Pazuzu was a well-known demon in Babylonia and Assyria with later widespread use, earliest mentions dating from the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE.

He was associated with the cold winds that blew from the Zagros Mountains on the border with Iran into what is now Iraq and were thought to bring diseases with them. Although not a benevolent figure himself, he was able to divert the dangerous attention of Lamashtu, a powerful and violent demon.

Complete illustrations show it with a scaly body, a snake-headed penis, the front paws of a lion, the claws of a bird, and the tail of a scorpion; it is usually winged. The head is usually lion/dog-like with partial gazelle horns on it. He often raises his right hand in a gesture of threat. The rituals dedicated to this deity emphasize his evil nature, but he can also be turned to good.

His name has made it to The Simpsons, Futurama and Hollywood movies. The demon who seizes power over the young girl in the world-famous "The Exorcist" is Pazuzu, and a statuette of him also appears.

The demonic figure of "Baphomet" is also said to be based on him, but this is not certain.

The head shown, only about 10cm tall, in remarkable condition and with great expressiveness, was auctioned at Christie's in 2008 for about 25,000USD.