Stone Artifact: Babylonian Incantation Tablets

Stone Artifact: Babylonian Incantation Tablets

Babylonian Tablets With Magical Incantations

Babylonian Tablets With Magical Incantations

license: public domain
source: Wikimedia Commons
author: Robert Rogers
Description

A black and white photograph shows two aged Babylonian tablets arranged vertically. They bear text running across them, and the bottom tablet appears to have holes in some parts of the text.


Date

Artifact: unknown

Photo: 1908


Information

This photograph displays two ancient Babylonian tablets of unknown date. These tablets are inscribed with magical incarnations and prayers used by physician-priests in ritualistic medical procedures. Ancient Babylonian healthcare revolved heavily around such magical practices and superstitions, though physicians used naturalistic care (such as prescriptions and wound treatment) as well.


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Babylonian Medicine

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Geller, M. J. (2010). Ancient Babylonian medicine: Theory and practice. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell.

Oppenheim, A. L., & Reiner, E. (1977). Ancient Mesopotamia: Portrait of a dead civilization. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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