Demon Pazuzu

Sculpture

-

Museum of Antiquities - University of Saskatchewan

Name/Title

Demon Pazuzu

Entry/Object ID

06NE11106

Description

Demon with a double set of wings, head of a dragon/snake, body of a man with one upraised arm, scorpion's tail and talons with its left leg stepping forward.

Type of Sculpture

Statuette

Artwork Details

Medium

Resin

Context

Pazuzu was well-known in Assyrian art and culture as the king of demons who controlled the winds, such as the South-West wind that brought that brought droughts, famine and locusts. While sinister in appearance and character, he could be invoked for benevolent purposes. Widely represented in statuettes and amulets, perhaps Pazuzu's most important duty was protecting the sick and weak from his evil demoness wife Lamashtu. His stance here is symbolic: his right hand is raised and his left hand is extended downwards. This position represents life/death and creation/destruction. The ring atop his head suggests that the piece was intended to be hung, perhaps in the room of someone in need of protection

Made/Created

Date made

911 BCE - 604 BCE

Time Period

Iron Age

Ethnography

Culture/Tribe

Near Eastern - Assyrian

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

14.5 cm

Width

8.6 cm

Depth

5.2 cm

Dimension Description

Base Width

Width

6 cm

Dimension Description

Base Depth

Depth

6 cm

Dimension Description

Base Height

Height

2 cm

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

Heessel, Nils P. Iconography of Deities and Demons: Pazuzu. Public: No

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

Kalesnky, Patricia. "Statuette of the Demon Pazuzu with an inscription." Louvre Museum, www.louvre.fr. Public: No

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

The Assyrian "Hell Plaque". Public: No

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

Heessel, Nils P. Ancient Magic and Divination IV: Pazuzu Archaologische Studien Zu Einem Altorientalischen Damon. Edited by Ann K. Guinan Tavi Abusch. Ledien: Brill/Styx, 2002. Public: No

Research Type

Reference

Notes

Graff, Sarah B. "Demons, Monsters, and Magic." In Assyria to Iberia: at the Dawn of the Classical Age, edited by Joan Aruz, Sarah B. Graff and Yelena Rakic, 263-271. London: Yale University Press, 2014.