Gallu
Also called Gallû.
In Mesopotamian tradition, the Gallu are merciless underworld demons who serve the queen of the netherworld and are best known for dragging the shepherd-god Dumuzid down to the land of the dead in the myth of Inanna's Descent.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Mesopotamian mythology
- Region
- Mesopotamia (place of origin)
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Featureless face
why
In some tellings they are described as numerous, faceless, and interchangeable rather than as individuated figures
Behaviour
- Underworld demon causes illness in living
why
Beyond this central myth, the Gallu recur throughout Mesopotamian demonology as a general class of underworld spirit or agent of death, invoked in incantations and apotropaic rituals meant to ward off illness and misfortune attributed to them.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Death carries both readings
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gallu."
- Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, s.v. "Gallu."
- R. Campbell Thompson, The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia.
- Earth meets
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gallu."
- Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, s.v. "Gallu."
- R. Campbell Thompson, The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia.
- Threshold meets
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gallu."
- Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, s.v. "Gallu."
- R. Campbell Thompson, The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia.