In the
Sumerian mythological poem ''
Lugal-e'', Asag or Azag (
Sumerian:
Akkadian: asakku), is a
monstrous demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in Media (communication), media including
f ...
, so hideous that his presence alone makes fish boil alive in the rivers. Azag is a personification of winter cold and sicknesses.
This demon lives either in the Abyss or in the mountains and is accompanied by an army of rock demon offspring—born of his union with the mountains themselves.
He was vanquished by the heroic Akkadian deity
Ninurta
Ninurta (: , possible meaning "Lord fBarley"), also known as Ninĝirsu (: , meaning "Lord fGirsu"), is an List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian god associated with farming, healing, hunting, law, scribes, and war who was f ...
, using
Sharur, his enchanted talking
mace, after seeking the counsel of his father, the god
Enlil
Enlil, later known as Elil and Ellil, is an List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian god associated with wind, air, earth, and storms. He is first attested as the chief deity of the Sumerian pantheon, but he was later worshipped by t ...
.
Asakku
The name Asakku is used by researchers as either a synonym of Azag or a "variation" in the form of multiple spirits and monsters that prey on humans and kill them by causing
migraines.
References
Sources
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External links
Ninurta defeats the Asag—ETCSL tablet translation
Mesopotamian demons
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