Pazuzu

In ancient Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu (Akkadian: 𒀭𒅆𒊒𒍪𒍪, romanized: pà.zu.zu) is a demonic deity from the Babylonian and Assyrian cultures in the first millennium BCE. He is shown with "a rather canine face with abnormally bulging eyes, a scaly body, a snake-headed penis, the talons of a bird and usually wings". He was believed to be the son of the god Hanbi. He was usually regarded as evil, but he could also sometimes be a beneficent entity who protected against winds bearing pestilence and he was thought to be able to force the demoness Lamashtu, his rival, back to the underworld. Amulets bearing his image were positioned in dwellings to protect infants from Lamashtu and pregnant women frequently wore amulets with his head on them as protection from her. As an apotropaic entity, he is considered as both a personification of a destructive and dangerous wind, but also as a repellent to other demons, one who safeguards the home from their influence. In particular he protects pregnant women and mothers, defending them from the machinations of Lamashtu. He is invoked in ritual and representations of him are used as defence charms.