that Pazuzu was a member of the Anunnaki (gods who came from heaven and settled on Earth). He was known for being part of the Sebettu, followers of the god of war Nergal, who used their powers to spread destructive forces such as famine and disease after an area had been subjected to the brutality of the forces of war.
Pazuzu’s practices
Pazuzu liked corrupting beings he considered innocent and pure. He took advantage of any mortal who came to him for help, but almost always made the victim regret their pleas for assistance. Pazuzu was said to enjoy offering help that seemed benevolent, but secretly required the victim to ask the lord of demons for more help.
He would then make them increasingly indebted to his services until he had corrupted them completely. His favorite prizes were those who were seen as the purest of the pure, and he eagerly sought victims to corrupt and sentence to an eternal life of agony in the Abyss.
Pazuzu was known to corrupt many by appearing before mortals disguised as Imdugud, Pazrael, and Typhon. He granted the prayers of those who sought his mercy and often used these victims to spread cults and worship in his name. It was said that if one invoked Pazuzu’s name three times in a row, they could read the thoughts of the person attempting to summon him. He could then appear beside them at will and often granted their wishes to make them feel indebted to him, although the cost would be enormous. Pazuzu was thought to have used these tactics to extend his influence to entire communities.
The followers of Pazuzu
He also had many worshippers among the evil flying creatures. Among those believed to worship Pazuzu were the following:
Kenku
The Kenku are believed to have evolved from birds, but they are mostly humanoid in appearance. They have the head of a bird and humanoid arms and legs, although their hands and feet have been given bird-like claws and talons. The Kenku are known for being selfish and are always scheming ways to acquire wealth and power. Unlike most avian hybrids, Kenku cannot fly.
Harpies
Harpies were evil avian humanoids with the ability to fly. They were often imagined as having a female upper body with a reptilian lower half ending in sharp bird claws. Harpies are known to have magnificent wings, but they are considered foul creatures. They are known for their irresistible songs, which act as charms to lure their victims to certain death.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles are evil creatures that enjoy inflicting pain on other creatures. They are often described as eating their victims alive and enjoying listening to the screams of the person they tortured, even though they do not need food to survive. Gargoyles commonly work for evil masters. They are sometimes paid with treasure, but most gargoyles serve an evil purpose as long as they are able to hurt and torture others.
Manticores
Manticores were large hybrid beasts with the head of a man and the body of a lion. They were also described as having wings like a dragon. Manticores were believed to be impossible to kill and were known for their great love of human flesh.
Wyverns
Wyverns were large winged lizards that were similar in appearance to dragons, although not as intelligent. The creatures were known to be poisonous and had sharp teeth and claws. They are often used as mounts.
Fey
Any type of creature with supernatural abilities that exemplify or inhabit natural wonders is considered Fey. Not all Fey were evil, but many evil Fey were thought to worship Pazuzu.
Dragons
Dragons were magical creatures with impressive powers. Not all dragons were evil, but evil dragons (such as chromatic dragons) were thought to be worshippers of Pazuzu.
Sumerian perspective on Pazuzu
Many wonder why the Sumerians would risk summoning the spirit of Pazuzu if they knew he was an evil entity. The answer likely lies in their belief system. Those who worshipped Pazuzu or prayed to him often believed that as long as they offered demon sacrifices and were careful in their practices, Pazuzu would use his wrath against their enemies rather than against them.
Many of those who worshipped him were known to carve small statues or idols of the demon lord to invoke his protection. It was thought that because Pazuzu was a powerful demon, he could be summoned as protection against equally powerful demons or the wrath of the gods. Ancient summoners carved or created images of the beings from the underworld they sought to summon because they believed that carving the image of the chosen demon would capture its attention.
It is important to note, however, that large statues of Pazuzu were not created for fear of attracting too much attention to the creator. Instead, small figures and amulets were made. It was thought that the small figures would be large enough to catch the demon’s attention, but small enough to ensure that this attention would be rewarded with protection. In this way, the mortal who invoked Pazuzu would have been seen as paying homage to the demon, causing Pazuzu to turn his fury toward those who threatened those loyal to him.
While the image of Pazuzu was sometimes used to invoke protection against the southwesterly wind that he was known to control, he was more often asked to protect pregnant mothers and young children from the wrath of the demon goddess Lamashtu. This goddess was known for her anger towards pregnant women, unborn children, and young children. She is believed to devour the flesh of children and sometimes cause the death of pregnant women.
According to legend, Lamashtu was Pazuzu’s lover. This ended when Lamashtu betrayed Pazuzu. As punishment, he blinded the demon goddess and banished her to the 503rd layer of the Abyss, known as Torremor. It is believed that Pazuzu was willing to protect pregnant women and young children from Lamashtu due to his anger over the betrayal of his trust.
What was an Obyrith?
Pazuzu’s role as an obirith is important because it expresses the pure power he has over many of the demon realms.
An obirith is considered a demon with origins so ancient that they predate the existence of the gods. Pazuzu is one of the few obyriths believed to have a humanoid form. Many of the obyriths are believed to have a form that cannot be understood by mortal man. In fact, it is believed that contemplating the image of an obirith could drive a mortal mad.
Although it is believed that there were originally many obiriths, only twelve survive in the modern world. The rest were victims of the destruction of their reality and the wars that followed the Abyss.
Pazunia
Pazunia is a desolate layer of the Abyss. The realm is devoid of sun and moon, but it still has an orange light that illuminates the barren land. The ground is covered with rusted metals that have crumbled over time and scatter easily. Much of Pazunia’s terrain is stained with blood, bile, and the entrails left behind by those who fought the war in this layer of the Abyss.
Pazunia is also known for its uncomfortable cold temperatures, although the climate is still tolerable for both mortals and demons. It is said that the temples and houses of Pazuzu are built in extreme locations that can only be reached by those who can fly.
Stories of Pazuzu
Among the stories of Pazuzu, there are a series of narratives that are directly connected to the character, including:
Pazuzu and Tharizdun
Tharizdun was a god who was hungry for power that was denied him by the other gods. In his quest for power, he found a fragment made of pure evil. The fragment had been created as a trap for Tharizdun by the obiritos, who were trapped in a dying world. As soon as he touched the fragment, his mind and spirit were corrupted by the obituaries and he was overcome by madness. As it is often speculated that Pazuzu was the creator of this plan, he is often credited with the corruption of Tharizdun’s spirit.
The obiritos ordered Tharizdun to plant a seed of evil in the Astral Sea and promised him total control of the new realm that would be created in exchange for his cooperation. But in the midst of his madness, Tharizdun realized that if he tried to go ahead with this plot, the other gods would turn against him before he could claim the power promised by the obituaries. If he followed their plan, he would not be the one to rule over the new domain.
Instead, Tharizdun attempted to devise a plan that would allow for the creation of a new realm over which he would maintain total control. He brought the seed of evil to a forgotten expanse within the Elemental Chaos (a realm of fallen primal energy), hoping to seize this world as his own. When he planted this seed of evil, it eventually became what is now known as the Abyss.
For a short time, he was granted the power he had so desperately craved. Eventually, however, the other gods recognized the danger Tharizdun posed and set aside their differences to band together and imprison the god. He was locked away inside another universe known only as the ‘Void’ so that he could not harm this world, though he retained all of his powers.
It is believed that Tharizdun is largely controlled by the madness implanted in him by the evil fragment of Pazuzu, but it is said that he has brief periods of lucidity that he uses to plan his escape from Voidharrow.
Pazuzu corrupts Asmodeus
Asmodeus was originally thought to be a loyal servant of the lawful gods who inhabited the Astral Sea. It was believed that he and his companions had been created to fight the demons that inhabited the Abyss and prevent them from entering the Astral Sea so that the gods could concentrate on creating other worlds and beings.
After an incomprehensible period of time thought to span billions of years, Asmodeus and the other protectors began to be corrupted by the influence of the demons they were fighting. Pazuzu himself is believed to have been responsible for Asmodeus’ corruption by introducing an idea of power that was impossible for the being to turn away from.
It was at this point that the gods who created Asmodeus put him to the test and demanded that he leave the Higher Planes, fearing that he had become an evil being. However, Pazuzu had trained Asmodeus well, and Asmodeus managed to argue a case that allowed him to remain in the Higher Planes for the time being.
When humans were finally created, the demons attacked them and the Higher Planes. Asmodeus and his fellow protectors were sent to protect humans, but they were unable to do so because humans continued to defy the gods’ orders and attempted to explore the Abyss. The gods were angered by the defiance of their creations and could not understand their disobedience.
Asmodeus explained to them that humans cannot be expected to avoid these areas of their own free will and must be threatened with an incentive to be obedient. Through this act, Asmodeus is said to have invented the concept of punishment.
Asmodeus then convinced the gods to sign a pact that allowed him to take the abandoned realm of Baator and punish the souls of evil mortals who defied the gods and attempted to swear allegiance to the demons of the Abyss. To maintain his power, he suggested that he be allowed to extract magical energy from the souls of these wretched creatures.
This would allow them to be powerful enough to teach humans a lesson without having to receive the powers of divinity. At that time, Asmodeus was a totally demonic entity, although with the help of Pazuzu, he was able to avoid detection by the gods. They accepted his pact (known as the Primitive Pact) and he was granted dominion over evil mortals.
At first, the gods were satisfied with Asmodeus’ plan, but they eventually realized that fewer and fewer mortal souls were ascending to the Higher Planes in their afterlife. It was then that they discovered that Asmodeus had conspired against them and was deliberately tempting mortals to condemn themselves to eternal damnation. It is unclear whether Pazuzu’s assistance was known at the time, although many indicate that no one knew of Pazuzu’s involvement other than Asmodeus and the other obirites.
Because he refused to leave the Higher Planes voluntarily, he was cast down to the Lower Planes and received many wounds that have not healed to this day. It is said that he still conspires to use the magical energy of evil mortal souls to heal himself and that he will eventually seek the destruction of the Higher Planes. He is believed to conspire with Pazuzu frequently.
Pazuzu and Lamashtu
When Pazuzu was a younger demon, he was once known to accept the company of any demon or evil entity, regardless of their motives. It was because of this recklessness that he encountered the demon Lamashtu.
Lamashtu is known to have become Pazuzu’s lover, although this was only done to distract him from his true goals. Once she felt she had gotten close enough to Pazuzu that he was blinded by their connection, she asked Pazuzu to reveal his true name. She claimed that if he was as powerful as he claimed to be, revealing his true name would not threaten his power.
Pazuzu was arrogant and did not think much of Lamashtu’s challenge. He told her his true name, and Lamashtu immediately turned against him. She attempted to use the magic of his true name to take over his kingdom and leave him powerless. She was unsuccessful, but she forced him to flee and go into hiding.
Pazuzu was enraged by Lamashtu and devised a plan for revenge. He lured Lamashtu to the Terremor (the 503rd layer of the Abyss). He tricked Lamashtu into venturing into the narrow crevices of the Terremor, where his large form was a disadvantage. He allowed her to believe that she was in control of the outcome of the fight by simply evading her attacks rather than retaliating in defense, and then he dove into her mouth as if he had been defeated.
Lamashtu believed herself victorious and began to rejoice until she felt one of her teeth being torn from her jaw. Pazuzu reemerged and used the tooth to carve Lamashtu’s skull and rip out her eyes. He then condemned her to an eternity in Terremor for her betrayal and resigned himself to Pazunia. Once there, he slaughtered all his followers and changed his tactics. From that day forward, Pazuzu would not be reckless, but he would be known as one of the coldest and most calculating demons in the Abyss.
Physical appearance
There are several descriptions of Pazuzu in history. Some said he was extremely tall and well-proportioned, but that he also had features known to be demonic. In these accounts, he was said to have bird-like feet, as well as wings that were covered in oil and constantly belching smoke. His face was said to be beautiful, although instead of a mouth, he was known to have a beak similar to that of a bird of prey.
Other records of Pazuzu indicate that he had a much more fearsome appearance. Records suggest that he may have had a dog-like face with large, terrifying eyes. He has also been depicted with a penis with a snake’s head and a reptilian body.
He is also said to have huge wings in these versions, as well as claws that were unfathomably sharp. As an obirito, it is possible that both images were accurate to some extent. It is possible that these were the forms Pazuzu chose to appear in to make it easier for the mortal mind to understand his form.
Motivation
Pazuzu is known for being a highly intelligent demon who is always scheming to cause chaos and corruption among the pure of heart. Although Pazuzu is said to corrupt any soul that becomes vulnerable, his greatest joy comes from corrupting the purest of the pure—as was the case when he corrupted Asmodeus.
Pazuzu is often mistaken for having benevolent tendencies if approached with respect, although this is likely due to his enjoyment of luring innocent souls into corruption by making them dependent on his favors. He is known to use this tactic to corrupt entire communities through a single individual.
If Pazuzu is capable of truly benevolent actions, it is only to thwart the efforts of the demon Lamashtu. This is believed to be due to his deep anger toward Lamashtu for betraying his trust.
Possible connections
Pazuzu is sometimes depicted as the devil (also known as Lucifer). Although there are many historical accounts that claim Pazuzu was often associated with the devil, he is not seen as the true devil because he was never part of the Upper Plane.
Explanation of the myth
Pazuzu is often seen as a being who was used to explain events in the ancient world that were evil or tragic. As the controller of the southwestern winds (which were believed to come from the land of the dead), Pazuzu was thought to be capable of causing famine, death, and destruction if he so desired.
However, Pazuzu was also seen as a protector of other evil entities. He summoned his powers to protect his followers, especially against the demon Lamashtu. Although the intention behind his benevolent acts is questionable, it may have been comforting to think that even an evil spirit was capable of doing good if properly honored.
