Witchcraft and Sorcery in Old Babylon

Embark on a journey through the annals of ancient Mesopotamia as this thesis critically reevaluates the prevalent assumptions surrounding the practices of 'witchcraft' and 'sorcery.' Delving into textual evidence from the second and first millenniums BC, the study challenges modern scholars' preconceptions and sheds light on the nuanced understanding of these notions during the Old Babylonian period (c. 1900-1600 BC).

The exploration unfolds through a meticulous linguistic analysis of Sumerian and Akkadian terms, coupled with a discerning examination of a corpus of texts. Unlike the existing scholarly focus on first-millennium BC anti-witchcraft rituals, this thesis pioneers the investigation of the genesis and earlier textual representations of these concepts.