Names

  • CMAwR Text 8.1

Numbers

  • Q004216
  • CMAwR vol. 1, 8.1

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Details

  • Incantation-Ritual
  • Ceremonial Rituals for Undoing Witchcraft

Piercing figurines of warlock and witch

Obverse
CMAwR vol. 1, text 8.1: A // B // C // DCMAwR vol. 1, text 8.1: A // B // C // D
8.1:18.1:1

šumma amēlu pānūšu iṣṣanundūšu

(8.1:1) If a man has vertigo, 2his ears buzz, 3his flesh 4becomes more and more numb, 5his mind is always perturbed, 6(if) you are not able to identify the nature of his illness, 7that man is bewitched. 8Figurines of him have been made and then 9they have been handed over to Ereškigal in dilapidated places. 10For the ritual to undo witchcraft 11which was performed by making figurines of him and then 13handing them over 12to Ereškigal in dilapidated places:

8.1:28.1:2

uznāšu išaggumā

8.1:38.1:3

šīrūšu šimmata

8.1:48.1:4

irtanaššû

8.1:58.1:5

libbašu ittanadlaḫ

8.1:68.1:6

šikin murṣīšu tuʾadda?

8.1:78.1:7

amēlu šū kašip

8.1:88.1:8

ṣalmūšu epšū-ma ina kigullê

8.1:98.1:9

ana Ereškigal paqdū

8.1:108.1:10

ana ušburrudê

8.1:118.1:11

ša ṣalmūšu epšū-ma

8.1:128.1:12

ina kigullê ana Ereškigal

8.1:138.1:13

paqdū



8.1:148.1:14

[x-x-x-x] x kam

(8.1:14) (Lines 14-16 too fragmentary for translation)

8.1:158.1:15

[x-x-x-x-x-x-x] x a

8.1:168.1:16

[x-x-x-x x-x-x-x] x

break

(break)

8.1:17′8.1:17′

nignak burāši tasarraq

(8.1:17′) You strew a censer with (lit.: “of”) burāšu-juniper. 18′You offer a pure sacrifice. 19′You place the shoulder, the caul fat and the roast meat (before the deity), 20′you pour a libation of beer. 22′You have that man stand 21′on pure tamarisk-wood. 22′Then you make 14 figurines of clay, 23′dough, tallow (and) wax of the warlock 24′and the witch. Lifting them up 25′you speak before Šamaš as follows:

8.1:18′8.1:18′

niqâ ella teppuš

8.1:19′8.1:19′

imitta ḫimṣa u šumê tašakkan

8.1:20′8.1:20′

šikara tanaqqi

8.1:21′8.1:21′

amēla šuāti ina muḫḫi bīni elli

8.1:22′8.1:22′

tušazzassu-ma 14 ṣalmī ṭīdi

8.1:23′8.1:23′

līši lipî iškūri ša kaššāpi

8.1:24′8.1:24′

u kaššāpti teppuš tanaššī-ma

8.1:25′8.1:25′

ana maḫar Šamaš kīam taqabbi



8.1:26′8.1:26′

Šamaš dayyān šamê u erṣeti

(8.1:26′) “Šamaš, judge of heaven and earth,

8.1:27′8.1:27′

dayyān mīti u balṭi attā-ma

(8.1:27′) you are the judge of the dead and the living!

8.1:28′8.1:28′

ana nīš qāti qūlam-ma

(8.1:28′) Pay attention to (my) prayer to 29′learn of my condition.

8.1:29′8.1:29′

alaktī limad

8.1:30′8.1:30′

kaššāpī u kaššāptī

(8.1:30′) My warlock and my witch,

8.1:31′8.1:31′

[ m]ītat balṭat

(8.1:31′) either a dead or a living woman,

8.1:32′8.1:32′

[ ...]-ya mārūy[a] ...

(8.1:32′) [either] my [...] or m[y] sons, [...

break

(break)

8.1:33′′8.1:33′′

x [ ... ]

(8.1:33′′) (Lines 33′′-34′′ too fragmentary for translation)

8.1:34′′8.1:34′′

x [ ... ]

8.1:35′′8.1:35′′

libbašu šīrūšu? ... [ ... ]

(8.1:35′′) his heart, his body ... [...]

8.1:36′′8.1:36′′

aḫīya išp[uka ... ]... [ ... ]

(8.1:36′′) rendered my arms [limp ...] ... [...]

8.1:37′′8.1:37′′

uḫammânni-ma [ ... ... ]

(8.1:37′′) paralysed me and [... (rest of l. 37′′ too fragmentary for translation) ...]



8.1:38′′8.1:38′′

((annītu taq[abbi])) ((marṣu)) ṣalamšu inaššī-ma [ina maḫar Šamaš? k]īam iqabb[i]

(8.1:38′′) ((You re[cite] this.)) ((The sick man)) lifts the figurine of him(self) and speak[s t]hus [before Šamaš]:



8.1:39′′8.1:39′′

((ÉN)) Šamaš annû ṣalmī ša kaššāpu u [ka]ššāptu ēpušū anāku ((annanna [r annanna]))

(8.1:39′′) ((Incantation:)) “Šamaš, this is the figurine that the warlock and the witch have made of me. I, ((N.N., so[n of N.N.], {40}{′′}whose god is N.N., whose goddess is N.N.,)) have placed it before yo[u]. With your great consent, at your supre[me] command,

8.1:40′′8.1:40′′

((ša ilšu annanna ištaršu annannītu)) ina maḫrīk[a] ašk[unšu] ina an[n]īka rabê ina qibītīka ṣīrt[i]

8.1:41′′8.1:41′′

ina narbî ša Ea ina upšāšê ša [Asa]lluḫi ṣalam kaššāpīya kašš[āptīya]

(8.1:41′′) through the great deeds of Ea (and) through the magical procedures of Asalluḫi

8.1:42′′8.1:42′′

ušēpiš-ma ina maḫrīka aškunšunūti pānīšun[u IM].GE₆ apšuš idīšunu ana arkīšunu ut[ēr-ma]

(8.1:42′′) I have had 41′′figurines of my warlock and my witch 42′′made and I have placed them before you. I have smeared their faces with [bla]ck [paste], I have twi[sted] their arms behind them [and] 43′′I have bound (their arms) with the sinew of a dead cow. Their feet I have bound with the sinew of a dead cow,

8.1:43′′8.1:43′′

ina šerʾān litti miqitti aksu šēpīšunu ina šerʾān litti miqitti aksū-ma

8.1:44′′8.1:44′′

uštēger ina dīnīya izīz-ma aḫḫabbil dīnī līšer

(8.1:44′′) crossing (them) over each other. Be present for my trial so that I may not be treated unjustly, but that my trial go well!

8.1:45′′8.1:45′′

dīnī purussâ šurši šullimanni-ma

(8.1:45′′) Provide a decision for my trial, keep me safe!

8.1:46′′8.1:46′′

ṣilli gišimmari ša muḫḫi ṣalmī[ya ušaḫḫaṭ ina muḫḫi ṣalmīšunu] utakkap

(8.1:46′′) (Now) [I remove] the thorn of the date palm, which (is) in the skull of [my] figurine, I stick (it) [into the skull(s) of their figurines].

8.1:47′′8.1:47′′

lumunšunu ana muḫḫīšunu litūra kiš[pūšunu ? p]ašrū

(8.1:47′′) May the evil they did return to them, [may their] sor[ceries] be undone!

8.1:48′′8.1:48′′

kīsūya lippaṭrū-((ma)) kaššāpī kaššāptī saḫilū

(8.1:48′′) May my bonds be released, ((but)) may my warlock (and) my witch be pierced!

8.1:49′′8.1:49′′

[aḫī] (var.: mešrêti) ša ṣalmīya apaṭṭar aḫī (var.: mešrêti) ša ṣalmīšunu arakkas

(8.1:49′′) I release the [arms] (var.: limbs) of my figurine, I bind the arms (var.: limbs) of their figurines.

8.1:50′′8.1:50′′

aḫāya paṭrā aḫāšunu kaṣrā (var.: kasâ) šēpī ša ṣalmīya apaṭṭar šēpī ša [ṣalmīšunu] arakkas

(8.1:50′′) May my arms be released, may their arms be bound! I release the feet of my figurine, I bind the feet [of their figurines].

8.1:51′′8.1:51′′

šēpāya paṭrā šēpāšunu kaṣrā šaman nūni ana muḫḫīšunu u[tabbak]

(8.1:51′′) May my feet be released, may their feet be bound! Fish oil I pour over them.

8.1:52′′8.1:52′′

((ina)) maḫar ili ((u)) ištari rēmennû[ti?] kaššāpu u kaššāptu kussû pu[ḫḫ]û? šu<nu>

(8.1:52′′) Before (my) god ((and)) goddess, the merciful [ones], may the warlock and the witch be fettered, be confined. May they

8.1:53′′8.1:53′′

ṣullumū anāku annanna mār annanna ina dīnīka [ra]

(8.1:53′′) turn black! (But) let me, N.N., son of N.N., 54′′triumph over them 53′′through your [gre]at verdict!

8.1:54′′8.1:54′′

elīšunu luzzīz ellēku [ebbēk]u namrāku

(8.1:54′′) Let me be pure, let me [be clear], let me be bright!

8.1:55′′8.1:55′′

ana qātī damqāti ša ilīya u ištarīya ana šulmi u balāṭi

8.1:56′′8.1:56′′

piqdanni annīta iqabbī-ma

(8.1:56′′) Entrust me 55′′into the good hands of my god and my goddess for welfare and life!” 56′′He recites this; then:



8.1:57′′8.1:57′′

ša muḫḫi ṣalmīšu ušaḫḫaṭ ina muḫḫi ṣalmīšunu utakkap

(8.1:57′′) What (is) in the skull of his figurine he removes and he sticks (it) into the skull(s) of their figurines. 58′′He pours fish oil over them. 60′′He washes himself 59′′over them with (water from) the holy water vessel 60′′and speaks thus:

8.1:58′′8.1:58′′

šaman nūni ina muḫḫīšunu itabbak

8.1:59′′8.1:59′′

egubbâ ana muḫḫīšunu

8.1:60′′8.1:60′′

irammuk u kīam iqabbi



8.1:61′′8.1:61′′

kīma ša zumrī((ya)) iššaḫḫaṭū-ma

(8.1:61′′) “Just as (this) water is washed off ((my)) body, 65′′so may 62′′the witchcraft, magic, sorcery, 63′′piercing pain (and) evil machinations 64′′which are in my body 65′′be released from me and then 66′′return to them, themselves!”

8.1:62′′8.1:62′′

kišpū ruḫû rusû

8.1:63′′8.1:63′′

siḫlu upšāšû lemnūtu

8.1:64′′8.1:64′′

ša ina zumrīya ibaššû

8.1:65′′8.1:65′′

lippašranni-ma ana muḫḫīšunu

8.1:66′′8.1:66′′

u ramānīšunu litūr



8.1:67′′8.1:67′′

annītu iqabbī-ma

(8.1:67′′) He recites this. Then 68′′you bury them in the ground. 69′′He dissolves his figurine in beer, and 70′′lifting (this vessel with beer) he speaks before Šamaš as follows:

8.1:68′′8.1:68′′

ina erṣeti teqebberšunūti

8.1:69′′8.1:69′′

ṣalamšu ina šikari imaḫḫaḫ-ma

8.1:70′′8.1:70′′

inaššī-ma ana maḫar Šamaš kīam iqabbi



8.1:71′′8.1:71′′

Šamaš ṣalmī annâ

(8.1:71′′) “Šamaš, this figurine of me, 72′′which the warlock and the witch 73′′have made before you with evil intentions and in secret: 74′′Asalluḫi may release it, 75′′Ea, the king of the subterranean ocean, may purify it!” 76′′He recites this ((incantation)), and you throw it into the river.

8.1:72′′8.1:72′′

ša kaššāpu u kaššāptu

8.1:73′′8.1:73′′

ina maḫrīka lemniš u šurqiš īpušū

8.1:74′′8.1:74′′

Asalluḫi lipšuršu

8.1:75′′8.1:75′′

Ea šar apsî lubbibšu

8.1:76′′8.1:76′′

((šipta)) annīta iqabbī-ma ana nāri tanaddīšu



ms. A has a triple ruling with MAN TIL MAN written over the middle ruling

(ms. A has a triple ruling with MAN TIL MAN written over the middle ruling)

8.1:77′′8.1:77′′

Šamaš dayyān kiššāti

(8.1:77′′) “Šamaš, judge of the universe, 78′′who knows everything!

8.1:78′′8.1:78′′

mūdû kalāma

8.1:79′′8.1:79′′

Šamaš ina balukka ēpiš mādi

(8.1:79′′) Šamaš, without you, who create plenty (of things), 80′′plenty would not be created, and the releasing of these (things) 81′′would not be achieved without you.

8.1:80′′8.1:80′′

mādu ul inneppuš u pašār annâti

8.1:81′′8.1:81′′

ul ippaššar ina balukka

8.1:82′′8.1:82′′

Šamaš annû ṣalam kaššāpīy[a]

(8.1:82′′) Šamaš, this is the figurine of m[y] warlock 83′′and my witch who 88′′performed, 89′′turned to and sought against me

8.1:83′′8.1:83′′

u kaššāptīya ša kišpī ruḫê

(8.1:83′′) witchcraft, magic, 84′′sorcery, wicked machinations,

8.1:84′′8.1:84′′

rušê upšāšê ṭābūti

8.1:85′′8.1:85′′

napšašāti našparāti

(8.1:85′′) (bewitched) salves, (witchcraft) messages,

8.1:86′′8.1:86′′

zīra zikurudê kadabbedê

(8.1:86′′) hate-magic, ‘cutting-of-the-throat’ magic, ‘seizing-of-the-mouth’ magic, 87′′‘distortion-of-justice’ magic, confusion and 88′′madness,

8.1:87′′8.1:87′′

dibalê dimmakurrê

8.1:88′′8.1:88′′

u šinīt ṭēmi ēpuša

8.1:89′′8.1:89′′

isḫura išēʾa

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8.1:90′′′8.1:90′′′

[ ... ]x

(8.1:90′′′) (Lines 90′′′-97′′′ too fragmentary for translation)

8.1:91′′′8.1:91′′′

[ ... ...]-ta

8.1:92′′′8.1:92′′′

[ ... ...]-ta

8.1:93′′′8.1:93′′′

[ ... ]x

8.1:94′′′8.1:94′′′

[ ... ]x

8.1:95′′′8.1:95′′′

[ ... ...]-il

8.1:96′′′8.1:96′′′

[ ... ]x-ta

8.1:97′′′8.1:97′′′

[ ... ...]-ši

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8.1:98′′′′8.1:98′′′′

[ ... ]nēpešē

(8.1:98′′′′) [...] rituals 99′′′′against (ailments) caused by witchcraft.

8.1:99′′′′8.1:99′′′′

ša qāt kišpī

(blank)

blank space

8.1:100′′′′8.1:100′′′′

qāt Marduk-išmânni mašmašši

(8.1:100′′′′) (Lines 100′′′′-102′′′′: colophon, see Hunger, BAK, no. 55.)

8.1:101′′′′8.1:101′′′′

mār Ubar mašmašši

8.1:102′′′′8.1:102′′′′

KI ME-ME.ME mašmašši-ma