shirtdoodler

It opens to reveal the painful and demonic tooth worms at work.

The artist created two (10.5 cm height) molar teeth out of ivory showing the infernal torments of a toothache as a battle with the “tooth worm”.

(Many ancient cultures had believed that worms were the cause of various illnesses and diseases such as tooth decay known as cavities today.

For example, the Chinese believed there were worms in the teeth that caused tooth decay and pain. They had several remedies that they employed successfully to kill these worms.

The ancient Babylonians had also believed that worms in the form of demons had caused diseases in people. They would actually distinguish one demon from another just as the modern medical establishment distinguishes one disease from another. Ashakku was the demon of a wasting disease, and Akhkhazu, the ‘seizer,’ was the demon of liver troubles who brings fever and plagues and is a member of a trio of female demons.)