ANCIENT WITCHCRAFT: ASSYRIA &
MESOPOTAMIA
I. LOCATION & CHRONOLOGY :
A. Assyria = N. of Iraq; Babylonia = S. Iraq [mod.
Baghdad]
B. Middle Assyrian per.=1350-900-B.C.
Neo-Assyrian per.=900-600 B.C.
Old Babylonian per.=1894-1595B.C.
II. DEFINITIONS-Witchcraft--Mesopotamian vs. mod.
Anthropology
A. Mesopotamian def.: "ability of humans to harm illicitly
by supernatural powers"
B. Modern Anthropology def.: "a difference between
witchcraft and sorcery'
III. ASSYRIAN VIEW (gen.) Witchcraft -a cause of Evil &
Misfortune; an evil practice
A. Good practicestpractitioners: Kings, priests--curses,
looks,rituals
B. Main evidences Tablets in Akkadian (cuneiform, date=
Mid-Assyrian per.)
C. Content/Focus: Incantations "Maql'u"' ['burning']--on
evils of Witchcraft
i. Sun god Samas--prayers to; Date: mid-Assyrian
ii. Stereotyped view of witches: 5 categories:
1) Non or semi-human
2) Foreign
3) Internal enemies [as "cult women']
4) Internal enemies-adversaries
5) Internal enemies-close to victim
D. Methods/Practices described:
1. Victim's personal items used
2. Images of victim
3. Knots
4. Spit
E. Protection:
1. Image--burn it
2. Words
3. Salt
IV. ANALYSIS:
Why were most witches female?
Imp. of Patrilineal society?
Imp. of Social & Legal Attitudes? Status? Laws?