History Main / SheduAndLammasu

In modern fantasy, lamassu ([[SpellMyNameWithAnS often spelled "lammasu" instead]]) are a somewhat rare choice for creatures -- they're fairly obscure, and better-known, similar beings from other mythologies are often used in their stead -- but still have their share of representation. They're often used as a more exotic alternative to sphinxes, and tend to share their characterization as wise, ancient mystical beings found in deserts and southern lands. They're also a popular choice when a work or a setting is based on Middle Eastern or Babylonian themes.

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* Statues of this sort show up in the UnderwaterRuins of the {{kaiju}}-worshipping ancient civilization in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'', invoking [[MesopotamianMonstrosity some of the oldest real human civilizations to emphasize the age and mystery of the Titans]].
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* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': The shedu are winged lions and the emblem of the Nahid dynasty, who were the original rulers of the [[OurGeniesAreDifferent djinn]]. The Nahid trained them and brought them to their capital city, but they slowly vanished from the world alongside other magical creatures and haven't been seen for centuries by the time of the series.

* The lamassu originated as a Sumerian protective deity, typically identified as female and referred to as Lamma. While Lamma was depicted as a winged human in the manner of most then-current deities, in Assyrian times the myth morphed into that of the hybrid lamassu, an entity with wings, a human head, and a lion or bull body. Lamassu were typically portrayed as protective figures, originally appearing as household protectors and later often being placed as guardian statues at city gates. Lamassu statues had the peculiarity of being carved so as to seem to be standing when viewed from the front and walking when viewed from the side; additionally, when seen in a walking pose, the leg that is closest to the viewer is always put forward, creating a kind of AmbidextrousSprite effect. This is sometimes interpreted as them having five legs, one between and behind the front pair.
** The shedu, a less common variant, seems to have been the lamassu's male counterpart.

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[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': In the game's history, there have been only two lammasu creature cards:

Lamassu are creatures originally from Myth/MesopotamianMythology -- Sumerian, Babylonian and Akkadian myth, specifically -- where they were depicted as winged, human-headed bulls or lions, usually either with horns or horned hats, and characterized as protective, divine beings. In Assyrian architecture they are often [[PortalStatuePairs depicted in pairs]] guarding city gates or entrances to palaces. They were typically described as female entities; less commonly, a largely similar creature called a shedu appeared as their male counterpart.

Lamassu are creatures originally from Myth/MesopotamianMythology -- Sumerian, Babylonian and Akkadian myth, specifically -- where they were depicted as winged, human-headed bulls or lions, usually either with horns or horned hats, and characterized as protective, divine beings. They were typically described as female entities; less commonly, a largely similar creature called a shedu appeared as their male counterpart.

** [[https://scryfall.com/card/rav/22/hunted-lammasu Hunted Lammasu]], depicted with a bull-like body, wings and a bearded and horned human head, appeared in the original ''Ravnica'' block. Lammasu ruled the world's prairies in the past, before Ravnica's urban growth covered it entirely, and now endlessly roam its skies as they flee ancient enemies.
** [[https://scryfall.com/card/ktk/28/venerable-lammasu Venerable Lammasu]], from the Asian-inspired plane of Tarkir, resembles the former, but with a face covered by a black mask with four horn-like projections. Tarkir's lammasu roam far above the world on inscrutable errands of their own, and are known to appear on the eves of great events.

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': The shedu are winged lions and the emblem of the Nahid dynasty, who were the original rulers of the [[OurGeniesAreDifferent djinn]]. The Nahid trained them and brought them to their capital city, but they slowly vanished from the world alongside other magical creatures and haven't been seen for centuries by the time of the series.
* ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}'': Bull-bodied lammasus are among the creatures found in the Living Mirage, a hidden preserve holding creatures more powerful, mythical or independent than those found in typical sanctuaries. They are creatures of light, and among those that answer the Fairy Queen's summons to battle the demons at the end of the series finale.
* ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'' has a bull with a human head as one of the many mythical creatures living in Narnia. It's not mentioned as having wings, however, so it's unclear whether it's supposed to be a lammasu-type creature or not.

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
* The lamassu originated as a Sumerian protective deity, typically identified as female and referred to as Lamma. While Lamma was depicted as a winged human in the manner of most then-current deities, in Assyrian times the myth morphed into that of the hybrid lamassu, an entity with wings, a human head, and a lion or bull body. Lamassu were typically portrayed as protective figures, originally appearing as household protectors and later often being placed as guardian statues at city gates. Lamassu statues had the peculiarity of being carved so as to seem to be standing when viewed from the front and walking when viewed from the side; additionally, when seen in a walking pose, the leg that is closest to the viewer is always put forward, creating a kind of AmbidextrousSprite effect. This is sometimes interpreted as them having five legs, one between and behind the front pair.
** The shedu, a less common variant, seems to have been the lamassu's male counterpart.
* Lamassu iconography is believed to have influenced the ancient Israelites during periods of Assyrian and Babylonian rule. The recurring motif of a mixture of human, lion, bull and eagle traits -- such as an angelic being seen by the prophet Ezekiel and the four figures associated with the four evangelists -- is believed to originate from the motif of the lamassu and other Mesopotamian mythical beings [[MixAndMatchCritters combining elements]] of these four creatures.

* Lamassu iconography is believed to have influenced the ancient Israelites during periods of Assyrian and Babylonian rule. The recurring motif of a mixture of human, lion, bull and eagle traits -- such as an angelic being seen by the prophet Ezekiel and the four figures associated with the four evangelists -- is believed to originate from the motif of the lamassu.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Lammasu are creatures native to the Dark Lands that occur as mutations of the more common Great Taurus, a species of demonic winged bulls, and are strongly associated the Chaos Dwarfs as part of the latter's Babylonian aesthetic and prominent bull motifs. Lammasu share their base species' taurine bodies and batlike wings, but have the heads of distorted, monstrous dwarfs. In contrast to the Mesopotamian lamassu, who were benevolent protective spirits, the ''Warhammer'' Lammasu are manipulative creatures that use their charisma and magical abilities to befuddle their enemies and compel other monsters, such as Wyverns and Griffons, to do their fighting for them. Lammasu are most often encountered as mounts for Chaos Dwarf sorcerers, but many question whether it is the rider or mount that is the master in their relationship.

* The lamassu originated as a Sumerian protective deity, typically identified as female and referred to as Lamma. While Lamma was depicted as a winged human in the manner of most then-current deities, in Assyrian times the myth morphed into that of the hybrid lamassu, an entity with wings, a human head, and a lion or bull body. Lamassu were typically portrayed as protective figures, originally appearing as household protectors and later often being placed as guardian statues at city gates. Lamassu statues had the peculiarity of being carved so as to seem to be standing when viewed from the front and walking when viewed from the side; this is sometimes interpreted as them having five legs, one between and behind the front pair. The shedu, a less common variant, seems to have been the lamassu's male counterpart.

** Shedim, singular shedu, have the bodies of either winged bulls or winged equines and humanoid heads resembling those of dwarves; males typically wear large, braided beards. Aspects of their appearance have varied between editions; early art tends to favor equine bodies, while later illustrations tend more towards bovine ones. Additionally, later editions tend to give them horns and a fifth leg between and behind their front pair. Like lammasus, shedim are inveterate champions of good and use their ability to shift into the Astral Plane to combat evil creatures found there, especially the githzerai.

* The ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} Horror'' setting ''TabletopGame/TheMadnessDossier'' draws heavily on Myth/MesopotamianMythology, with all of the creatures from that source being [[MesopotamianMonstrosity monstrosities]], but its terminology and imagery are a little different to some games and stories, perhaps going back to older sources. The ''kusarikku'' are centaur-like bull-men, with human heads and torsos on bull bodies, and are hugely strong with powers of temperature control: the ''šedu'' are winged humanoids of inhuman beauty who could be taken for angels, an overseer caste among the monsters who seek to rule humanity; and the ''ugallu'' have lions’ heads on human bodies and powers based on weather control.

Lamassu are creatures originally from Mesopotamian -- Sumerian, Babylonian and Akkadian -- mythology, where they were depicted as winged, human-headed bulls or lions, usually either with horns or horned hats, and characterized as protective, divine beings. They were typically described as female entities; less commonly, a largely similar creature called a shedu appeared as their male counterpart.