Namtaru lemnu asakkū marṣūtu, inscribed NAM.TAR ḪUL.GÁL Á.SÀG GIG.GA, is an ancient Mesopotamian medical treatise from the first millennium BC which concerns the “grievous asakku-demons” and the diseases they cause.[1] Originally stretching to at least twelve tablets, it is only partially extant, with parts of around eight of the tablets from the Library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh[2] and a copy of tablet 3 from the temple of Nabȗ in Nimrud, ancient Kalhu.[3] It is recorded, with a somewhat different gloss than one might have expected, in the Exorcists Manual: di-‘u GIG-tu4, di’u marṣūtu,[4] betraying its intended purpose in the combat of the demons and the cure of the ailment they were supposed to have caused, “fever sickness,” a grave disease characterized by a headache,[5] possibly malaria.
The text
The sickness that afflicts the patient is described asakku marṣu ina zumur amēli ittabši, “the dangerous asakku-demon has settled in the body of the man.” It invokes the metaphor of clothing: amēla muttallika kīma ṣubāti iktatam, “he [the asakku-demon] enveloped the miserable man like a garment”; and that of a force of nature: asakku kīma mīli nāru isḫup, “the asakku-demon overwhelmed [him] like the flood of a river.”[6]
The text includes several ritual procedures for combating epidemic fevers and these often involve the manipulation of goats or their offspring. One example involves the placement of a kid on the head of the patient.[7] Piglets (ŠAḪ.TUR.RA) are also sacrificed in pursuit of relief.[8]
References
- ↑ asakku CAD A/2 p. 326.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. no. 102.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ di’u CAD D, p. 165.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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1–3
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- Here is the complete list of the titles of the works of Magic that have been established for teaching and reference:
- The God Kulla
- Mîs-pî (Washing of the mouth)
- Nišûtu ēní (enthronement of a priest)
- Amāt Apsî (Formulae of the Apsu) †
- Ginutaqū (Touching of the reed) †
- Šuluḫḫē ilī (Ablution rites of the Gods) †
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4–5
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- Ki’utuku (conjurations by Šamaš)
- Šu’illaku (conjurations by the Lifted Hand)
- Dingir-šà-dib-ba (The Irate Gods)
- Népeš Du’uzu (Conjuratory operations for the month of Du'uzu) †
- Sakkû šarrūti (Royal rituals) †
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15–16
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- Erîtu rakistu (Pregnant Woman Impeached) †
- Sinništu šupšuqatu (Woman in difficulty) †
- Ṣeḫru nûhu (To calm a baby)
- Muruṣ îni (Eye-ache)
- Muruṣ šinnî (Toothache)
- Būšānu-disease (Frozen mouth)
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25–26
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- Divinations according to falling stars, the flight of birds, the behavior of oxen and cattle, ominous sounds, flour, dice and of all the Gods
- Abnu šikinšu (The Stone which looks like this)
- Šammu šikinšu (The Plant which looks like this)
- Ṭuppī-abnāti (Stone Tablets)
- Ṭuppī-šammī (Plant Tablets)
- Tablets of Necklaces and Pendants †
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27–28
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- The following are the titles of Esagil-kin-apli's magical works.
- All the prescriptions of the Touching of the Reed, which Ea has authored
- Kikiṭṭu (Ceremonies) and Šerkugû (Sacred Chants)
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29–30
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- All that exists concerning the Rites against Bewitchment,
- and Rites of the Dissolution of the Evil Omens of Heaven and Earth (Namburbi)
- The Totality of Wisdom †
- The Secret of Magic †
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31–32
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- The Sealed Book of the Order of Heaven and Earth †
- The Mystery of the Apsu †
- Šipātu aḫātu (Extraordinary Conjurations) †
- Šipir šimmat rimuti u sagalli (Prescriptions against paralysis) †
- Sagallû (Muscle disease)
- SA.GIG
- All the prescriptions against .......
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33–34
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- Bulṭi miqit šamê (Remedies for the Evil Above)
- Bêl ūri (Evil of the Lord of the Roof)
- Šudingirrakku (Seizure of a God)
- Qât Ištar (Seizure of a Goddess)
- Šugidimmakku (Seizure of a Ghost)
- Alû lemnu
- The Demon Lemmu
- Mukīl rēš lemutti (The Harbinger)
- Šunamerimmakku (Seizure by a broken oath)
- Qât amêlūtu (Seizure by a man)
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35–38
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The remedies for all similar diseases, completely, All of the symptoms of diseases, The prescriptions relating to the diseases of women. * Until the time when, having become a Master of the entire Art of Magic, you possess the secret. After which you will learn to hear and interpret the commentaries as well as the list of correspondences, and to practice the rituals in both Sumerian and Akkadian.
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39–40
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- In This Way Your Sanctuary....
- I Have Wandered In Despair...
- Enuma anu enlil
- Šumma ālu ina melê šakin
- And also to reason and debate in order to reach a consensus
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41–43
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Upon the one who is vigorous, wise, and penetrating to Great Knowledge, the Two Gods, the Lords (Ea and Marduk), will confer Vast Understanding. Unto this one these Gods will grant a Guardian Angel, whose name will be pronounced unto the Most Distant Times. Copied and collated with a most ancient copy. A tablet belonging to Kisir-dNabu, son of dŠamaš-ibni, magician of the Ešara.
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† Work not extant
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