The incantation series inscribed in cuneiform Sumerograms as ÉN SAG.GIG.GA.MEŠ, Akkadian: muruṣ qaqqadi, “headache” (literally “sick-head”), is an ancient Mesopotamian nine-tablet collection of magical prescriptions[1] against the demon that caused grave disease characterized by a headache. Some of its incantations seem to have become incorporated into the later Assyrian work muššu’u, “rubbing”.[2] It is listed on the ninth line of the KAR44,[3]:244 the work known as the Exorcists Manual, a compendium of the works of the āšipūtu, craft of exorcism, prefixed by the gloss sa.kik.ke4, a phonetic rendition of the series’ opening incipit, én sag-gig é-kur-ta nam-ta-è.[3]:253
The text
Prescriptions against headache have a long tradition within Mesopotamian folk remedy. The Kassite-era physician Rabâ-ša-Marduk authored “Eighteen prescriptions for headache”.
Like many of the other canonical collections of incantations and rituals, Sag-gig-ga-meš probably achieved its final form in the first millennium BC where it was copied down until the Hellenistic period.[4] Its first five incipits are known from a fragmentary catalog.[3]:237
Tablet 8 describes a change in mental status (ṭēmu) that the person becomes detached from his body: "They (the demons) altered his mental state, so that he forgets his own flesh."[5] In the ritual part of the text, a lamb is offered up for immolation as a substitute for the sick man.[6]
Primary publications
- R. Campbell Thompson (1903). Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets, &c. in the British Museum, Part XVII (CT 17). British Museum. pp. 4–8, 25–26. line art.
- R. Campbell Thompson (1904). The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia, Vol. 2. Luzac and Co. pp. 44–97. transliteration and translation
- Adam Falkenstein (1931). Die Haupttypen Der Sumerischen Beschwörung: Literarisch Untersucht. Zentralantiquariat der DDR. pp. 13f.
- Deirdre Linton (1970). The series Sag.gig.ga.meš and related incantations. University of Birmingham Dissertation.
- H. Hunger (1975). "Zur Ordnung der diagnostischen Omenserie". ZA (65): 63–68.
References
- ↑ D. O. Edzard (ed.). "Literatur". Reallexikon Der Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatischen Archaologie: Libanukasabas - Medizin (Vol 7). Walter De Gruyter. p. 3.
- ↑ Barbara Böck (2007). Das Handbuch Muššu’u “Einreinbung". CSIC. p. 71.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 M J Geller (2000). "Incipits and Rubrics". Wisdom, Gods and literature. Eisenbrauns. pp. 237–258.
- ↑ T Boiy (2004). Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 136). Peeters Publishers. p. 26.
- ↑ Ulrike Steinert (2012). Aspekte Des Menschseins Im Alten Mesopotamien: Eine Studie Zu Person Und Identitet im 2. und 1. Jt. v. Chr. Brill Academic Pub. p. 255.
- ↑ E. Lipinski (1987). Cartago, Acta Colloquii Bruxellensis 1986. Peeters Publishers. p. 158.
The Exorcists Manual (KAR 44) Museum number: VAT 8275 |
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1–3 |
- 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 |
- 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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6–7 |
- The Sakikkū (SA.GIG) (Diagnostic Handbook)
- Alamdimmû (Physionomy)
- Nigdimdimmû (Behavior)
- Kataduggû (Elocution)
- Mê ellûti (The Pure Waters)
- Utukkū lemnūtu
- Atta mannu (Who Are You?)
- Ḫulbazizi
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11–12 |
- Bīt rimki (Bath house)
- Bīt mēseri (Ritual enclosure)
- Mîs-pî (For washing the mouth)
- Ru’âtu lemnêtu (Evil Sorceries)
- Arrâtu lemnêtu (Evil Maledictions)
- Ušburrudû (To dissolve sorcery)
- Namerimburrudû
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13–14 |
- Ki’utuku (conjurations by Šamaš, of the Gods and Men)
- Ušburrudû
- Namerimburrudû
- Šibiṭ šāri (Blast of wind) †
- The Demoness Lamaštu
- Conjurations against All Evil (Namburbi)
- Maqlû (Combustion)
- Šurpu (Cremation)
- To change bad dreams into good †
- Ša-zi-ga (The Lifting of the Heart)
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15–16 |
- 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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17–18 |
- Muruṣ libbi (Stomach ache)
- Muruṣ ḫašî (Lung-disease)
- Šipāt murṣi kalama (Incantation against all sorts of illness)
- Dam appi parâsu (To cut off the nose-bleed)
- Âra parâsu (Vomiting) †
- Nišḫa parâsu (Diarrhea)
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19–20 |
- Šinni ṣīri bulluṭu (To curse a snake-bite)
- Zuqaqīpa bulluṭu (To heal scorpion-bites)
- To heal Samānu (red disease)
- Šēp lemutti (to expel ‘foot of evil’)
- Di’u, šibṭu, mutānu šutuqi (To avert di'u plague and epidemic)
- Niqê šumḫuri (To cause offerings to be received)
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21–22 |
- Namburbi ritual of the city, house, field and canal
- Daily offerings to Nisaba
- U4-dè-ra-ra dib-bé-da (To avert torrential rain) †
- Zu-buru-dabbeda (To avert ʺlocust toothʺ)
- To ...... to the desert †
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23–24 |
- Edin-na dib-bé-da (To pass without danger through the desert)
- gi lú-kúr nu-te-ge26-e-dè (To prevent the arrow of the enemy from touching the client)
- Ki-šú al-dib (To keep his army fighting)
- To purify the stables of the cattle large and small, as well as the horses †
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25–26 |
- 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 |
- 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 |
- 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 |
- 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 |
- 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 |
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 |
- 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 |
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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