Lamashtu
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In Mesopotamian mythology Lamashtu was a female demon that menaced women during childbirth and, if possible, kidnapped children while they were breastfeeding.
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.
Pazuzu was invoked to protect birthing mother and infant against Lamashtu's malevolence,and was invoked on various amulets and statues for this purpose.
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.
[edit] Appearance in modern media
Lamashtu is the name of a Shivan capital starship in FreeSpace 2
Lamashtu is also a creature that appears in Final Fantasy X on Mushroom Rock Road.
Lamashtu is also featured in the story of the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines game under the name Lamastu.
- appears as a King of Closetland in the roleplaying game Little Fears
Lamashtu is the name of the openening track of Spawn of Possessions album Cabinet.
