Kusarikku

Kusarikku ("Bull-Man")[a] was an ancient Mesopotamian mythological demon shown in artistic representation from the earliest (late Uruk period) times with the arms, torso and head of a human and the ears, horns and hindquarters of a bull.

[1] He is portrayed as walking upright and characterized as a door keeper to protect the inhabitants from malevolent intruders.

On a stela of Meli-Šipak, the land grant to Ḫasardu kudurru, he is pictured carrying a spade.

[3] Along with Ugallu, Girtablullû, and others, he is one of the seven mythological apkallu or "sages" shown on neo-Assyrian palace reliefs, and with figurines – to guard against the influence of evil spirits.

There were three species of ungulates in Mesopotamia: the Aurochs, the Bison, and the Water buffalo, and it is not always certain as to which of these was represented in some of the earlier text references.