Fighting Witchcraft Before the Moon and the Sun

7/29/2019 Fighting Witchcraft Before the Moon and the Sun

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484 Daniel Schwemer

F i g . 1: Si 34 (ms. a,)

Fighting Witchcraft before the Moon and Sun 485

F i g . 2: Si 745 + 818 (ms. a 2)

The last few lines, which are only fragmentarily preserved, give apositive prognosis: the patient w i l l be w e l l for the rest of his l i f e ; he w i l lbe treated w i t h favour by fellow-humans and obtain propitious omens f r o mthe diviners (line 43-45a). This last part of the prognosis corresponds w i t hthe Statement o f the symptom description that the patient 's condition can-n ot be determined by means of divination. It also ties in w e l l w i t h the em-phasis that is placed throughout the whole ritual on obtaining a favourableverdict for the patient. The introductory phrase of the prognosis, adi mbaltu "as long as he lives", indicates that the ritual had not only a therapeutic, but also an apotropaic function.

I n contrast to the two Marduk-rituals BMS 12+ // and KAR 26 //, theSippar-text includes a symbolic destruetion of the witches. But l i k e the


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488 Daniel Schwemer

Fig . 3: Si 722 + 725 obverse (ms. b)

Fighting Witchcraft before the Moon and Sun 489

Fig . 4: Si 722 + 725 reverse (ms. b)


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Fighting Witchcraft Before the Moon and the Sun

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