Urmahlullu
 | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Grouping | Mythological hybrids |
| Similar entities | Centaur |
| Folklore | Mesopotamian |
An urmahlullu (Sumerian language: 𒌨𒈤𒇽𒍇 ur-maḫ lu₂-lu₇) is a mythological lion-centaur hybrid creature. They are depicted in Mesopotamian art as quadrupedal felines from the waist down and humanoids from the waist up.
Ancient Assyria and Mesopotamian Culture
The urmahlullu ("untamed lion man") is a mythical ancient Mesopotamian beast with a lion-centaur appearance. It was sometimes depicted as holding a club and wearing a cap of divinity. A guardian spirit, its image was used to ward against various malign demons, including the winged death demon Mukīl rēš lemutti[1] and the lavatory demon Šulak.[2] Statues of Urmahlullu were sometimes placed outside lavatories, such as those in Nineveh's North Palace,[3] or buried on either side of the lavatory door in homes wealthy enough to have lavatories on the premises.[2]
Urmahlullu also appear on Assyrian cylinder seals.[4]
References
- ↑ Bane, Theresa (25 April 2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Jefferson, North Carolina. p. 328. ISBN 9780786495054. OCLC 930364175.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - 1 2 George, AR (2015). "On Babylonian Lavatories and Sewers". Iraq. 77. British Institute for the Study of Iraq: 75–106. doi:10.1017/irq.2015.9. JSTOR 26426051. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
Unsurprisingly, the Babylonians sought, by magic means, to drive Šulak and other demons out of the lavatory, and prevent their return. Among the various apotropaic figurines that could be buried in the foundations of a house, in order to keep wicked and evil powers outside, were lion centaurs
- ↑ Kertai, David (2015). The architecture of Late Assyrian royal palaces (First ed.). Oxford. p. 192. ISBN 9780191789724. OCLC 908099822.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ Wiggermann, F.A.M. (1992). Mesopotamian Protective Spirits. STYX Publications, Netherlands. pp. 181–182. ISBN 9072371526.
The first attestation of an unwinged lion-centaur on a 13th century Assyrian seal (ZA 47 67 Abb. 30) predates its inclusion among the trophies of Marduk.