Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T23:36:25.890Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Dogs of Ninkilim, part two: Babylonian rituals to counter field pests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2014

A. R. George ,
Junko Taniguchi  and
M. J. Geller
A. R. George
Affiliation:
SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H OXG, [email protected]
Junko Taniguchi
Affiliation:
Buckhurst Hill, Essex, England, [email protected]
M. J. Geller
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, Topoi Haus, Hittorfstrasse 18, 14195 Berlin, [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article presents editions of all the extant Babylonian incantations against field pests. The sources date to the first millennium BC and many have not been published before. They are mostly tablets of the Neo-Assyrian period, from Ashurbanipal's library at Nineveh, but the corpus also contains some Neo-Babylonian fragments from Nineveh, as well as a tablet from Sultantepe (ancient Huzirina) and two Late Babylonian tablets from southern Mesopotamia. Some of the pieces certainly belong to a series called in antiquity Zu-buru-dabbeda “To Seize the Locust-Tooth”, a compendium of incantations and rituals designed to combat by magic means the destruction of crops by locusts, insect larvae and other pests; other pieces are parts of related and similar texts. Some of the rituals require the observation of the Goat-star rising above the eastern horizon, which suggests they were performed at night as a precautionary measure during the winter months of the barley-growing season.

Type
Research Article
Information
IRAQ , Volume 72 , 2010 , pp. 79 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute for the Study of Iraq 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alster, B. 2005. Wisdom of Ancient Sumer. Bethesda, Md. Google Scholar
Ambos, C. 2004. Mesopotamische Baurituale aus dem 1. Jahrtausend v. Chr. Dresden Google Scholar
Annus, A. 2002. The God Ninurta in the Mythology and Royal Ideology of Ancient Mesopotamia. State Archives of Assyria Studies 14. Helsinki Google Scholar
Bezold, C. 1891. Catalogue of the Cuneiform Tablets in the Kouyunjik Collection of the British Museum 2. London Google Scholar
Bezold, C. 1896. Catalogue of the Cuneiform Tablets in the Kouyunjik Collection of the British Museum 4. London Google Scholar
Borger, R. 1956. Die Inschriften Asarhaddons, Königs von Assyrien. Archiv für Orientforschung Beiheft 9. Graz Google Scholar
Borger, R. 1957. Assyriologische und altarabische Miszellen. Orientalia nova series 26: 1–11 Google Scholar
Borger, R. 2000. Šurpu II, III, IV und VIII in “Partitur”. Pp. 15–90 in George, A. R. and Finkel, I. L. (eds.), Wisdom, Gods and Literature. Studies in Assyriology in Honour of W. G. Lambert. Winona Lake, Ind. Google Scholar
Butler, S. A. L. 1998. Mesopotamian Conceptions of Dreams and Dream Rituals. Alter Orient und Altes Testament 258. Münster Google Scholar
Çağırgan, G. 1976. The Babylonian Festivals. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Birmingham Google Scholar
Caplice, R. 1965. Namburbi texts in the British Museum. I. Orientalia nova series 34: 105–31, pls. 15-18Google Scholar
Caplice, R. 1967. Namburbi texts in the British Museum. II. Orientalia nova series 36: 1–38, pls. 1-6Google Scholar
Caplice, R. 1971. Namburbi texts in the British Museum. V. Orientalia nova series 40: 133-83, pls. 2–18Google Scholar
Caplice, R. 1973. Further namburbi notes. Orientalia 42: 508–17Google Scholar
Cavigneaux, A. 1981. Textes scolaires du temple de Nabû ša harê 1. Baghdad Google Scholar
Cavigneaux, A. and Al-Rawi, F. 2002. Liturgies exorcistiques agraires. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 92: 1–59 Google Scholar
Cavigneaux, A. and Krebernik, M. 2000. Nin-amaškuga. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 9, 5–6: 327 Google Scholar
Cavigneaux, A. and Krebernik, M. 2001a. dNin-ma-lu-lu. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 9, 7–8: 463 Google Scholar
Cavigneaux, A. and Krebernik, M. 2001b. NiN-uru. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 9, 7–8: 527–8Google Scholar
Civil, M. 1994. The Farmers Instructions. A Sumerian Agricultural Manual. Aula Orientalis Supplementa 5. Barcelona Google Scholar
Civil, M. 1998. Bilingual teaching. Pp. 1–7 in Maul, S. M. (ed.), Festschrift für Rykle Borger zu seinem 65. Geburtstag am 24. Mai 1994. Cuneiform Monographs 10. Groningen Google Scholar
Cunningham, G. 1997. “Deliver Me from Evil”. Mesopotamian Incantations 2500-1500 BC. Studia Pohl series maior 17. Rome Google Scholar
Deller, K. 1991. On the names of some divine doorkeepers. Nouvelles assyriologiques brèves et utilitaires 1991: 14–16 no. 18 Google Scholar
van Dijk, J. 1987. Literarische Texte aus Babylon. Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler der staatlichen Museen zu Berlin 24. Berlin Google Scholar
Edzard, D. O. 1991. Gilgameš und Huwawa A. II. Teil. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 81: 165–233 Google Scholar
Edzard, D. O. and Wilcke, C. 1976. Die Ḫendursanga-Hymne. Pp. 139–76 in Eichler, B. L. (ed.), Kramer Anniversary Volume. Cuneiform Studies in Honor of Samuel Noah Kramer. Alter Orient und Altes Testament 25. Kevelaer and Neukirchen-Vluyn Google Scholar
Falkenstein, A. 1931. Die Haupttypen der sumerischen Beschwörung literarisch untersucht. Leipziger semitistische Studien, neue Folge 1. Leipzig Google Scholar
Farber, W. 1981. Zur älteren akkadischen Beschwörungsliteratur. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 71: 51–72 Google Scholar
Finkel, I. L. 1988. Adad-apla-iddina, Esagil-kin-apli, and the series SA.GIG. Pp. 143–59 in Leichty, E., Ellis, M. deJ. and Gerardi, P. (eds.), A Scientific Humanist. Studies in Memory of Abraham Sachs. Occasional Publications of the Samuel Noah Kramer Fund 9. Philadelphia Google Scholar
Foster, B. R. 1996. Bef ore the Muses. An Anthology of Akkadian Literature. 2nd edn. 2 vols. Bethesda, Md Google Scholar
Frahm, E. 2009. Historische und historisch-literarische Texte. Keilschrifttexte aus Assur literarischen Inhalts 3. Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 121. WiesbadenGoogle Scholar
Geller, M. J. 2000. Incipits and rubrics. Pp. 225–58 in George, A. R. and Finkel, I. L. (eds.), Wisdom, Gods and Literature. Studies in Assyriology in Honour of W. G. Lambert. Winona Lake, Ind. Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1989. Review of van Dijk 1987. Bibliotheca Orientalis 46: 378–84Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1991. Seven words. Nouvelles assyriologiques brèves et utilitaires 1991: 16 no. 19 Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1992. Babylonian Topographical Texts. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 40. Leuven Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1993. Ninurta-pāqidāt's Dog Bite, and notes on other comic tales. Iraq 55: 63–75 Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1996. Studies in cultic topography and ideology. Bibliotheca Orientalis 53: 363–95Google Scholar
George, A. R. 1999. The Dogs of Ninkilim: Magic against field pests in ancient Mesopotamia. Pp. 291–9 in Klengel, H. and Renger, J. (eds.), Landwirtschaft im alten Mesopotamien. Ausgewählte Vorträge der XLI. Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Berlin 4.-8.7.1994. Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient 18. Berlin Google Scholar
George, A. R. 2003. The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic. Introduction, Critical Edition and Cuneiform Texts. 2 vols. Oxford Google Scholar
George, A. R. 2007. The Gilgameš epic at Ugarit. Aula Orientalis 27, 2: 237–54Google Scholar
Gurney, O. R. and Hulin, P. 1964. The Sultantepe Tablets 2. Occasional Publications of the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara 7. London Google Scholar
Heimpel, W. 1976–1980. Insekten. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 5: 105–9Google Scholar
Heimpel, W. 1986. The sun at night and the doors of heaven in Babylonian texts. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 38: 127–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heimpel, W. 1990. Maus. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 7, 7–8: 605–9Google Scholar
Heimpel, W. 1995. Mungo. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 8, 5-6: 423–5Google Scholar
Heimpel, W. 1996. Moroccan locusts in Qattunan. Revue d'Assyriologie 90: 101–20Google Scholar
Held, M. 1961. A faithful lover in an Old Babylonian dialogue. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 15: 1–26 Google Scholar
Horowitz, W. 1998. Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography. Mesopotamian Civilizations 8. Winona Lake, Ind. Google Scholar
Hruška, B. 1990. Das landwirtschaftliche Jahr im alten Sumer: Versuch einer zeitlichen Rekonstruktion. Bulletin on Sumerian Agriculture 5: 105–14Google Scholar
Hunger, H. 1968. Babylonische und assyrische Kolophone. Alter Orient und Altes Testament 2. Kevelaer and Neukirchen-Vluyn Google Scholar
Hunger, H. and Pingree, D. 1989. Mul.Apin. An Astronomical Compendium in Cuneiform. Archiv für Orientforschung Beiheft 24. Horn, Austria Google Scholar
Katz, D. 2003. The Image of the Netherworld in the Sumerian Sources. Bethesda, Md Google Scholar
Klein, J. 1998. Namtar. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 9, 1-2: 142–5Google Scholar
Kilmer, A. D. 1987. Appendix C. The brick of birth. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 46: 211–13.Google Scholar
van Koppen, F. 2001. The organisation of institutional agriculture at Mari. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 44: 451–504 Google Scholar
Krebernik, M. 1984. Die Beschwörungen aus Fara und Ebla. Texte und Studien zur Orientalistik 2. Hildesheim Google Scholar
Krecher, J. 1966. Sumerische Kultlyrik. Wiesbaden Google Scholar
Krecher, J. 1974. Neue sumerische Rechtsurkunden des 3. Jahrtausends. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 63: 145–271 Google Scholar
Kunstmann, W. G. 1932. Die babylonische Gebetsbeschwörung. Leipzig semitistische Studien, neue Folge 2. Leipzig Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1957. Ancestors, authors and canonicity. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 11: 1–14 Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1957–1958. An incantation of the maqlû type. Archiv für Orientforschung 18: 288–99 and pls. 11–16Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1960. Babylonian Wisdom Literature. Oxford Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1971. The Converse Tablet: A litany with musical instructions. Pp. 335–53 in Goedicke, H. (ed.), Near Eastern Studies in Honor of William Foxwell Albright. Baltimore Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1974a. Dingir.šà.dib.ba incantations. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 33: 267–322 Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1974b. The seed of kingship. Pp. 427–40 in Garelli, P. (ed.), Le palais et la royauté. Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale 19. Paris Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1981. Kūbu. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 6, 3-4: 265 Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1983. Lāgamāl. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 6, 5–6: 418–19.Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1987. Lugal-edinna. Reallexikon der Assyriologie 7, 1-2: 137 Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1990. Ancient Mesopotamian gods: Superstition, philosophy, theology. Revue de l'histoire des religions 207, 2: 115–30Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 1999. Patron gods of agriculture in the Sumero-Babylonian pantheon. Pp. 355–9 in Klengel, H. and Renger, J. (eds.), Landwirtschaft im alten Mesopotamien. Ausgewählte Vorträge der XLI. Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Berlin 4.-8.7.1994. Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient 18. Berlin Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. 2007. Babylonian Oracle Questions. Mesopotamian Civilizations 13. Winona Lake, Ind. Google Scholar
Lambert, W. G. and Miliard, A. R. 1969. Atra-ḫasis. The Babylonian Story of the Flood. Oxford Google Scholar
Landsberger, B. 1934. Die Fauna des alten Mesopotamien nach der 14. Tafel der Serie ḪAR-ra = ḫubullu. Abhandlungen der Sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 42, 6. Leipzig Google Scholar
Landsberger, B. 1962. The Fauna of Ancient Mesopotamia, Second Part. ḪAR-ra = ḫubullu Tablets XIV and XVIII. Materialien zum sumerischen Lexikon 8, 2. Rome Google Scholar
Lion, B. and Michel, C. 1997. Criquets et autres insectes à Mari. Mari. Annales de recherches interdisciplinaires 8: 707–24Google Scholar
Litke, R. L. 1998. A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-Lists, An: dA-nu-um and An: Anu šá amēli. Texts from the Babylonian Collection 3. New Haven, Conn. Google Scholar
Livingstone, A. 1986. Mystical and Mythological Explanatory Works of Assyrian and Babylonian Scholars. Oxford Google Scholar
Livingstone, A. 1989. Court Poetry and Literary Miscellanea. State Archives of Assyria 3. Helsinki Google Scholar
Macmillan, K. D. 1906. Some cuneiform tablets bearing on the religion of Babylonia and Assyria. Beiträge zur Assyriologie 5: 531–712 Google Scholar
Maul, S. M. 1994. Zukunftsbewältigung. Eine Untersuchung altorientalischen Denkens anhand der babylonischassyrischen Löserituale (Namburbi). Baghdader Forschungen 18. Mainz Google Scholar
Mayer, W. 1976. Untersuchungen zur Formensprache der babylonischen “Gebetsbeschwörungen”. Studia Pohl series maior 5. Rome Google Scholar
Meier, G. 1941–1944. Die zweite Tafel der Serie bit mēseri. Archiv für Orientforschung 14: 139–52Google Scholar
Michalowski, P. 1993. The torch and the censer. Pp. 152–62 in Cohen, M. E., Snell, D. C. and Weisberg, D. B. (eds.), The Tablet and the Scroll. Near Eastern Studies in Honor of William W. Hallo. Bethesda, Md Google Scholar
Mirelman, S. and Krispijn, T. J. H. 2009. The Old Babylonian tuning text UET VI/3 899. Iraq 71: 43–52 Google Scholar
Myhrman, D. W. 1902. Die Labartu-Texte. Babylonische Beschwörungsformeln nebst Zauberverfahren gegen die Dämonin Labartu. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 16: 141–200 Google Scholar
Nötscher, F. 1930. Die Omen-Serie šumma âlu ina mêlê šakin (CT 38–40) (Fortsetzung). Orientalia 51–4. Rome Google Scholar
Oelsner, J. 1995. Spätbabylonische Texte aus Dēr. Altorientalische Forschungen 22: 265–8Google Scholar
Oppenheim, A. L. 1970. Glass and Glassmaking in Ancient Mesopotamia. An Edition of the Cuneiform Texts which Contain Instructions for Glassmakers. Corning, NY Google Scholar
Oppenheim, A. L. 1974. A Babylonian diviner's manual. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 33: 197–220 Google Scholar
Pedersén, O. 2005. Archive und Bibliotheken in Babylon. Abhandlungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 25. Berlin Google Scholar
Radner, K. 2004. Fressen und gefressen werden. Heuschrecken als Katastrophe und Delikatesse im Alten Vorderen Orient. Welt des Orients 34: 7–22 Google Scholar
Reade, J. E. 1986. Rassam's Babylonian collection: The excavations and the archives. Pp. xiii–xxxvi in Leichty, E., Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum 6. Tablets from Sippar 1. London Google Scholar
Reiner, E. 1958. Šurpu. A Collection of Sumerian and Akkadian Incantations. Archiv für Orientforschung Beiheft 11. Graz Google Scholar
Reiner, E. 1995. Astral Magic in Babylonia. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 85. Philadelphia Google Scholar
Reiner, E. 1996. Wie man sich bettet… Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes 86: 351–4Google Scholar
Reiner, E. and Civil, M. 1967. Another volume of Sultantepe tablets. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 26: 177–211 Google Scholar
Römer, W. H. Ph. 1973. Einige Bemerkungen zum dämonischen Gotte dKūbu(m). Pp. 310–17 in Beek, M. A., Kampman, A. A., Nijland, C. and Ryckmans, J. (eds.), Symbolae biblicae et mesopotamicae Francisco Mario Theodoro de Liagre Böhl dedicatae. Leiden Google Scholar
Sayce, A. H. 1915. Two early Babylonian historical legends. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology 37: 195–200 Google Scholar
Schwemer, D. 1998. Akkadische Rituale aus Hattuša. Die Sammeltafel KBo XXXVI 29 und verwandte Fragmente. Texte der Hethiter 23. Heidelberg Google Scholar
Schwemer, D. 2001. Die Wettergottgestalten Mesopotamien und Nordsyriens im Zeitalter der Keilschriftkulturen. Materialien und Studien nach den schriftlichen Quellen. Wiesbaden Google Scholar
Schwemer, D. 2003. K 151 // CTN 4, 96. Nouvelles assyriologiques brèves et utilitaires 2003: 22 no. 26 Google Scholar
Schwemer, D. 2007a. Abwehrzauber und Behexung: Studien zum Schadenzauberglauben im alten Mesopotamien. Wiesbaden Google Scholar
Schwemer, D. 2007b. Rituale und Beschwörungen gegen Schadenzauber. Keilschrifttexte aus Assur literarischen Inhalts 2. Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 117. WiesbadenGoogle Scholar
Scurlock, J. A. 1991. Baby-snatching demons, restless souls and the dangers of childbirth: Medico-magical means of dealing with some of the perils of motherhood in ancient Mesopotamia. Incognita 2: 137–85Google Scholar
Shibata, D. 2008. A Nimrud manuscript of the fourth tablet of the series mīs pî: CTN IV 170(+)188. Iraq 70: 189–204 Google Scholar
Stol, M. 2000. Birth in Babylonia and the Bible. Its Mediterranean Setting. Cuneiform Monographs 14. Groningen Google Scholar
Thureau-Dangin, F. 1939. Tablettes hurrites provenant de Mâri. Revue d'Assyriologie 36: 1–28 Google Scholar
Veldhuis, N. 1990. The Heart Grass and related matters. Orientalia Lovaniensia Periodica 21: 27–44 Google Scholar
Veldhuis, N. 2002. Studies in Sumerian vocabulary. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 54: 67–77 Google Scholar
Walker, C. B. F. 1972. Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum 51. Miscellaneous Texts. London Google Scholar
Walker, C. B. F. and Dick, M. 2001. The Induction of the Cult Image in Ancient Mesopotamia. State Archives of Assyria Literary Texts 1. Helsinki Google Scholar
Wasserman, N. 1999. Eqlam naṣārum: Pests and pest prevention in Old Babylonian sources. Pp. 341–54 in Klengel, H. and Renger, J. (eds.), Landwirtschaft im alten Mesopotamien. Ausgewählte Vorträge der XLI. Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Berlin 4.-8.7.1994. Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient 18. Berlin Google Scholar
Weidner, E. F. 1941–1944. Die astrologische Serie Enuma Anu Enlil. Archiv für Orientforschung 14: 172–95, 308–18Google Scholar
von Weiher, E. 1993. Uruk. Spätbabylonische Texte aus dem Planquadrat U 18, Teil IV. Ausgrabungen in Uruk-Warka Endberichte 12. Mainz Google Scholar
Weisberg, D. B. 2003. Neo-Babylonian Texts in the Oriental Institute Collection. Oriental Institute Publications 122. Chicago Google Scholar
Wiggermann, F. A. M. 1992. Mesopotamian Protective Spirits. The Ritual Texts. Cuneiform Monographs 1. Groningen Google Scholar
Wilcke, C. 1999a. Flurschäden, verursacht durch Hochwasser, Unwetter, Militär, Tiere und schuldhaftes Verhalten zur Zeit der 3. Dynastie von Ur. Pp. 301–39 in Klengel, H. and Renger, J. (eds.), Landwirtschaft im alten Mesopotamien. Ausgewählte Vorträge der XLI. Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Berlin 4.-8.7.1994. Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient 18. Berlin Google Scholar
Wilcke, C. 1999b. Neusumerische Merkwürdigkeiten. Pp. 623-38 in Böck, B., Cancik-Kirschbaum, E. and Richter, T. (eds.), Munuscula Mesopotamica. Festschrift für Johannes Renger. Alter Orient und Altes Testament 267. Münster Google Scholar
Ziegler, N. 1999–2000. Review of M. Birot, ARM XVII. Archiv für Orientforschung 46–7: 324–36Google Scholar
Zimmern, H. 1901. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der babylonischen Religion. Leipzig Google Scholar