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Edward Kennedy February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009 »
August 25, 2009
Sick? Maybe Shamash Can Help
Over the last week or so I've been bothering you with some thoughts on details of a prayer to Shamash, a prayer of a sick person. Today I thought I'd provide my complete translation for those who may need to take the cure. I'm still worried about a few issues. The one that bothers me most is the meaning of the Akkadian word e'iltu in this context. More out of timidity than anything else, I render it "binding" here. But I keep thinking it might mean "commitment," particularly ritual commitment. Does the patient think he or she is sick 1) because of some religious, ritual, failing on his or her part or 2) because of some unfavorable omen that binds or 3) is it that the symptoms themselves bind the patient? Would the patient have understood these distinctions?
The first two lines below are not from the prayer proper but from the accompanying ritual. I provide them to add a little additional context to the prayer. Other than a couple of words in CAD, I don't think there is a published translation of these lines or the whole ritual. I'm still working my way through the remainder of the ritual just to see if it has anything else of interest to teach us about the prayer.
So here is my translation of VAT 8242 (BAM 323):17-35 with a little help from K.2132.
In the evening of the third day, you prepare a ritual before Shamash.
The sick person, hands lifted (at prayer) before Shamash, you shall make him recite as follows:
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Incantation:
O Shamash, noble among the Anunna-gods, prince among the Igig-gods, the absolute, excellent leader;
Judge of heaven and earth; his command is irrevocable;
O Shamash, organizer of darkness, bringer of light for humanity;
O Shamash, at your setting, humanity's light darkens, O Shamash, at your rising, the four quarters brighten.
The homeless, the widow, the waif(?) (and) the female companion,
your rising warms all humanity.
Beasts, living creatures, animals of the steppe,
they continually give you their healthy(?) lives.
You judge the case of the wronged man and woman. You make their outcomes right.
I am so and so, weary, and kneeling (before you),
who, by way of anger a god and goddess (some) binding has bound me,
a ghost, a l-demon, a spirit, a "wind" spirit, goose bumps, dizziness, paralysis of the flesh, vertigo,
stiffness (and), confusion weigh on me and leave me mourning(?) every day.
O Shamash, you are the judge; my life I bring. Regarding the verdict of decease that has seized me, for (another?) verdict, I am kneeling.
Judge my case. Provide my verdict. Until you allow my case to come to a verdict,
in a[nother] case, [do not] deliver [a verdict.(?)] [ ] after you have let my case come to a verdict [ . . .].
(and) my binding releases me and they have fled from my [bod]y. I will always trust (you.). May the gods bless(?) you.
May the heavens be joyful in you. May the earth rejoice in you.
End of incantation.
If you'd prefer a professional translation of this prayer pick your language and/or vintage.
Erich Ebeling, Quellen zur Kenntnis der babylonischen Religion, 1, Leipzig: Hinrichs'sche, 1918, 44-45
Marie-Joseph Seux, Hymnes et Prieres aux dieux de Babylonie et d'Assyrie, Paris: de Cerf, 1976, 426-27
Benjamin R. Foster, Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature, 3rd ed, Bethesda, Maryland: CDL Press, 2005, 731-732
And yes, I did consult all four of these translations plus several dictionaries, grammars and a sign list.
Posted by Duane Smith at August 25, 2009 2:39 PM | Read more on Akkadian |
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