The incantation series inscribed in cuneiformSumerograms as ÉN SAG.GIG.GA.MEŠ, Akkadian: muruṣ qaqqadi, “headache” (literally “sick-head”), is an ancient Mesopotamian nine-tablet collection of magical prescriptions[1] against the demon that caused grave disease characterized by a headache. Some of its incantations seem to have become incorporated into the later Assyrian work muššu’u, “rubbing”.[2] It is listed on the ninth line of the KAR44,[3]: 244 the work known as the Exorcists Manual, a compendium of the works of the āšipūtu, craft of exorcism, prefixed by the gloss sa.kik.ke4, a phonetic rendition of the series’ opening incipit, én sag-gig é-kur-ta nam-ta-è.[3]: 253
Prescriptions against headache have a long tradition within Mesopotamian folk remedy. The Kassite-era physician Rabâ-ša-Marduk authored “Eighteen prescriptions for headache”.
Like many of the other canonical collections of incantations and rituals, Sag-gig-ga-meš probably achieved its final form in the first millennium BC where it was copied down until the Hellenistic period.[4] Its first five incipits are known from a fragmentary catalog.[3]: 237
Tablet 8 describes a change in mental status (ṭēmu) that the person becomes detached from his body: "They (the demons) altered his mental state, so that he forgets his own flesh."[5] In the ritual part of the text, a lamb is offered up for immolation as a substitute for the sick man.[6]
R. Campbell Thompson (1903). Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets, &c. in the British Museum, Part XVII (CT 17). British Museum. pp. 4–8, 25–26. line art.
R. Campbell Thompson (1904). The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia, Vol. 2. Luzac and Co. pp. 44–97. transliteration and translation
Adam Falkenstein (1931). Die Haupttypen Der Sumerischen Beschwörung: Literarisch Untersucht. Zentralantiquariat der DDR. pp. 13f.
Deirdre Linton (1970). The series Sag.gig.ga.meš and related incantations. University of Birmingham Dissertation.
H. Hunger (1975). "Zur Ordnung der diagnostischen Omenserie". ZA (65): 63–68.
^D. O. Edzard (ed.). "Literatur". Reallexikon Der Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatischen Archaologie: Libanukasabas - Medizin (Vol 7). Walter De Gruyter. p. 3.
^Barbara Böck (2007). Das Handbuch Muššu'u "Einreinbung". CSIC. p. 71.
^ abcM J Geller (2000). "Incipits and Rubrics". Wisdom, Gods and literature. Eisenbrauns. pp. 237–258.
^T Boiy (2004). Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 136). Peeters Publishers. p. 26.
^Ulrike Steinert (2012). Aspekte Des Menschseins Im Alten Mesopotamien: Eine Studie Zu Person Und Identitet im 2. und 1. Jt. v. Chr. Brill Academic Pub. p. 255.
The remedies for all similar diseases, completely, All of the symptoms of diseases, The prescriptions relating to the diseases of women. * Until the time when, having become a Master of the entire Art of Magic, you possess the secret. After which you will learn to hear and interpret the commentaries as well as the list of correspondences, and to practice the rituals in both Sumerian and Akkadian.
And also to reason and debate in order to reach a consensus
41–43
Upon the one who is vigorous, wise, and penetrating to Great Knowledge, the Two Gods, the Lords (Ea and Marduk), will confer Vast Understanding. Unto this one these Gods will grant a Guardian Angel, whose name will be pronounced unto the Most Distant Times. Copied and collated with a most ancient copy. A tablet belonging to Kisir-dNabu, son of dŠamaš-ibni, magician of the Ešara.
