Abyzou

Abyzou is a female, child-killing demon of Hebrew mythology whose name means “abyss”. In the Testament of Solomon, Abyzou is described as having a “greenish gleaming face with wild, serpent-like hair”and with darkness sometimes hiding her lower body. Claimed to be responsible for miscarriages and infant mortality, Abyzou does not sleep and so wanders the world hunting for women about to give birth. Upon finding them, she then strangles the newly born child. It is told that Azybou is infertile herself, and as such performs these killings out of jealousy and envy of those able to bare offspring.

Abyzou can be controlled via the magic of Solomon, though. Using charms, St. Sisinnious, St. Michael, and the archangel Raphael (her main adversary) are petitioned for protection from the demon. If a pregnant woman were to write the name of Abyzou upon a scrap of papyrus prior to giving birth, Abyzou will flee from their sight, leaving the child unharmed.

Like many demons of her type, Abyzou also likely causes infertility. In the Testament of Solomon, Abyzou takes credit for causing all manners of problematic conditions such as eye, ear and throat problems, as well as causing insanity.