This is my rendition of an incantation ($75, 3.25 x 2.0 in.: follow the link above) dating from the Old Babylonian period (around 3,700 to 3,800 years ago) that is dedicated to the purification of a vessel (Sumerian dug sahar2, “porous” or possibly “unglazed” vessel) to be used in a ritual. The clay for this vessel is described as coming from the Abzu, the subterranean watery realm that was understood to exist under dry land. The Abzu was the domain of Enki, the chief god of magic and wisdom, and was represented by the water table, which saturated the clay and made it available for immediate use. The “clay of the Abzu” was a magical material that was not only used to make inanimate objects, but living ones, including humans. The creator god Enki (here described by the word nun “ruler”) produces the clay, and then Nunura, the potter god, shapes it into a vessel and fires it in a kiln, after which Asalalimnuna, another god of magic, consecrates with an incantation. #instaceramica #cuneiform #incantation #ancientritual #bookshelfdecor #cabinetofcuriosities
The ancient text was recently published by Andrew George, Mesopotamian Incantations and Related Texts in the Schoyen Collection, as part of the massive private Schoyen collection in Oslo. This is the text (with a slightly modified translation):
1. en2-e2-nu-ru
2. im abzu-ta
3. nun-e mu-un-ni-in-ŋar
4. {d}Asar-re abzu-a
5. im-mi-in-e3
6. {d}Dam-gal-nun-na-ke4
7. mi2 um-ma-ni-in-dug4
8. {d}Ku3-su3 sanga2 mah
9. {d}En-lil2-la2-ke4
10. im-ma šu um-mi-ti
11. {d}Nun-ur4-ra
12. bahar2 nun-na-ke4
13. dug u3-me-ni-dim2
14. šu-na im-mi-in-ŋar
15. gir4 kug gir4 sikil-la
16. gir4 šen-šen-na
17. šag4-ba um-mi-ni-in-bil
18. {d}Asar-alim-nun-na
19. dumu abzu-ke4
20. dug sahar2-ra šu um-me-ti
21. nam-šub-ba ka-inim-ma
22. mi-ni-in-ŋar
23. dug-bi lu2-ulu3 pa4-hal-la
24. mi-ni-in-sikil
25. e2 diŋir-re-e-ne
26. mi-ni-in-dadag
27. inim hul-ŋal2
28. bar-še3 he2-em-ta-gub
29. ka-inim-ma dug sahar2-ra šu te-ŋa2-da-kam
1. Enenuru incantation:
2-3. The lord put down clay in the abyss
4-5. Asare brought it out from the abyss
6-7. And then Damgalnuna cared for it
8-10. Kusu, the chief purification priest, then took it
11-13. Nunura, the potter of the ruler (Enki), formed a pot (from the clay)
14. Having placed it in his hands
15-17. He fired it inside the sanctified kiln, the pure kiln, the holy kiln
18-20. Asaralimnuna, the resident of the abyss took the porous vessel
21-22. He put the recitation of a spell in it
23-24. That vessel purified the afflicted person
25-26. It purified the temple of the gods
27-28. And therefore malevolent speech shall stand aside
29. Incantation for handling a porous vessel
The creation and ritual preparation of the vessel is described here, but with divine agency to lend it the magical potency required for its ritual use.
