UTUKKŪ LEMNŪTU (UDUG-HUL) IN A NEW TEXT FROM THE IRAQ MUSEUM. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ali, Munther; Geller, Markham J.
• Is Part Of: Iraq. Volume 82(2020)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Iraq -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; 935.005
• DOI: 10.1017/irq.2020.10
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-0889

Abstract

Abstract : A small tablet fragment acquired by the Iraq Museum raises interesting questions, although at first it appeared to be a simple duplicate manuscript from the large bilingual incantation series Udug-hul. Publishing this fragment has drawn attention to an interesting feature of Mesopotamian incantations, in which the āšipu -exorcist protects himself first, before addressing the patient. Although this practice has been known from Tablet 3 of Udug-hul incantations, it turns out that Assur exorcists occasionally inserted their own names into otherwise anonymous incantations and prayers, in order to ensure their own protection, which is a practice not known from other sites.