TY - JOUR
T1 - An akkadian demon in the Talmud
T2 - Between Šulak and Bar-Širiqa
AU - Bamberger, Avigail Manekin
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - This article examines the resemblance between the Talmudic privy demon (Shed Bet ha-Kise") and Šulak, a well-known Akkadian demon. There are four considerations that point to identifying the privy demon of the Talmud with the Babylonian demon Šulak: (1) They both dwell in the privy; (2) they both are demons that cause epilepsy, strokes, or sudden falls; (3) they both seem to have the form of a lion; and (4) their names (Šulak" and Bar Širiqa") are very similar. This suggestion is yet another example of the presence of beliefs and opinions from the Ancient Near East that found an echo in the Babylonian Talmud, one that may be added to a number of examples given by M. Geller.
AB - This article examines the resemblance between the Talmudic privy demon (Shed Bet ha-Kise") and Šulak, a well-known Akkadian demon. There are four considerations that point to identifying the privy demon of the Talmud with the Babylonian demon Šulak: (1) They both dwell in the privy; (2) they both are demons that cause epilepsy, strokes, or sudden falls; (3) they both seem to have the form of a lion; and (4) their names (Šulak" and Bar Širiqa") are very similar. This suggestion is yet another example of the presence of beliefs and opinions from the Ancient Near East that found an echo in the Babylonian Talmud, one that may be added to a number of examples given by M. Geller.
KW - Ancient Near East
KW - Babylonian Talmud
KW - Jewish magic
KW - Rabbinic literature
KW - Šulak
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878561800&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1163/15700631-12340381
DO - 10.1163/15700631-12340381
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AN - SCOPUS:84878561800
SN - 0047-2212
VL - 44
SP - 282
EP - 287
JO - Journal for the Study of Judaism
JF - Journal for the Study of Judaism
IS - 2
ER -
