Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-witchcraft Rituals, Volume I

635 Pages·2010·29.92 MB·English

by  Tzvi Abusch and Daniel Schwemer

Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-Witchcraft Rituals
Ancient Magic
and Divination
Editors
tzvi abusch – ann k. guinan – nils p. hee el
ß
francesca rochberg – frans a. m. wiggermann
VOLUME8/1
Corpus of Mesopotamian
Anti-Witchcraft Rituals
Volume One
By
Tzvi Abusch and Daniel Schwemer
LEIDEN•BOSTON
2011
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ISSN: 1566-7952
ISBN: 9789004189133
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CONTENTS
PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................ ix
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS ................................................................................................ xiii

INTRODUCTION
THE CORPUS OF MESOPOTAMIAN ANTI-WITCHCRAFT RITUALS
1. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN WITCHCRAFT BELIEFS
1. “That man is bewitched …” ................................................................................................. 1
2. The Nature of Witchcraft ...................................................................................................... 2
3. The Stereotype of the Witch .................................................................................................. 4
4. Witchcraft and Other Sources of Evil .................................................................................. 6
5. Witch Trials and Witchcraft Accusations ............................................................................. 7
2. DIAGNOSTIC, THERAPEUTIC AND PHARMACEUTICAL TEXTS CONCERNED WITH WITCHCRAFT
1. Character and Formats of Anti-witchcraft Texts ................................................................. 8
2. Scope and Organization of the Present Corpus ................................................................... 10
3. ASPECTS OF THE COMPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEXTS ......................................... 17
4. WITCHCRAFT THERAPIES: TYPICAL ELEMENTS, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONALITY
1. Ceremonial Rituals ............................................................................................................... 20
2. Prescriptions ........................................................................................................................ 24
5. INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE TEXTS ................................................ 24

TEXTS OF GROUP ONE
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR UNDOING WITCHCRAFT (ANA PIŠERTI KIŠPĪ)
1.1 A MIDDLE BABYLONIAN COLLECTION FROM BOĞAZKÖY
KUB 37, 44 (+) 37, 46 (+) 37, 47 (+) 37, 49 (+)?? 37, 48 // KUB 37, 43 .............................. 27
1.2 FRAGMENTS OF A COLLECTION COPIED BY A HITTITE SCRIBE
KUB 37, 51 (+) 37, 53 (+) 37, 99 ......................................................................................... 40
1.3 A RELATED FRAGMENT FROM BOĞAZKÖY
KUB 37, 52 ........................................................................................................................... 43
1.4 FRAGMENT FROM BOĞAZKÖY WITH VARIOUS PRESCRIPTIONS
KUB 4, 60 + KBo 36, 38 ...................................................................................................... 44
1.5 AN ANA PIŠERTI KIŠPĪ RITUAL
KUB 4, 99 // KBo 9, 47 // BAM 317 // KAR 275 // KAL 2, 43 (+) 44 // VAT 12153 ............ 46
1.6 AN ANA PIŠERTI KIŠPĪ FRAGMENT FROM AŠŠUR
BAM 206 ............................................................................................................................... 53
1.7 AN ANA PIŠERTI KIŠPĪ U MĀMĪTI PRESCRIPTION FROM AŠŠUR
BAM 197 ............................................................................................................................... 56
1.8 AN ANA PIŠERTI KIŠPĪ PRESCRIPTION ON FRAGMENTS FROM AŠŠUR
KAL 2, 42 // BAM 161 // BAM 436 // BAM 282 ................................................................... 60
vi CONTENTS
TEXTS OF GROUP TWO
PRESCRIPTIONS TO BE USED FOR BEWITCHED PERSONS (ŠUMMA AMĒLU KAŠIP)
2.1 OLD BABYLONIAN ŠUMMA AMĒLU KAŠIP PRESCRIPTIONS
BAM 393 ............................................................................................................................ 65
2.2 A COLLECTION OF ANTI-WITCHCRAFT THERAPIES FROM BOĞAZKÖY
KUB 37, 55 + KBo 36, 32 // KUB 37, 9 // BAM 140 // KAL 2, 43 (+) 44 //
BAM 208 // AMT 85/1 (+) 86/1 // Th 1905-4-9, 92 // CTN 4, 124 .................................... 67
2.3 A COLLECTION OF ANTI-WITCHCRAFT THERAPIES FROM NINEVEH
AMT 85/1 (+) 86/1 // K 6586 (AMT 85/1) (+) AMT 85/3 (+) 29/9 (+) 82-3-2, 103 (+)
Sm 1960 // KUB 37, 56 // KUB 37, 55 + KBo 36, 32 // BAM 208 .................................... 83
2.4 FRAGMENTARY PRESCRIPTIONS AGAINST WITCHCRAFT
BAM 208 ............................................................................................................................ 99
2.5 ŠUMMA AMĒLU KAŠIP PRESCRIPTIONS WITH SYMPTOM DESCRIPTIONS
BAM 205 // 81-7-27, 73 // KAR 70 // STT 280 // K 9451 + 11676 + Sm 818 + 961 //
BM 68033 // LKA 144 // BAM 207 // BAM 320 // SpTU 1, 9 ............................................ 101

TEXTS OF GROUP SEVEN
UŠBURRUDA TEXTS
7.1 A SUMERIAN UŠBURRUDA INCANTATION FROM THE OLD BABYLONIAN PERIOD
VS 17, 31 ............................................................................................................................ 115
7.2 TABLET 63 OF THE CANONICAL UŠBURRUDA SERIES
BAM 438 // BAM 437 ........................................................................................................ 117
7.3 TABLET 53? OF THE CANONICAL UŠBURRUDA SERIES
BM 128037 ........................................................................................................................ 122
7.4 TABLET 22? OF THE CANONICAL UŠBURRUDA SERIES
CT 51, 194 ......................................................................................................................... 124
7.5 UŠBURRUDA WITHIN THE THERAPEUTIC SERIES
K 3661 //? AMT 44/7 .......................................................................................................... 126
7.6 RITUALS AGAINST ENEMIES: THE INCANTATION KÚR-KÚR BÍL ........................................ 129
7.6.1 The Incantation Kúr-kúr bíl
7.6.2 KAL 2, 14
7.6.3 KAL 2, 13
7.6.4 KAL 2, 34
7.6.5 K 8107
7.6.6 A 2720 + 3022 (with KAL 2, 30 and 31)
7.6.7 STT 256
7.7 UŠBURRUDA AGAINST DEPRESSION
BAM 443 + 444 + K 6240 + 16808 + 81-2-4, 393 // K 15055 // KAR 92 //
VAT 14183 //? BAM 445 // AMT 35/3 // BAM 434 ............................................................ 150
7.8 AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF UŠBURRUDA HEILMITTEL-RITUALS
K 8079 (+) 8112 + 9666 (+) 8162 + 10357 (+) 8933 (+) 10358 (+) 11243 (ABRT 2,
18) (+) 12936 // Th 1905-4-9, 72 + 73 // K 13718 // Sm 275 + Rm 329 (+) Sm 352 //
80-7-19, 146 + K 10559 + 11993 + Sm 1330 // K 10341 // Rm 252 // K 9467 //
KAL 2, 10 // KAL 2, 11 // CBS 1720 // PBS 1/2, 120 // TCL 6, 49 // RA 22, 154–56 //
SpTU 4, 140 // Sm 756 // KAL 2, 36 // 81-7-27, 140 // BM 38635 // BM 38013 ............... 159
7.9 AN APOTROPAIC UŠBURRUDA RITUAL
PBS 1/1, 16 // BM 45419 ................................................................................................... 200
CONTENTS vii
7.10 PRESCRIPTIONS AND DRUG LISTS FOR UŠBURRUDA .......................................................... 204
7.10.1 BAM 434–36 with duplicates
7.10.2 BAM 90
7.10.3 BAM 190 with duplicates
7.10.4 BAM 430 and BAM 431
7.10.5 AMT 48/2

TEXTS OF GROUP EIGHT
CEREMONIAL RITUALS FOR UNDOING WITCHCRAFT
8.1 PIERCING FIGURINES OF WARLOCK AND WITCH
BAM 214 // K 3196 + 3344 // KAL 2, 22 (BAM 334) // KAL 2, 23 (LKA 156) .................. 246
8.2 BURNING THE WITCHES’ FIGURINES AND PASSING WITCHCRAFT ON TO OTHERS
KAL 2, 25 (LKA 157) // KAL 2, 24 (LKA 154 + 155) // K 3394 (ŠRT pl. 7) + 9866 ......... 256
8.3 BURNING THE WITCHES’ FIGURINES BEFORE ŠAMAŠ AND PURIFYING THE PATIENT
SpTU 2, 19 // KAL 2, 28 // K 3360 + 8019 + 9149 + 14202 + 14734 + Sm 1143 //
PBS 1/2, 133 // K 3379 + Sm 1178 (+) K 2585 // PBS 10/2, 18 // Sm 1115 //
UET 7, 119 // LKA 158 (KAL 2, 29) // Bu 91-5-9, 143 + 176 ........................................... 270
8.4 RITUAL BEFORE ŠAMAŠ WITH STANDARD INCANTATIONS FOR BURNING FIGURINES
KAL 2, 8 (KAR 80) // K 431 + 1853 + 6262 + 6789 + 11260 + 13358 + 13813 (+)
3000 (+) 6996 (+) 7201 + 10819 (+) 9216 + 17321 // Bu 88-5-12, 95 // K 10245 //
KAL 2, 15 // VAT 11567 ................................................................................................... 293
8.5 A COLLECTION OF ANTI-WITCHCRAFT RITUALS BEFORE ŠAMAŠ
KAL 2, 15 // KAL 2, 8 (KAR 80) // K 431 + 1853 + 6262 + 6789 + 11260 + 13358 +
13813 (+) 3000 (+) 6996 (+) 7201 + 10819 (+) 9216 + 17321 // Bu 88-5-12, 95 //
IV R2 17 + K 5326 + 16854 // Ki 1904-10-9, 108 // KAL 2, 20 // VAT 14215 ................. 306
8.6 ANTI-WITCHCRAFT RITUALS ADDRESSED TO MARDUK AND IŠTAR
AMT 22/1 + K 3648 + 15966 + Sm 1280 // K 431 + 1853 + 6262 + 6789 + 11260 +
13358 + 13813 (+) 3000 (+) 6996 (+) 7201 + 10819 (+) 9216 + 17321 // BAM 232 //
STT 129 + 262 (+) 130 (+) 134 (+) 135 (+) 328 // K 2493 + 7102 + 9081 + 10352 (+)
8965 // K 5088 + 6918 + 11307 (+) 10353 + 11159 // LKA 58 (+)? VAT 13960 //
K 10722 // K 15445 ........................................................................................................... 318
8.7 BURNING THE WITCHES AND SENDING THEM TO THE NETHERWORLD ............................. 336
8.7.1 The Library Version: BAM 231 (+)? KAL 2, 26 (+)? KAL 2, 27 // BAM 332 //
CBS 1498 // RIAA 312
8.7.2 The ‘Memorandum’ Version: K 888
8.8 ANOTHER CASE OF BURNING AND SENDING TO THE NETHERWORLD
K 3292 + 7788 + 7798 + 17984 ........................................................................................ 353
8.9 FRAGMENT OF A RITUAL BEFORE ŠAMAŠ
Sm 1923 // KAL 2, 58 (+)?? KAL 2, 59 (LKA 161) ............................................................. 355
8.10 FRAGMENTARY RITUAL PRECEDED BY DIAGNOSES
K 10203 + 11590 ............................................................................................................... 358
8.11 FRAGMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC SECTION
K 12765 ............................................................................................................................. 360
8.12 REPELLING THE SORCERIES OF AN ADVERSARY IN COURT
VAT 35 .............................................................................................................................. 362
8.13 RITUAL AGAINST AN ADVERSARY BEFORE IŠTAR
IV R2 55/2 // BM 66627 ..................................................................................................... 365
8.14 FORCING BACK A BEWITCHED HUSBAND
STT 257 .............................................................................................................................. 372
viii CONTENTS
TEXTS OF GROUP NINE
ANTI-WITCHCRAFT INCANTATIONS WITHIN BĪT RIMKI AND RELATED TEXTS
9.1 THE AKKADIAN ŠAMAŠ PRAYER OF THE SECOND HOUSE OF BĪT RIMKI
K 2563 + 2820 + 2821 + 2843 + 5750 + 9601 + 10537 + 16716 // K 2368 + 9830 +
11661 + 11768 + 20281 (+) 13305 (+)? IV R2 23/3 (+) DT 120 // Sm 94 // PBS 1/2, 129 //
STT 76 // STT 77 // BM 123376 ........................................................................................ 375
9.2 A PARALLEL TO THE SEGMENT OF BĪT RIMKI CONTAINING THE MAQLÛ AND ŠURPU CYCLES
PBS 1/1, 13 // Sm 635 + 1188 + 1612 // K 15234 (+) 16344 ............................................ 387
9.3 A PARALLEL TO THE MAQLÛ CYCLE SEGMENT OF BĪT RIMKI
SpTU 2, 19 // SpTU 4, 139 ................................................................................................. 393

TEXTS OF GROUP TEN
RITUALS AGAINST ZIKURUDÛ AND OTHER SPECIAL TYPES OF WITCHCRAFT
10.1 FRAGMENT OF A COLLECTION OF ZIKURUDÛ THERAPIES
AMT 44/4 + KMI 76a ........................................................................................................ 399
10.2 ZIKURUDÛ BEFORE URSA MAJOR, THE WAGON STAR
PBS 1/2, 121 ...................................................................................................................... 403
10.3 VARIOUS RITUALS AND PRESCRIPTIONS AGAINST ZIKURUDÛ
BAM 449 (+) 458 // BAM 454 (+) 455 (+) 467 // Sm 1304 // SMEA 30, 245 no. 27 ......... 407
10.4 VARIOUS PRESCRIPTIONS AGAINST ZIKURUDÛ
K 2351 + 5859 + 8184 + AMT 13/4 + BAM 460 // BAM 454 (+) 455 (+) 467 // BAM 453,
BAM 452 ............................................................................................................................ 416
10.5 A FRAGMENT WITH ZIKURUDÛ THERAPIES
BAM 464 ............................................................................................................................ 423

TEXTS OF GROUP ELEVEN
RITUALS IN CASE OF EVIL OMENS INDICATING WITCHCRAFT
11.1 A CREAKING DOOR ANNOUNCES WITCHCRAFT
UET 7, 125 // KAR 298 // K 9873 + 79-7-8, 240 // K 2481 ............................................... 425
11.2 A SACK OF WITCHCRAFT AND FUNGUS UNDER A STONE
STT 254 // A 3471 ............................................................................................................. 430

TEXTS OF GROUP TWELVE
DIAGNOSTIC TEXTS
12.1 ‘CUTTING-OF-THE-THROAT’, HATE-MAGIC AND ‘SEIZING-OF-THE-MOUTH’
STT 89 ............................................................................................................................... 434

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................ 444
CONCORDANCES ............................................................................................................................. 452
REGISTERS
1. Botanical and Mineral Substances Used in the Prescriptions .................................................. 468
2. Incantation Incipits .................................................................................................................... 474
3. Words Discussed ....................................................................................................................... 477
4. Selected Texts ............................................................................................................................ 478
COPIES OF CUNEIFORM TEXTS .................................................................................................... pl. 1
COLLATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... pl. 129
PREFACE
Forming a significant branch of the magical and had selected so that he might study them more care-
medical literature written in the Sumerian and Ak- fully and at leisure.
kadian languages, Mesopotamian anti-witchcraft
Working on the published and unpublished pieces,
texts attribute misfortune and ill-health to the
Abusch transliterated during the 1970s almost all
machinations of people designated as witches and
the texts known to him at that time and made many
prescribe the various ceremonies, devices and treat-
joins and identifications, thus restoring known witch-
ments for dispelling witchcraft, destroying the witch
craft texts and piecing together unknown ones. To
and protecting and curing the patient. The Corpus of
assist him in assembling and editing the corpus, he
Mesopotamian Anti-witchcraft Rituals aims to
compiled a collection of photographs of virtually all
present a reconstruction of the technical literature
witchcraft texts known to him in the British Museum;
consulted by the Mesopotamian experts when they
he also gathered photos from Istanbul, Philadelphia,
treated a patient who had been affected by witch-
Berlin and Brussels. In addition to reading the texts
craft or felt threatened by witchcraft.
from copies and photos, he was able to collate a
This project has been in the works on and off for number of tablets in Berlin, London, New Haven
some forty years. Abusch initiated it in 1968 and and Philadelphia.
Schwemer joined the project in 2001. We have
As the corpus grew, it became clear to Abusch that
shared the work and are both responsible for the
he had to prepare a detailed catalogue in order to
volume. We would like to sketch here a picture of
keep track of the many texts and to study them.
some of the efforts that stand behind this volume
Accordingly, he created a database containing in-
and to acknowledge and thank the many individuals
formation on all the tablets that he had assembled,
and institutions without whose help and support this
including lists of duplicates and parallels as well as
project would not have succeeded and this volume
reconstructions and descriptions of the textual com-
would not now be appearing.
positions that make up the corpus.
When Abusch began to study Mesopotamian witch-
In 1999, Abusch started working with Petra Gesche
craft literature, he reviewed all the known published
as she began sorting through the copies of Assur
anti-witchcraft texts as well as all cuneiform publi-
witchcraft texts for the Assur-text publication pro-
cations that might contain new witchcraft texts or
ject directed by Stefan M. Maul in Heidelberg (now
duplicates and joins. Indeed, he did find new mate-
the Forschungsstelle “Edition literarischer Keil-
rials in this way. But early on he realized that a
schrifttexte aus Assur” at the Heidelberger Akade-
proper reconstruction of the ancient corpus and a
mie der Wissenschaften). After Gesche left the
comprehensive understanding of the topic required
Assur project, Schwemer took over the responsibi-
the study of unpublished texts as well. For that rea-
lity of editing the new witchcraft texts from Assur.
son, he followed the lead of several earlier students
Knowing that Abusch was looking for a collabora-
of Mesopotamian magic and took up the study of
tor and that Schwemer was scheduled to edit the
the copies of the late Frederick W. Geers. Over the
new witchcraft texts from Assur, Gernot Wilhelm in
course of several decades, Geers had copied thou-
2000 suggested to Abusch that he invite Schwemer
sands of tablets and fragments of religious and
to join him in preparing the edition of the Mesopo-
literary content in the Kuyunjik collections of the
tamian anti-witchcraft corpus. In spring 2001,
British Museum; in addition, Geers copied or trans-
Abusch and Schwemer met for two weeks and
literated many similar Assur texts in Berlin and
decided to work together on the edition of the cor-
Sippar texts in Istanbul. During research visits to the
pus; they have worked together constantly ever
Oriental Institute in 1969 and again in 1973, Abusch
since. They have met regularly on both sides of the
systematically examined the Geers collection and
Atlantic — in Waltham, Würzburg, Heidelberg and
read cursorily through most of the unpublished cop-
London — and have been in regular contact by
ies prepared by Geers. Abusch identified several
email and phone. Abusch is appreciative of the
hundred pieces that dealt with witchcraft, some of
scholarship, energy and dedication that Schwemer
which had already been identified as duplicates by
brought to the project. He believes that this volume
Geers himself, and reproduced those copies that he
would not have been brought to completion were it
not for Schwemer’s contribution.