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Lamashtu
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In Mesopotamian mythology, Lamashtu (Sumerian Dimme) was a female demon, monster, malevolent goddess or demigoddess who menaced women during childbirth and, if possible, kidnapped children while they were breastfeeding. She would gnaw on their bones and suck their blood, as well as being charged with a number of other evil deeds. She was a daughter of the Sky God Anu.
Lamashtu had a hairy body, a lioness' head with donkey's teeth and ears, long fingers and fingernails, and the feet of a bird with sharp talons. She is often shown standing or kneeling on a donkey, nursing a pig and a dog, and holding snakes. She also bears some functions and resemblance to the Mesopotamian demon Lilith.
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Mythology
Lamashtu's father was the Sky God Anu (Sumer An). Unlike many other usual demonic figures and depictions in Mesopotamian lore, Lamashtu, was said to act in malevolence of her own accord, rather than at the gods' instructions. Along with this her name was written together with the cuneiform determinative indicating deity.[1] This means she was a goddess or a demigoddess in her own right.[2]
She bore seven names and was described as seven witches in incantations. Her evil deeds included (but were not limited to), slaying children, unborns, and neonates, causing harm to mothers and expectant mothers, eating men and drinking their blood, disturbing sleep, bringing nightmares, killing foliage, infesting rivers and lakes, and being a bringer of disease, sickness, and death.[3]
Pazuzu, a god or demon, was invoked to protect birthing mothers and infants against Lamashtu's malevolence, usually on amulets and statues. Although Pazuzu was said to be bringer of famine and drought, he was also invoked against evil for protection, and against plague, but he was primarily and popularly invoked against his fierce, malicious, rival Lamashtu.[4].[5]
Mesopotamian Incantation Prayer Against Lamashtu:
Great is the daughter of Heaven who tortures babies
Her hand is a net, her embrace is death
She is cruel, raging, angry, predatory
A runner, a thief is the daughter of Heaven
She touches the bellies of women in labor
She pulls out the pregnant women’s baby
The daughter of Heaven is one of the Gods, her brothers
With no child of her own.
Her head is a lion’s head
Her body is a donkey’s body
She roars like a lion
She constantly howls like a demon-dog.[6]
Her hand is a net, her embrace is death
She is cruel, raging, angry, predatory
A runner, a thief is the daughter of Heaven
She touches the bellies of women in labor
She pulls out the pregnant women’s baby
The daughter of Heaven is one of the Gods, her brothers
With no child of her own.
Her head is a lion’s head
Her body is a donkey’s body
She roars like a lion
She constantly howls like a demon-dog.[6]
In modern culture
- the name of a Shivan capital starship in the FreeSpace 2 game
- a creature that appears in the Final Fantasy X game on Mushroom Rock Road
- featured in the story of the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines game under the name "Lamastu"
- a king of Closetland in the roleplaying game Little Fears
- the name of the opening track of Spawn of Possession's album "Cabinet"
- the Goddess of Monstrous Birth in the setting of the Dungeons & Dragons-oriented role-playing game publication Pathfinder.
- there are hints to Lamashtu in Black Light Burns' 2007 album Cruel Melody. The band's frontman, Wesley Borland, painted a picture to its tribute.
 Lamashtu plaque held by Pazuzu |
 Close-up of plaque's bottom register |
 Lamashtu plaque |
See also
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References
- ^ Line 47 has ddim-me, the superscript d being the divine determinative.[1]
- ^ "Ancient Near East: Lamashtu". http://www.ancientneareast.net/religion_mesopotamian/demons/lamashtu.html.
- ^ "Ancient Near East: Lamashtu". http://www.ancientneareast.net/religion_mesopotamian/demons/lamashtu.html.
- ^ "Wikipedia: Pazuzu". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazuzu.
- ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica Article: Lamashtu". http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046921/Lamashtu.
- ^ "Ancient Near East: Lamashtu". http://www.ancientneareast.net/religion_mesopotamian/demons/lamashtu.html.
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