Utukku

(a) The Utukku

This demon appears originally to have been conceived of as the spirit of a dead man, that is, a ghost.  This is the term used in the Gilgamesh Epic and the spirit of Eabani, who was raised up by the god Nergal at the request of Gilgamesh.  Later, however, the name becomes the designation of a whole class of demons.⁵⁵  By the mere glance of the eye in utukku could cause injury to a man.  It haunted desert places, graveyards, mountains, or the sea.  In addition to denoting demons of a special class, the term was also applied to demons in general, and it is often difficult to decide the precise meaning of the word.⁵⁶  It is not clear in what way the utukku differed from the ekimmu, which is the usual name for a departed spirit.  (q)

⁵⁵ cf. King, Babylonian Religion and Mythology, p. 175 (1899)

⁵⁶ cf. C. Fossey, La Magie Assyrienne, pp. 26ff. (1902). 

Udug (utukku):  Udug (Akkadian utukku) was a term for a particular type of demon, and like many such words it was originally neutral as regards the beneficial or baleful influence of the beings.  Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, asks a goddess for the protection of a 'good udug' and a 'good lama' to guide him.  In a large collection of magical incantations intended for use against a wide range of malevolent demons, we read both of a specific 'evil udug' and in general terms of evil 'udugs' (where the term seems to include other demons as well).  (r)

n/a

Resource List - all entries are taken verbatim from the original source:

(q) "Essentials of Demonology."  Edward Langton.  Epworth Press. London. ©1949.

(r) "Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia.  An Illustrated Dictionary."  Jeremy Black and Anthony Green.  University of Texas Press, Austin.  ©1992