Choroba jako wynik działania czarownicy, bóstwa, demona lub ducha na przykładzie mezopotamskich tekstów magicznych i medycznych

• Authors: Nicko-Stępień Paulina

Title variants

EN

Illness as the result of the influence of evil witches, gods, demons, and ghosts, in Mesopotamian magical and medical texts

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The aim of this article is to show the influence of witches, demons, ghosts, and gods on human health in Ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian medicine was based on magic and considered illness to be the work of a supernatural power. Ashu and ashipu – doctors of body and soul – worked together to diagnose and help the patient. Sometimes prayers and magical rituals were necessary for a patient to get well; often, only a herbal mixture was needed. Mesopotamian magical and medical texts describe many kinds of diseases: somatic, mental, and others. Among these are: fever, headaches, leprosy, epilepsy, blindness, impotency, paralysis. This article is an effort to analyse Mesopotamian prescriptions, incantations, and medical interventions and to answer questions about the health of ancient mankind.

Keywords

EN

illness; Mesopotamia; patient; medicine

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie
• Journal: Saeculum Christianum. Pismo Historyczne
• Year: 2018
• Volume: XXV
• Pages: 5-20

Contributors

author

Nicko-Stępień Paulina

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