BAM 4, 393 (P285464)

Medical tablet excavated in Nippur (mod. Nuffar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in Hilprecht Collection, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

Cite

Lineart

Museum Collection(s)

Hilprecht Collection, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

Museum Number

HS 1883

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Nippur (mod. Nuffar)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Scholarly or scientific > Medical (medical)

Language(s)

Measurements

Text

obverse
1. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum ka-szi-ip la-pa2-at ar-ma-ni-ma t,a3-ab-ti ku-pa-ad
en: If a man is bewitched: armannu-like turnip, salt . . .
2. ka-li-it ka-lu-mi-im sza a-di-ni sza-am-ma-am la ih-ru-t,am
en: the kidney of a lamb that has not fed on grass up to now
3. er-ni-ni tu-ra-ar-ma i-ka-al-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: (and) . . ., you dry out, he eats it and then he will recover.
double ruling
4. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum a-u2-ri-qa2-nam ma-ru-us,
en: If a man suffers from jaundice:
5. i-szi-id szu-szi-im i-na szi-iz-bi-im ta-ra-sa3-an-ma
en: you soak liquorice root in milk, then
6. i-na ka-ka-bi-im tu-usz-ba-at-ma i-na hi-il-s,i2-im
en: you leave it out overnight under the stars, then in filtered oil
7. tu-usz-te-te-ma ta-sza-qi2-szu-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you combine it, and you make him drink it, then he will recover.
double ruling
8. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum szi-in-na-szu tu-ul-tum
en: If a man's teeth, worms:
9. ze-e ma-la-hi-im i-na hi-il-s,i2-im ta-sa-ak-ma
en: you crush sailor faeces in filtered oil, then
10. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ szi-in-na-szu sza i-mi-tim ma-ar-s,a-at-ma
en: if the right side of his teeth hurt,
11. a-na szi-in-ni-szu sza szu-me-li-im ta-sza-pa-ak-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you pour it on the left side of his teeth; then he will recover.
12. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ szi-in-na-szu sza szu-me-li-im ma-ar-s,a-at
en: If the left side of his teeth hurt:
13. a-na szi-in-ni-szu sza i-mi-tim ta-sza-pa-ak-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you pour it on the right side of his teeth; then he will recover.
double ruling
14. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum ge-er-gi-sza-am ma-li ku-ku-usz-ta-am sza bu-uq-li-im
en: If a man is full of gergishu-disease: roughly-ground malt flour
15. i-na hi-il-s,i2-im ma-la a-na ma-la
en: in filtered oil, portion for portion,
16. tu-usz-te-te-ma ta-sza-ka-an-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you combine it, and you place it (on him); then he will recover.
17. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ la ib-lu-ut, szi-im-ta-am e-me2-ta-am ta-sza-ka#-[an]-ma# i-ne2-a-[asz]
en: If he doesn't recover: you put a warm iron (on him); then he will recover.
18. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ la ib-lu-ut, tu-hi em-mu-tim ta-sza-ka-an-ma [i-ne2-a-asz]
en: If he does not recover: you put warm dregs (on him), then he will recover.
double ruling
19. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum zu-qi3-qi3-pu-um i-iz-qu2-[us-su]
en: If, as for a man, a scorpion stings him:
20. ru-pu-usz-ti al-pi-im ta-sza-ka-an-ma [i-ne2-a-asz]
en: you put saliva from an ox (on him); then he will recover.
double ruling
21. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum i-na-szu ma-ar-s,a ha-ar-ti-tu#
en: If both of a man's eyes are diseased: hartitu-flower
22. tu-he-si2-ma ta-sza-ka-an-ma i-ne2-a-[asz]
en: you squeeze out and put it (on him): then he will recover.
double ruling
23. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum s,e-e-tam ha-mi-it, ti-la-qu#-[ur-da-am]
en: If a suffers from himit seti-disease: tillaqurdu-plant
24. t,i-gi-ma-am is-qi2-qa3-am am-ma-asz-ta-ka-[al]
en: ashes, groats, mashtakal-plant,
25. li-bi-tam la-bi-ir-tam i-na e-li-[im]
en: old brick, in sesame oil
26. tu-usz-te-te-ma i#-[x ...]
en: you combine, and . . .
double ruling
27. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum x [...]
en: If a man . . .
28. [...]
reverse
1. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum ka-x [...]
en: If a man . . .
2. li-pi-ir s,e-tim ta#-[sza]-ka-an#-[ma i-ne2-a-asz]
en: fruit tree . . . you place (on him): then he will recover.
double ruling
3. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum pu-ut-su ka-ab-ta!-[at]
en: If man's forehead is swollen:
4. ze2-er bi-ni-im ta-sza-ka-an-ma [i-ne2-a-asz]
en: you put tamarisk seed (on him); then he will recover.
double ruling
5. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum ka-al-ba-am na-szi-ik asz-szum [mi-ra-num]
en: If a man is bitten by a dog, in order to
6. la ba-ni-[i]
en: prevent the puppies from being engendered:
7. am-ma-asz-ta-ka-al sza-ki-ru-tam i-na hi-me-ti
en: mashtakal-plant, henbane in butter oil
8. ta-sa3-ak-ma i-ka-al-ma i-ne2-a-[asz]
en: you pulverize it, and he eats it; then he will recover.
double ruling
9. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum szi-in-na-szu tu-ul-tum qu3-li-ip-ti# [...]
en: If a man's teeth (have) worms: scales of . . .
10. tu-ra-ar-ma ta-sza-ka-an-ma i-ne2-a-[asz]
en: you dry it out and you put it (on him); then he will recover.
double ruling
11. _6(gesz2)# 4(u)#_ a-wi-lum li-ba-szu na-pi-isz zi-bi-bi-a-nam#
en: If a man's belly is bloated: black cumin
12. i#-na ru-usz-tim i-sza-ti-ma i-ne2-a-[asz]
en: he drinks in top-quality oil: then he will recover.
double ruling
13. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum ka-szi-ip i-szi-id nu-hu-ur-[tam]
en: If a man is bewitched: asafoetida root,
14. i-na e-li-im i-sza-ti-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: he drinks in pure oil; then he will recover.
double ruling
15. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum szu-bu-ur-ra-am ma-ru-us,4 szi-ir na-ap-sza-tim
en: If a man's anus is diseased: flesh of a living being
16. tu-ra-ar-ma i-na e-li-im tu-usz-te-te-ma tu-ka-s,a-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you dry it out, combine it in pure oil, and cool it: then he will recover.
17. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ isz-tu ur-szu iz-za-qa2-at-su2 szi-im-t,am szi-im-tam u2-pi-tam
en: If, after a blemish stings him, plucked wool, (branding) iron, . . .
18. ta-sza-qi2-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you lift them up; then he will recover.
double ruling
19. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum sze-pa-szu qa2-qa2-ra-am le-ka
en: If a man's feet . . . the ground:
20. me-e i-na ru-qi2-im tu-ma-ma ta-ra-ha-as,-ma
en: you heat water in a cauldron and drench it (with it),
21. isz-tu ip-ta-ri-a sza-am-na-nam tu-ka-s,a-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you cool the oil from . . .; then he will recover.
double ruling
22. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum qa2-qa2-su s,e-tam ha-mi-it,
en: If a man's head suffers from himit seti-disease:
23. si2-ka-am qa2-qa2-su ta-s,a-pa-ar-ma
en: you press his head down on a peg, and
24. sza-am-nam ta-sza-pa-ak-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: you pour out oil; then he will recover.
25. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ e-em sza-am-nam tu-re-di-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: If he is warm: you add oil; then he will recover.
double ruling
26. _6(gesz2) 4(u)_ a-wi-lum li-ib-ba-szu i-ta-na-an-pa-ah
en: If a man's belly is continually swollen:
27. ni-ni-a-am i-na szi-ka-ri-im i-sza-ti-ma i-ne2-a-asz
en: he should drink ninu-plant in beer; then he will recover.

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Consult word list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Text content

Genre(s)	Scholarly or scientific > Medical (medical)
Language(s)

Chronology

Period	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Dates Referenced
Accounting Period

Record

CDLI number	P285464
Permalink	https://cdli.network/entity/P285464

Physical information

Artifact type	Tablet
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s)	Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience	Nippur (mod. Nuffar) [uncertain]
Written In
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s)	Hilprecht Collection, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
Museum Number	HS 1883
Accession Number

External resources

External Resource	Identifiers
Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-witchcraft Rituals (CMAwRo)	Q004193
Electronic Babylonian Library (eBL)	HS.1883
Wikidata (Wikidata)	Q119978849

References

primary: BAM 4, 393

[Köcher1971BAM4] Köcher, Franz. 1971. Keilschrifttexte Aus Assur 4, Babylon, Nippur, Sippar, Uruk Und Unbekannter Herkunft. Vol. 4. Die Babylonisch-Assyrische Medizin in Texten Und Untersuchungen. De Gruyter.

Revisions and credits

Created	Creator	Type	Authors	Project	Reviewer	Status
2024-11-06 at 19:23:20	Willighagen, Lars	Artifact metadata	Willighagen, Lars	Wikidata	Willighagen, Lars	Approved
2024-05-28 at 09:13:12	Firth, Richard	Artifact metadata, Other metadata	Firth, Richard		Firth, Richard	Approved
2023-10-19 at 12:08:07	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Artifact metadata	Földi, Zsombor J.; Jiménez, Enrique; Pagé-Perron, Émilie		Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Approved
2023-07-05 at 14:39:36	Rattenborg, Rune	Artifact metadata	Rattenborg, Rune	Geomapping Landscapes of Writing	Rattenborg, Rune	Approved
2015-12-17 at 15:03:23	Johnson, J. Cale	Transliteration	Johnson, J. Cale		CDLI	Approved
2015-12-02 at 14:27:32	Johnson, J. Cale	Transliteration	Johnson, J. Cale		CDLI	Approved
1970-01-01 at 00:00:00	CDLI	Artifact metadata	Frayne, Douglas R.		CDLI	Approved

Cite this Artifacts

“BAM 4, 393 Artifact Entry.” (1970) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). November 6, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P285464.

BAM 4, 393 artifact entry (No. P285464). (2024, November 6). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P285464 (Original work published 1970)

BAM 4, 393 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P285464 (Accessed: April 11, 2026).

@misc{2024BAM,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-04-11]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {nov 6},
	title = {BAM 4, 393 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P285464},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P285464},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/11/6/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P285464
LB  - CDLI:P285464
M1  - 2026/4/11/
TI  - BAM 4, 393 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P285464
ER  -

Cite this Artifacts

“BAM 4, 393 Artifact Entry.” (1970) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). November 6, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P285464.

BAM 4, 393 artifact entry (No. P285464). (2024, November 6). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P285464 (Original work published 1970)

BAM 4, 393 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P285464 (Accessed: April 11, 2026).

@misc{2024BAM,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-04-11]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {nov 6},
	title = {BAM 4, 393 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P285464},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P285464},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/11/6/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P285464
LB  - CDLI:P285464
M1  - 2026/4/11/
TI  - BAM 4, 393 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P285464
ER  -