Mesopotamian Medicine Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Mesopotamian Medicine lecture.

Mesopotamian

Referring to the ancient region located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, known for its early civilization.

Euphrates River

The second of the two major rivers in Mesopotamia, significant for agriculture and settlement.

Sumer

An ancient civilization in southern Mesopotamia known for its city-states and innovations.

Hammurabi

The sixth king of Babylon, known for creating one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes.

Babylonia

An ancient region in Mesopotamia, known for its cultural and political developments.

Cyrus the Great

Persian king who conquered Babylon in 539 BCE.

Assyria

A powerful ancient empire in Mesopotamia, known for its military conquests and significant cities.

Marduk

The patron deity of Babylon, associated with creation and magic.

Enki

God of fresh waters and wisdom, known for his roles in creation mythology.

Gula

Patron goddess of healing in Mesopotamian mythology, often associated with childbirth.

Utu/Shamash

The sun god in Mesopotamian religion, associated with justice and truth.

Lamaštu

A demonic spirit associated with diseases, particularly targeting children and pregnant women.

Asag/Asakku

Deities associated with disease, representing chaos and disorder.

Therapeutic texts

Ancient medical documents that describe symptoms and remedies for ailments.

Diagnostic texts

Documents that relate symptoms to specific diseases, often using omens.

Incantation

A spoken formula or chant believed to have magical powers, often used alongside healing practices.

Asû

The title for a physician in Mesopotamian society, focused on examining physical symptoms.

Ašipu

An exorcist or magician in Mesopotamia, known for healing through ritual and divine communication.

Cosmology

The understanding of the universe and the relationship between natural and supernatural elements.

Symptoms

Physical manifestations of health issues interpreted as messages from divine entities.

Obedience

A key concept in Mesopotamian healing, emphasizing the relationship between humans and gods.

Exorcist

A practitioner who expels evil spirits or demons through religious or magical rituals.

Therapeutic recipes

Instructions for preparing remedies based on various natural ingredients.

Omin literature

Ancient texts that relate specific conditions to predictions or signs from the gods.

Community involvement

The role of social and communal relationships in the understanding and treatment of illness.

Healing hands

A term describing the divine or miraculous capabilities attributed to healing deities.

Physiological processes

Biological functions and mechanisms of the body, not emphasized in Mesopotamian medicine.

Incantation of Asalluhi

A specific magical formula ascribed to the divine healer in Mesopotamian traditions.

Supernatural entities

Beings with greater powers than humans, influencing health and disease in Mesopotamian culture.

Manifestations of greater powers

Natural elements (e.g., wind, water) seen as representations of divine forces.

Skill of healers

The expertise attributed to healers based on divine inspiration (Gula) and community trust.

Communication with gods

The practice of seeking divine guidance for health-related matters.

Research challenges

Issues faced by scholars in interpreting ancient texts and understanding their contexts.

symptoms

encoded messages btw patient and community

Gula

Goddess of Isin, involved in healing hands, soothing bandages, childbirth, skin ailments but can also cause disease

Aslluhi

Goddess associated with healing and protection, often invoked in rituals for health and wellness. Paired with Gula