Night-blindness in Mesopotamia (1)

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If a man cannot see everything by day and can see everything at night, (it is) sinlurma-disease. If a man can see everything in the daytime, but cannot see at nighttime, (it is) sinlurma-disease. If both of a man’s eyes (suffer from) night blindness (= sinlurma), you shall thread the ‘pole’ of a donkey’s belly (and) its neck sinews on a cord (and) place it on (the patient’s) neck. You set up the ritual-water vessel, and in the morning spread a linen cloth in the sun, and prepare a censer with juniper. You make that man (= the patient) stand behind the linen cloth, in the daylight. The incantation priest will raise up seven loaves and the one with the sick eyes will raise seven loaves, and [the priest] will say to the sick man, “Receive, O bright of eye!” The sick man shall say to the incantation priest, “Receive, one with staring eye!” [ … ] you will chop up the ‘pole’ of the belly [ … ] you (with the?) incantation priest will assemble children, who say thus: “ … “ they will say … You mix the ghee and best quality oil and repeatedly daub his eyes. [Its ritual]: It is the same. [Incantation]: “May Ea hear the prayer, may Ea receive (it). See O clear eyed, see, O staring-eyed.’ Recite the incantation … and this incantation … of the door you will put in his hand and he will eat. … you will [take away] the ‘pole’ of a donkey’s belly, and the pieces you will … [and] you will anoint his cheeks and [eyes] and he shall recover.

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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