Ḫulbazizi

Sumerian exorcism

Ḫulbazizi, inscribed in cuneiform phonetically Ḫul.ba.zi.zi, “the Evil is Eradicated” or more literally "Evil (be) gone", is an ancient Mesopotamian exorcistic incantation series extant in earlier Sumerian and later Akkadian forms, the language switch taking place in the late Bronze Age, directed at every sort of evil (mimma lemnu),[1]: 220  including a spell (ša malṭi eršiya, see below) against everything scary that hides below one's bed at night, depicted on an amulet with the terrified subject seated upright on his bed while a small dragon emerges from beneath to be confronted by a third figure.[1]: 223–224 

The text

The title by which the series is now known comes from the rubric on the last line, which may only actually refer to a couple of the preceding incantations rather than the composition as a whole. The final incantation in the collection entreats the planet Jupiter, the Pleiades and the deity Irragal (another name for Nergal) to deflect evil from the subject.[2] The title appears on line seven of one of the manuscripts of the Exorcists Manual, the only one legible at this point. The opening incipit of the series begins Sil7-lá lúérim-ma.[3]

Two Ḫulbazizi incantations appear on Kassite seals depicting the fish-sage apkallu[1]: 243  and its incantations were frequently invoked on amulets and charms, decorated with suitable apotropaic illustrations such as that of Ugallu, the lion-headed demon, during the Neo-Assyrian period:

He who transgressed the privacy of my bed, made me shrink for fear, and gave me frightening dreams: on the command of Ninurta, the first son, the beloved son, and on the command of Marduk, who lives in the E-sagil in Babylon, he must be handed over to Bedu, the chief gatekeeper of the Netherworld. You, door and door bolt, you must know: (from now on) I fall under the protection of these two divine lords.[4]

— ša malṭi eršiya incantation

Some of its incantations were later to be sampled in the Muššu'u, "rubbing", compendium.

Primary publication

  • Irving L. Finkel (1976). Ḫul.Ba.Zi.Zi: Ancient Mesopotamian Exorcistic Incantations (dissertation). Birmingham.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

See also

  • Ancient Mesopotamian religion
  • Asag/Asakku
  • Gallu
  • Utukku

References

  1. ^ a b c Marten Stol; F. A. M. Wiggermann (2000). Birth in Babylonia and in the Bible: Its Mediterranean Setting. Styx.
  2. ^ Erica Reiner (1995). "Astral Magic in Babylonia". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 85 (4): 20. doi:10.2307/1006642. JSTOR 1006642.
  3. ^ M. J. Geller (2000). "Incipits and rubrics". In A. R. George; Irving Finkel (eds.). Wisdom, Gods and Literature: Studies in Assyriology in Honour of W.G. Lambert. Eisenbrauns. pp. 244, 252.
  4. ^ F. A. M. Wiggermann (2007). "Some Demons of Time and their Functions in Mesopotamian Iconography". In Groneberg, Brigitte; Spieckermann, Hermann; Weiershäuser, Frauke (eds.). Die Welt der Götterbilder. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 106–107.
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The Exorcists Manual (KAR 44) Museum number: VAT 8275
1–3
  • Here is the complete list of the titles of the works of Magic that have been established for teaching and reference:
  • The God Kulla
  • Mîs-pî (Washing of the mouth)
  • Nišûtu ēní (enthronement of a priest)
  • Amāt Apsî (Formulae of the Apsu) †
  • Ginutaqū (Touching of the reed) †
  • Šuluḫḫē ilī (Ablution rites of the Gods) †
4–5
  • Ki’utuku (conjurations by Šamaš)
  • Šu’illaku (conjurations by the Lifted Hand)
  • Dingir-šà-dib-ba (The Irate Gods)
  • Népeš Du’uzu (Conjuratory operations for the month of Du'uzu) †
  • Sakkû šarrūti (Royal rituals) †
6–7
8–10
11–12
13–14
  • Ki’utuku (conjurations by Šamaš, of the Gods and Men)
  • Ušburrudû
  • Namerimburrudû
  • Šibiṭ šāri (Blast of wind) †
  • The Demoness Lamaštu
  • Conjurations against All Evil (Namburbi)
  • Maqlû (Combustion)
  • Šurpu (Cremation)
  • To change bad dreams into good †
  • Ša-zi-ga (The Lifting of the Heart)
15–16
  • Erîtu rakistu (Pregnant Woman Impeached) †
  • Sinništu šupšuqatu (Woman in difficulty) †
  • Ṣeḫru nûhu (To calm a baby)
  • Muruṣ îni (Eye-ache)
  • Muruṣ šinnî (Toothache)
  • Būšānu-disease (Frozen mouth)
17–18
  • Muruṣ libbi (Stomach ache)
  • Muruṣ ḫašî (Lung-disease)
  • Šipāt murṣi kalama (Incantation against all sorts of illness)
  • Dam appi parâsu (To cut off the nose-bleed)
  • Âra parâsu (Vomiting) †
  • Nišḫa parâsu (Diarrhea)
19–20
  • Šinni ṣīri bulluṭu (To curse a snake-bite)
  • Zuqaqīpa bulluṭu (To heal scorpion-bites)
  • To heal Samānu (red disease)
  • Šēp lemutti (to expel ‘foot of evil’)
  • Di’u, šibṭu, mutānu šutuqi (To avert di'u plague and epidemic)
  • Niqê šumḫuri (To cause offerings to be received)
21–22
  • Namburbi ritual of the city, house, field and canal
  • Daily offerings to Nisaba
  • U4-dè-ra-ra dib-bé-da (To avert torrential rain) †
  • Zu-buru-dabbeda (To avert ʺlocust toothʺ)
  • To ...... to the desert †
23–24
  • Edin-na dib-bé-da (To pass without danger through the desert)
  • gi lú-kúr nu-te-ge26-e-dè (To prevent the arrow of the enemy from touching the client)
  • Ki-šú al-dib (To keep his army fighting)
  • To purify the stables of the cattle large and small, as well as the horses †
25–26
  • Divinations according to falling stars, the flight of birds, the behavior of oxen and cattle, ominous sounds, flour, dice and of all the Gods
  • Abnu šikinšu (The Stone which looks like this)
  • Šammu šikinšu (The Plant which looks like this)
  • Ṭuppī-abnāti (Stone Tablets)
  • Ṭuppī-šammī (Plant Tablets)
  • Tablets of Necklaces and Pendants †
27–28
  • The following are the titles of Esagil-kin-apli's magical works.
  • All the prescriptions of the Touching of the Reed, which Ea has authored
  • Kikiṭṭu (Ceremonies) and Šerkugû (Sacred Chants)
29–30
  • All that exists concerning the Rites against Bewitchment,
  • and Rites of the Dissolution of the Evil Omens of Heaven and Earth (Namburbi)
  • The Totality of Wisdom †
  • The Secret of Magic †
31–32
  • The Sealed Book of the Order of Heaven and Earth †
  • The Mystery of the Apsu †
  • Šipātu aḫātu (Extraordinary Conjurations) †
  • Šipir šimmat rimuti u sagalli (Prescriptions against paralysis) †
  • Sagallû (Muscle disease)
  • SA.GIG
  • All the prescriptions against .......
33–34
  • Bulṭi miqit šamê (Remedies for the Evil Above)
  • Bêl ūri (Evil of the Lord of the Roof)
  • Šudingirrakku (Seizure of a God)
  • Qât Ištar (Seizure of a Goddess)
  • Šugidimmakku (Seizure of a Ghost)
  • Alû lemnu
  • The Demon Lemmu
  • Mukīl rēš lemutti (The Harbinger)
  • Šunamerimmakku (Seizure by a broken oath)
  • Qât amêlūtu (Seizure by a man)
35–38
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.
39–40
  • In This Way Your Sanctuary....
  • I Have Wandered In Despair...
  • Enuma Anu Enlil
  • Šumma ālu ina melê šakin
  • 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.
† Work not extant