Akkadian Magic Literature: Old Babylonian and Old Assyrian Incantations: Corpus - Context - Praxis

by Nathan Wasserman, Elyze Zomer

Overview

In Akkadian Magic Literature the authors present, for the first time, the complete corpus of Akkadian incantations of the Old Babylonian and Old Assyrian periods (ca. 1900-1500 BCE). Each of the 188 different texts in this volume is edited, translated and accompanied by a philological commentary. The entire corpus is catalogued and thematically sorted (incantations that concern specific diseases and medical problems; incantations against dangerous animals; incantations that relate to humans; incantations that relate to supernatural entities; and incantations that relate to inanimate objects). In the Overview, the reader will find extensive discussions regarding the geographical and archaeological setting of the texts, their format and physical properties, and various aspects of ancient magical praxis (the practitioners and the clients, the time and place of the magic act, and the materia magica involved). The manipulative strategies revealed in the incantations and the literary and rhetorical devices used in them are thoroughly studied.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783447117654
Publisher:	Harrassowitz Verlag
Publication date:	02/16/2022
Series:	Leipziger Altorientalische Studien , #12
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

List of Tables vii

Preface and Acknowledgements ix

Abbreviations xi

Conventions xv

Concordances xvii

I Akkadian Incantations of the Early Second Millennium: An Overview 1

1.1 Definition of the Corpus 1

1.2 Thematic Division of the Corpus 2

1.3 Geographical Setting and Archaeological Context 3

1.3.1 Southern Mesopotamia 4

1.3.2 Central Mesopotamia 5

1.3.3 The Diyala Region 6

1.3.4 Upper Mesopotamia 7

1.3.5 Periphery of Mesopotamia 8

1.4 Physical Properties of Tablets Containing Incantations 8

1.4.1 Classification of Tablets 8

1.4.2 Format of Tablets 12

1.4.3 Use of Tablets 17

1.4.4 Drawings on Tablets 22

1.4.5 Paratextual Comments 22

1.5 The Praxis 27

1.5.1 Ex opere operantis: The Magic Practitioners 27

1.5.2 The Clients 29

1.5.3 Location of Magic Praxis 32

1.5.4 Geographical Horizon in Magic Texts 33

1.5.5 Time of Magic Praxis 34

1.5.6 Materia Magica 35

1.5.7 Deities 38

1.6 Ex opere operato: Magic Strategies 44

1.6.1 Direct Confrontation 45

1.6.2 Indirect Approach 46

1.6.3 Offering a Way Out 48

1.6.4 Ignoring Evil 49

1.7 Literary Devices 50

1.7.1 Sound-Based Devices 50

1.7.2 Syntagmatic Devices 52

1.7.3 Semantic Devices 55

1.7.4 Thematic Devices 56

II The Texts 62

2.1 Specific Diseases and Medical Problems 62

2.1.1 Bile 62

2.1.2 Childbirth 64

2.1.3 Childhood Disease 93

2.1.4 Gastrointestinal Problems 95

2.1.5 Jaundice 138

2.1.6 Maskadu 142

2.1.7 Orthopaedic Problems 147

2.1.8 Pox 149

2.1.9 Stye 151

2.1.10 Tooth 153

2.1.11 Various Diseases 159

2.2 Animals 186

2.2.1 Dogs 186

2.2.2 Fish 214

2.2.3 Flies and Bees 216

2.2.4 Goats 224

2.2.5 Pests 227

2.2.6 Scorpions 229

2.2.7 Snakes and Reptiles 272

2.2.8 Worms and Leeches 292

2.3 Humans 297

2.3.1 Anger 297

2.3.2 Baby (Quieting Cry) 305

2.3.3 Empowerment 315

2.3.4 Love and Sexual Attraction 324

2.3.5 Trial 349

2.3.6 Witchcraft 353

2.4 Supernatural Entities 366

2.4.1 Evil Eye 366

2.4.2 Lamastu 383

2.4.3 Wardat-lilî 399

2.5 Inanimate Objects 402

2.5.1 Bitumen 402

2.5.2 Foods and Drinks 404

2.5.3 Reeds 408

2.6 Miscellaneous 409

List of Excluded Texts 417

Bibliography 421

Indices 435