The Nineveh Medical Encyclopaedia

The titles of the treatises comprising the Nineveh Medical Encyclopaedia are known from a combination of surviving texts, notes at the end of tablets, and ancient catalogues. They are as follows:

I CRANIUM II EYES III EARS IV NECK V NOSEBLEED VI TEETH VII BRONCHIA VIII STOMACH IXa EPIGASTRIUM IXb ABDOMEN X KIDNEY XI ANUS XII HAMSTRING

I CRANIUM

Title: šumma amēlu muhhašu umma ukâl "If a man's skull/brain contains heat (fever)"

[NIGIN₂ 5] DUB.MEŠ DIŠ N[A UGU-šu₂ KUM₂ u₂-kal EN ku-r]a-ri kib-ši ⌜gi⌝-iṣ-ṣa-te gu-[riš-tu DIRI x x x x (x)] ⌜a⌝-šu-u DAB-⌜su⌝

"[Total of five] tablets of (the section) 'If a man's [skull contains heat (fever)'. Including (prescriptions) for the case that he is full of] kurāru-boils, kibšu-skin complaint (lit. fungus), giṣṣatu (shedding of skin), guraštu-[lesion ... (and remedies for the case that)] ašû-disease afflicts him."

1 DIŠ NA UGU-šu₂ KUM u₂-kal SA ZI SAG.KI TUK-ma (var. SA ⌜SAG.KI⌝-šu₂ ZI) IGI.MIN-šu₂ i-ṣappar(BAR₃) "If a man's skull/brain contains heat (fever), he gets a throbbing sensation in (his) temporal vessels (var. his temporal vessels throb) and his eyes flutter."
2 [DIŠ NA SAG.K]I.DAB.BA TUK.TUK-ši "[If a man] repeatedly has a sagkidabbû-headache."
3 DIŠ SAG.KI.DAB.BA ŠU.GIDIM.MA ina SU NA il-ta-za-az-ma NU DU₈ "If 'seizing of the temples' due to ghost affliction (lit. 'Hand of a ghost') constantly] persists [in a man's body] and cannot be loosened."
4 [DIŠ NA SAG.DU-su GIG.MEŠ mat-qu-ti TAB UD.D]A DIRI⌝ "[If a man's head] is full [of 'sweet' lesions and burning] of ṣētu-fever."
5 DIŠ NA MURUB₄ SAG.DU-šu₂ GIR₂.GIR₂-su UGU-šu₂ x [x x x] x-te ŠEŠ₂ "If the middle of his head constantly stings him, you rub [his skull with ...]."

II EYES

Title: šumma amēlu īnāšu marṣā "If a man's eyes are sick"

NIGIN₂ 4 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA IGI.II-šu₂ G[IG EN (...) šum₄-m]a ⌜IGI.SIG₇.SIG₇⌝ u sin-⌜lu-ur-ma-a⌝

"Total of four tablets (of the section) 'If a man's eyes are si[ck.' Including (prescriptions) for the case] that (he has) jaundice or night-blindness."

1 DIŠ NA IGI.II-šu₂ GIG "If a man's eyes are sick."
2 DIŠ NA IGI.II-šu₂ mur-din-ni ˹DIRI "If a man's eyes are full of (a)murdinnu ('bramble')."
3 DIŠ NA IGI.II-šu₂ LU₃.LU₃ "If a man's eyes are constantly troubled."
4 [DIŠ NA? x x x x] x x x-⌜šu₂ DIRI⌝ "[If a man's] ... are full of [...]."

III EARS

Title: šumma amēlu uzun imittīšu [(...)] iltanassi "If a man's right ear [(...)] constantly rings (lit. screams)"

1 DUB GEŠTU₂ ZAG-[šu₂ GU₃.GU₃-si EN DIŠ NA GEŠTU.I]I-šu₂ TA[G.MEŠ-šu₂?]

"One tablet (of the section 'If a man's) right ear [rings constantly'. Including (prescriptions) for the case that man]'s [ears] are constantly affected [(lit. keep touching him).]"

1 DIŠ NA GEŠTU ZAG-šu₂ GU₃.GU₃-si me-si-ru DAB-si "If a man's right ear rings (lit. screams) constantly, he will experience hard times."

IV NECK

Title: šumma amēlu labânšu ikkalšu šugidimmakku "If a man's neck tendons hurt him due to ghost affliction"

NIGIN₂ 6 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA SA.G[U₂-šu₂ GU₇-šu₂ ŠU GIDIM.MA EN ...]x ṭi₄-p[i x x (x)] NIG₂.LA₂ di-ik-še lu ša₂ [ZAG lu ša₂ GÙB ana p]a-ša₂-r[i₄-ma?]

"Total of six tablets (of the section) 'If a man's neck tendons [hurt him due to ghost affliction'. Including (prescriptions for) ...] poultices [...], bandage(s) [for] relieving a swelling, whether on the [right or on the left side.]"

1 (lost) DIŠ NA SA.GU₂-šu₂ GU₇-šu₂ ŠU GIDIM.MA "If a man's neck tendons [hurt him due to ghost affliction]."
2 DIŠ NA ŠU.GIDIM.MA DAB-su-ma lu ina DU₃-ti A.ZU-ti lu ina DU₃-ti MAŠ.MAŠ-ti il-ta-za-az-ma NU DU₈ ana [TI]-šú "If ghost affliction affects a man [(and) it lingers on and cannot be removed by the actions of the physician or the exorcist—to cure him."
3 DIŠ šum₄-ma HUL.GIG ana L[U₂? NU TE-e] "One (tablet): For hate magic [not to approach] a man."
4 EN₂ id-di ^de₂-a ⌜ru-tu⌝ ^de₂-a "Incantation: Ea recited (the spell). Spittle of Ea."
5 DIŠ NA mi-šit-tu pa-ni ma-šid-ma ta-lam-ma-šu₂ i-šam-ma-am-šu₂ KIN mi-šit-ti (GIG) "If a man is struck with facial paralysis (stroke) and his torso goes numb, (he suffers from) the effect of the stroke."
6 (lost) DIŠ NA ina MAŠ₂.GI₆-šu₂ [UŠ₂.MEŠ] IGI.IGI-mar "If a man constantly sees [dead persons] in his dream."

V NOSEBLEED

Title: šumma amēlu dāmu ina appīšu illak "If blood flows from a man's nose."

1 ⌜DIŠ NA MUD₂ ina⌝ KIR₄-šu₂ [DU-ku ana MU]D₂ KIR₄ TAR-[si] "If blood [flows from] a man's nose, [in order to] stop the nosebleed."

VI TEETH

Title: šumma amēlu šinnāšu marṣā "If man's teeth are sick"

1 DIŠ NA ZU.MEŠ-šu₂ GIG MUŠ.DIM.GURUN.N[A ša₂ ED[IN.NA U₅.MEŠ ...] "If man's teeth are sick you ... copulating geckos of the steppe [...]"
2 [DIŠ NA] gi-⌜me-er⌝ ZU₂.ME-šu₂ i-na-aš₂ u ri-šu-t[u₄ TUK-ši] "[If] all of a [man's] teeth [are loose. And he gets rishutu."

[NIGIN₂ 2 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA ZU₂.MEŠ-šu₂ GIG E]N KA-šu₂ GIG-uṣ ZU₂-šu₂ na-di-a[t][. . .] x : ta-a-bi-i-lu DAB-su bu-'-ša₂-nu ⌜DAB⌝-s[u(...)] ša₂ LU₂.TUR

"[Total of two tablets (of the section) 'If a man's teeth are sore].' Including (prescriptions for the case that) his mouth is sore (and) his tooth fallen out, [...], (for the case that) dryness troubles him, bu'šānu-disease troubles him,(including prescriptions for bu'šānu-disease?) in an infant."

VII BRONCHIA

Title: šumma amēlu appašu kabit "If a man's nose (breathing) is difficult".

[NIGIN₂ 6 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA KIR-šu₂ DUGUD EN DIŠ NA G]I.GID₂ MUR.MEŠ ši-i-qi u₃ LU₂.TUR su-alu GIG

"[Total of six tablets (of the section) 'If a man's breathing becomes difficult.' [Including (prescriptions) for the case that a man's] bronchial tube (is sick), (for) šīqu-illness and (for) an infant suffering from suālu-cough."

1 DIŠ NA KIR₄-šu DUGUD "If man's nose (breathing) is difficult."
2 DIŠ NA GABA-su GIG-at NINDA u A ina GABA-šu₂ GUB.MEŠ-zu ha-ah-ha TUK.MEŠ "If a man's chest is sick, so that food and water get stuck in his chest and he continually has a wet cough."
3 [DIŠ NA GABA-su SAG ŠA₃-šu₂] u MAŠ.SIL₃.MEŠ-šu₂ GU₇.MEŠ-šu₂ "[If a man's chest, epigastrium (lit. 'top of his belly')] and shoulders hurt him."
4 [DIŠ NA KUM₂-em u₂-ga-na-ah] "[If a man is feverish (lit. hot) and coughs]."
5 DIŠ NA su-a-lam GIG ana ša-ha-ṭi "If a man is sick with suālu-cough, in order to remove it...."
6 DIŠ NA su-a-lam ha-ha u ki-ṣir-te MU[R.MEŠ? GIG?] "If a man [is sick] with suālu-cough, hahhu-wet cough and constriction of the lungs."

VIII STOMACH

Title: šumma amēlu suāla maruṣ ana kīs libbi itâr "If a man is sick with suālu-cough (which) turns (for him) into intestinal disease (lit. binding of the belly)"

[NIGIN₂ 5 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA su-a-lam GIG ana ki-is Š]A₃ GUR-šu₂ EN TU₁₅ iš-biṭ-su-⌜ma⌝[...] x U₂ NAG-ma ⌜la⌝ i-⌜ar₂-ru⌝[ṣe-me-er ... DIŠ NA KA]Š NAG-ma SUHUŠ.MEŠ-šu₂ pa-al-qa [di-ig-la ma-a-ṭi? .... GI]G ki-ṣir ŠA₃ GIG ki-is ŠA₃ [... DIR]I u₃ nik-mat TU₁₅ u UD.DA

"[Total of five tablets (of the section) 'If a man is sick with suālu-cough (which)] for him turns into intestinal disease'. Including (prescriptions for the case that) 'wind' has bloated him, [...] he drinks medicine and then does not vomit, [(and his belly) is inflated ..., (including prescriptions) if a man] drinks beer and then his lower extremities are unsteady, [and his eyesight is weakened ... he is] sick with [...], sick with 'belly-knot' (and) intestinal disease (lit. binding of the belly), [(including prescriptions for the case that) ... he is] full of [...] and (prescriptions for) bloating (lit. heaping up of wind) and ṣētu-fever."

1 [DIŠ NA su-a-lam GIG ana ki-is ŠA₃ GUR-š]u₂ "[If a man is sick with suālu-cough (which)] for him turns [into intestinal disease (lit. binding of the belly)]."
2 DIŠ NA ŠA₃-šu₂ GIG GA AB₂ KU₃.GA I₃.NUN.NA U₄.2.KAM NAG "If a man's belly is sick (he shall drink milk of a pure cow (with) ghee for two days."
3 [DIŠ NA SAG ŠA₃-šu₂ GU₇-šu₂ ina ge-ši-šu₂ ZE₂ im-ta-na-' NA BI qer-bé-na GIG "[If a man's epigastrium hurts him, and when he belches he keeps producing bile, this man is sick internally."
4 DIŠ NA UD.DA KUR-id ZI SAG.KI GIG ina lam DUGUD-šu₂ ana TI.BI "If a man is] overcome [by ṣētu-fever, he suffers from pulsating of the temple, in norder to cure him before it becomes severe for him.]"
5 DIŠ NA ŠA-šu₂ KUM DAB-it "If heat (fever) afflicts a man's belly."

IXa EPIGASTRIUM

Title: šumma amēlu rēš libbīšu naši "If a man's epigastrium is swollen (lit. risen)."

⌜NIGIN₂ 4⌝ D[UB.MEŠ DIŠ NA SAG ŠA₃-šu₂ na-ši EN (DIŠ)...]x x x x ne-he-[es ^gišGIGIR ........]

"Total of four [tablets (of the section) ['If a man's epigastrium is raised.' Including (prescriptions for) ...] ..., 'reversing-[of-the-chariot', ...]."

1 DIŠ NA SAG ŠA₃-šu₂ na-ši MURUB₄.MEŠ-šu₂ mi-na-tu-šu₂ GU₇.MEŠ-šu₂ "[If a man's epigastrium is raised and his hips and limbs hurt him."
2 (lost) DIŠ NA (...) mi-h]i-iṣ ŠA₃-šu₂ lu di-kiš GABA TUK-ši "[If a man] gets 'heart-attack' or swelling of the chest."
3 (lost) [DIŠ NA?] "[If a man ...]"
4 (lost) DIŠ NA NAM.ERIM₂ š]ah-hi-hu GIG mim-mu-u i-lem-mu ⌜ina⌝ ŠA₃-šu₂ la i-na-ah ⌜bal⌝-ṭam-ma ana DUR₂-šu₂ u₂-tab-bak NINDA NU GU₇ NA BI GID₂-ma UG₇ ana maš-taq-ti-šu₂ u bul-lu-ṭi₂-šu₂ "[If a man] is sick with 'wasting-away' [caused by a broken oath] so that anything he eats does not rest easy in his belly, and he pours it out raw into his anus, and he cannot eat food, this man will be ill for a long time and then die; for his cutting off and to cure him."

IXb ABDOMEN

5 (lost) DIŠ NA GI[DIM DAB-su-ma ...] "If a gh[ost afflicts] a man [...]."
6 (lost) DIŠ NA NINDA N[U GU₇ KAŠ NU NAG ...] "If a man [can] neither [eat] bread [nor drink beer ...]."
7 (lost) DIŠ NA ZI.K[U₅.RU.DA DU₃-su...] x x[ x (x)] "If 'cutting-of-the-throat' [magic has been performed against] a man [...]."
8 [...]

EN 8 DUB.ME[Š...KA.INIM.MA UŠ₁₁.BUR₂.RU.]⌜DA⌝.[KAM (x)] EN EN₂ u₂-š[a₂-an-ni na-mir-tum (u) DIŠ NA ... ina DU/KI.NU₂-š]u₂ re-hu-su [DU-ma?] "Including eight tablets of [..., (including) incantations to remove witch]craft [(...)], including the incantation: 'It has chan[ged its brightness]'. (And prescriptions) for the case that a man ... (and) his] semen [flows when] he [walks/lies down (in bed)]."

X KIDNEY

Title: šumma amēlu kalīssu ikkalšu "If man's kidney hurts him"

NIGIN₂ 3 DUB.MEŠ DI[Š NA ELLAG₂-su GU₇-šu₂ EN (...)] ša₂ mu-⌜ṣi⌝

"Total of three tablets (of the section) 'If [a man's kidney hurts him'. Including (prescriptions) (...)] for discharge (mūṣu)."

1 (lost) DIŠ NA ELLAG₂-su G[U₇-šu₂ "If a man's kidney hurts [him]." DIŠ NA ELLAG₂-su GU₇-šu lu ŠU DINGIR [... lu ŠU ...] DAB-su "If a man's kidney hurts him, or‚ Hand of the god' [... or ‚Hand of ...'] has seized him."
2 (lost) DIŠ NA mi-na-tu-šu₂ DUB.MEŠ-ka A₂.II-šu₂ kim-ṣa-a-šu₂ u₃ bir-ka-šu₂ [GU₇.MEŠ ana TI-šu₂] "[If a man's limbs] are constantly 'poured' out and his arms, legs and knees hurt him, to cure him."
3 DIŠ NA lu ELLAG₂-su [GU₇-šu₂? lu KAŠ₃.MEŠ-šu₂ ...]x.LA₂ GIG "If either a man's kidney [hurts him? or his urine ...,] he suffers from [...]."

XI ANUS

Title: šumma amēlu ina lā simānīšu qablāšu ikkalāšu "If a man has pain in his hips prematurely""

NIGIN₂ 5 DU[B.MEŠ DIŠ NA ina la si-ma-ni-š]u₂ MURUB₄.MEŠ-šu₂ GU₇.MEŠ-šú ša₂ DUR₂.GIG.GA.KAM₂ EN DIŠ N[A . . .] x u UD.DA DIRI-u₂ "Total of five tablets (of the section) 'If a man has pain in his hips prematurely'. (With incantations of the genre) 'It is rectal disease'. Including (prescriptions) for the case that a man'[s ...] are full of ... and ṣētu-fever."

1 DIŠ NA ina la si-ma-ni-šu₂ MURUB₄.MEŠ-šu₂ GU₇.MEŠ-šu₂ kim-ṣa-a-š[u₂ i-za-q]ata-⌜šu₂⌝ bur-ka-š₂ i-ka-ṣa-ṣa-šu₂ NA BI ina meṣ-he-ru-ti-⌜šu₂⌝ [DUR₂ G]IG ana TI-šu₂ (...) "If a man [has pain in his hips] prematurely, his legs cause him a stigning pain, his knees gnaw at him with pain, that man suffers from rectal (disease) in his youth—in order to cure him ..."
2 D]IŠ NA KUM₂ UD.DA EN.TE.NA TU₁₅ u ša-⌜ra APIN⌝ NU IL₂ "If a man cannot 'raise the seeder-plough' (due to) fever (lit. heat), ṣētu-fever, chill, flatulence, and 'wind'."
3 DIŠ NA li-kiš DUR₂ GIG (GIG) ŠA₃.MEŠ-šu₂ MU₂.MEŠ-hu it-<te->ne₂-bi-tu NA BI [...] "If a man [suffers] from likšu [of the anus (and his innards, his bowels are continually bloated and distended: that man ...."
4 DIŠ NA KI.NU₂-ma šit-ta-šu₂ UGU-šu₂ DUG₃.GA ZI-ma i-ka-šu-uš GU[R-ma ...] "If a man lies] down and has a good sleep, but then gets up and feels faint, and returns (to sleep)."
5 DIŠ NA DUR₂.[GIG] GIG-ma "If a man suffers from rectal [disease]."

XII HAMSTRING

Title: šumma amēlu sagalla maruṣ "If a man suffers from sagallu-hamstring problems"

[NIGIN₂ 4 DUB.MEŠ DIŠ NA SA.GAL GIG (EN) ...] ša₂ MURUB₄ EN maš-ka₁₅-<du₃> SA.GAL ša₂-aš-ša₂-ṭa [... DIŠ NA GIRI₃.II-šu₂ ki-is]-sa-tu₄ GIRI₃.II-šu₂ GIG.MEŠ DIRI-u₂ [.....]x-ma ⌜IGI⌝ GIG-šu₂ BABBAR ŠUB a-si-da ŠU.SI u UMBIN

"[Total of four? tablets (of the section) 'If a man suffers from sagallu-hamstring problems.' Including ... ] of the hip(s), including (treatments for) maškadu-disease, hamstring problems (and) šaššaṭu-disease of the joints, [(prescriptions for the case) ... that a man's feet] (are full of) 'gnawing sickness', (or if) his feet are full of lesions, [...] and the surface of his lesion is dotted white (as well as treatments for) the heels, toes and nails."

1 (lost) DIŠ NA SA.GAL GIG (...) "If a man [suffers from sagallu-hamstring problems? (...)."
2 DIŠ NA SA] UR₂.MEŠ-šu₂ 1-niš GU₇.MEŠ-šu₂ ZI-a u DU.MEŠ-ka ⌜la-i⌝-[le-'i] SA.[GAL MU.NI] "[If] all the muscles of a [man's] thigh constantly hurt him all at once, and he can neither stand up nor walk, it is called sagallu disease."
3 (lost) DIŠ NA bur-ka-šu₂ mun-ga DIRI EGIR-šu₂ iš-ša[d-dad] "If a man's knees are paralysed (lit. full of paralysis). And his back becomes stretched out."
4 (lost) DIŠ NA GIRI₃-šu₂ bu-bu-u]h?-ta DIRI IL₂ "[If a man's foot] is full? of ˹boil(s)? and swollen."

Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor, 'The Nineveh Medical Encyclopaedia', The Nineveh Medical Project, The Nineveh Medical Project, Department of the Middle East, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, 2022 [http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/asbp/NinMed/WhatistheNME/NinevehMedicalEncyclopaedia/]