Gallu

In Sumerian and ancient Mesopotamian religion, gallûs[1] (also called gallas;[2] Akkadian gallû < Sumerian gal.lu) were great demons or devils of the ancient Mesopotamian Underworld.

A depiction taken from an ancient Sumerian language cylinder seal showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by gallas
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Role in mythology

Gallu demons hauled unfortunate victims off to the underworld. They were one of seven devils (or "the offspring of hell") of Babylonian theology that could be appeased by the sacrifice of a lamb at their altars.[3]

The goddess Inanna was pursued by gallu demons after being escorted from the Underworld by Galatura and Kuryara.[4][3] An especially fierce gallu demon, the monstrous Asag, was slain by Ninurta using the enchanted mace Sharur.

Other uses

The word gallu may also refer to a human adversary, one that is dangerous and implacable.[5]

See also

References
  1. Morris, John (1880). The new nation. Original from Oxford University. pp. 40& 311 (volume 3 of 5). Gallu demon.
  2. Muss-Arnolt, William (1905). A Concise Dictionary of the Assyrian Language. Original from Harvard University: Reuther & Reichard; Lemcke & Büchner; etc., etc. p. 216.
  3. Charles Augustus Briggs, Crawford Howell Toy (1911). Essays in Modern Theology and Related Subjects. Original from Harvard University: C. Scribner's sons. pp. 155–158. Gallu demon.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. Black, Jeremy; Cunningham, Graham; Flückiger-Hawker, Esther; Robson, Eleanor; Taylor, John; Zólyomi, Gábor. "Inana's descent to the netherworld". Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature. Oxford University. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. I. Tzvi Abusch Babylonian Witchcraft Literature: Case Studies 1987 "...especially, the initial position which he occupies in both support the propriety of our earlier analysis of obv. 37-40 on the basis of the comparison "Contra AHw sv, gallu in this line refers not to a demon but to a human enemy..."


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