On leeches, dogs, and gods in Old Babylonian medical incantations

N. Wasserman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article examines a small group of Old Babylonian incantations which deal with "worms", showing that these "worms" are in fact leeches - probably the oldest description of leeches known hitherto. The relation of leeches to the goddess of healing, Gula, is evident, but the question of the exact use of these enigmatic creatures in ancient Mesopotamian medicine remains open.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-88
Number of pages18
JournalRevue d'Assyriologie et d'Archeologie Orientale
Volume102
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

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