Appendix 15: Spells of “incineration” (šurpu)

Marco De Pietri, Stefania Ermidoro – March 2022

Appendix 15: Spells of “incineration” (šurpu)

Appendix 15: Spells of “incineration” (šurpu)

Sources:
Akkadian text and English translation (columns 3, 5): Reiner 1958 Surpu = Reiner, Erica 1958, šurpu. A Collection of Sumerian and Akkadian Incantations, Archiv für Orientforschung, Beiheft 11, Graz: im Selbstverlage des Herausgebers (pages and passages are here referred to according to the Neudruck 1970, Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag).

Appendix 15.1

Disintegration of an onion
Topic	Tablet, lines	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
The symbol	V-VI, 60	ÉN ki-ma SUM.SAR an-ni-i i-qal-la-pu-ma ana IZI ŠUB-ú (61) ^dBIL.GI qa-mu-u iqam-mu-u	šiptum kīma šūmū annī iqallapu-ma ana išāti innadu (61) qilūtu qamū iqammū	Incantation. Like the onion he peels and throws into the fire, (61) – the fire consumes it entirely –	Spell. Like this onion who (the patient) is peeling to throw it in the fire (61) so that the fire completely incinerates it,
Disintegration of the symbol	62	i-na mu-sa-re-e la in-ni-ri-šu (63) i-na E u PA₅ la in-nim-me-du (64) šur-šu-šu qaq-qa-ru la i-ṣab-ba-tu (65) (65) ŠE.KAK-šu la E₁₁-ma ^dUTU la IGI-ru (66) a-na nap-tan DINGIR u LUGAL NU TE-u	ina mūsare lā innirišu (63) ina ittī u atappi lā innimmedu (64) šuršūšu qaqqaru lā iṣabbatu (65) ŠE.KAK (isimū?)-šu lā īrub-ma Šamaš lā imarru (66) ana naptan ilim u šarrim lā ṭēḫu	which will not be grown in a plant-bed, (63) which will not be close to a ditchbank or canal, (64) whose roots will not take hold in the soil, (65) whose shoot will not sproud, and will not see the sun, (66) that will not be used for the meal of god or king,	that it not grow in the garden anymore, (63) that will no longer benefit from canals or ditches, (64) that will no longer take root in the ground, (65) that will never bloom in the sun again, (66) which will no longer serve for the king's or the temple's banquets,
The ailment	67	ni-šu ma-mit tur-ta maš-al-tu (68) GIG ta-[ni]-ḫi ár-ni šèr-ti gíl-la-ti ḫi-ṭi-ti (69) GIG ša ina SU.MU UZU.MEŠ.MU SA.MEŠ.MU GÁL-u	nīšu māmīt tūrta mašāltu (68) marāṣ tā[nī]ḫi arni šērti gillati ḫiṭīti (69) marāṣu ša ina zumriya šīrīya šerߴānīya baššu(?)	(so) invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, (68) the pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, (69) the sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins,	(thus) may oath and curse, revenge and inquisition, (68) the evil of my lamentation, sin, transgression, crime and error, (69) the evil that resides in my body, my flesh, my veins.
Disintegration of the ailment	70	GIM SUM.SAR an-ni-i liq-qa-líp-ma (71) ina u₄-me an-ni-i ^dGIŠ.BAR qa-mu-u liq-mi (72) ma-mit lit-ta-ṣi-ma a-na-ku ZALAG₂ lu(!)-mur	kīma šūmū annī liqqalip-ma (71) ina ūme annī GIŠ.BAR (isimū?) qamū liqmi (72) māmīt littaṣi-ma anāku nūra lu(!)mur	may be peeled off like this onion, (71) may the fire consume it entirely today, (72) may the oath leave so that I may see the light!	Peel away like this onion, (71) may the fire incinerate it completely on this day, (72) may the curse recede so that I can see the light!

Appendix 15.2

Disintegration of a mat
Topic	Tablet, lines	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
The symbol	V-VI, 83	ÉN GIM ŠU.SAR an-ni-i BÚR-ma ana IZI ŠUB-u (84) ^dGIŠ.BAR qa-mu-u i-qam-mu-u	šiptum kīma šēri annī išappar-ma ana išāti innadu (84) GIŠ.BAR (isimū?) qamū iqammū	Incantation. As this matting is unraveled and thrown into the fire, (84) – the fire consumes it entirely –	Spell. Like this mat which (the patient) is fraying to throw it in the fire (84) so that the fire completely incinerates it,
Disintegration of the symbol	85	PA.MEŠ-šú a-na GIŠ.GIŠIMMAR-šú la GUR-u (86) a-na ši-pir ṣi-bu-ti la DU-ku	arūšu ana gišimmarišu lā iturru (86) ana šipir ṣībuti lā šuluku	the fibres it is made of will not return to the date-palm, (86) which will not be fit for a proper use,	whose fibers will never return to the palm tree (86) which will no longer serve its purpose,
The disease	87	ni-šu ma-mit tur-ta maš-al-tu [cf. supra 67]	nīšu māmīt tūrta mašāltu [cf. supra 67]	(so), invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning [cf. supra 67]	(thus) may oath and curse, etc. (as above).

Appendix 15.3

Disintegration of a ball of yarn
Topic	Tablet, lines	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
The symbol	V-VI, 93	ÉN GIM SÍG.AKÀ an-ni-i in-nap-pa-šu-ma ana [IZI ŠUB-u] (94) ^dGIŠ.BAR qa-mu-u i-qam-mu-[u]	šiptum kīma šārat iqti annī innapašu-ma ana [išāti innadu] (84) GIŠ.BAR (isimū?) qamū iqamm[ū]	Incantation. As this flock of wool is plucked apart and [thrown into the fire], (94) – the fire consumes it entirely –	Like this ball of yarn which is torn up to be thrown into the fire (94) so that the fire completely incinerates it,
The disintegration of the symbol	95	a-na UGU UDU.NITÁ-šu la GU[R-ru] (96) a-na lu-bu-uš-ti DINGIR u LUGAL la [TE-u]	ana muḫḫi immerišu lā itur[ru] (96) ana lubušti ilim u šarrim lā [ṭēḫu]	which will not retu[rn] onto its sheep, (96) [will] not [be used] for the clothing of god or king,	that it never return to the sheep, (96) that it is no longer used for the clothes of the king or the gods,
The ailment	97	ni-šu ma-mit tur-ta maš-al-[tu] [cf. supra 67]	nīšu māmīt tūrta mašāl[tu] [cf. supra 67]	(so) invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning [cf. supra 67]	(thus) may oath and curse, etc. (as above).

Appendix 15.4

Demons of disease The text is bilingual, so each line is given first in Sumerian, and then in Akkadian. The two versions are identical, so the translation is unique. However, note that the word “Spell” initially appears only in the Sumerian version.
Topic	Tablet, lines	Sumerian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
The origin	VII, 1ff.	(1) én bu[ru₅] šà.ZU+AB.ta im.ta.[è].a.na (3) nam.erím šà.an.na.ta im.ta.e₁₁.d[è] (5) dù.dù ú.šim.gin₈ ki.a mu.un.d[ar]	(2) di-me-tum ul-tu qí-rib ap-si-i it-ta-ṣa-a (4) ma-mi-tu ul-tu qí-rib AN-e ur-da (6) aḫ-ḫa-zu ki-ma ur-qí-ti ir-ṣi-ta i-pi-ṣ[i]	(2) dimētum ultu qirib apsī ittaṣā (4) māmītu ultu qirib šamē urda (6) aḫḫāzu kīma urqīti irṣita ipiṣ[i]	(1/2) Incantation. The dimītu-disease had come out from the Apsû, (3/4) the 'Oath' was on its way down from the midst of heaven, (5/6) (and) the Aḫḫazu(-demon) was breaking through the ground like weed,	(1/2) Spell. The seizures have come out of the underworld, (3/4) the incantation has descended from the middle of the heavens, (5/6) the rapacious (demon) has split the ground like the grass (germinating).
The presence	VII, 7ff.	(7) im-limmú-ba me.lám šú-šú-a-meš izi.gin₈ pil.pil.e.[meš] (9) un.lu.a uru im.ma.an.gig.e.ne su.na dirig.ga.a.[meš] (11) uru.kalam.ma.ke₄ im.mi.in.šéš.šéš.ne íl.sig.ga gaba.im.im.[an.ra.(aḫ.)e.ne] (13) guruš.ki.sikil.bi lál.e.ne ad.ša₄.ta sa₅.a.[meš] (15) an.ki.bi.ta im.dugud.gin₈ šèg.šèg sag.nigin gar.ra.[a.meš]	(8) a-na šá-a-ri ir-bit-ti me-lam-me saḫ-pu ki-ma i-šá-ti ú-[x-y-z] (10) ni-iš da-ád-me ú-šam-ra-ṣu zu-mur-ši-na ú-ṣar-ra-[pu] (12) ina a-li u ma-a-ti ú-šad-ma-mu ṣi-ḫir ra-bi ú-šá-as-pa-[du] (14) eṭ-li u ar-da-ta ú-kàs-su-u ni-is-sa-ta ú-ma-[al-lu-u] (16) ina AN-e u KI-tim ki-ma im-ba-ri i-za-an-nu-nu ṣi-da-nu i-š[ak-ka-nu]	(8) ana šāri irbitti melammē saḫpu kīma išāti u-[x-y-z] (10) niš dadmē ušamraṣu zumuršina uṣarra[pu] (12) ina āli u māti ušadmamu ṣiḫir rabī ušaspa[du] (14) eṭli u ardata ukassī nissata uma[allī] (16) ina šamē u mātim kīma imbari izannunī ṣidānu iš[akkanī]	(7/8) they were spreading awesome rays towards the four cardinal points, scorching (everything) like fire, (9/10) the were plaguing the (prolific) population of the cities, pestering their bodies, (11/12) they were raising wails in town and country, making young and old beat their breasts, (13/14) they were binding the young man and the young girl, filling them with despair, (15/16) they were raining down (disease) in heaven and on earth like a thundercloud, causing epilepsy,	(7/8) Thus, now, extend flashes of light to the four winds withering everything like fire (9/10) contaminate populations by infecting their bodies with burning, cause young and old to groan (11/12) and beat their chests, in town and country, (13/14) inhibit boys and girls to the point of despair, (15/16) they induce epilepsy with showers like rain on the ground and in heaven.
The patient	VII, 17ff.	(17) ki šà.dib.ba dingir.re.e.ne.ke₄ e.ne.ne.ne sag.sum.mu silig.silig.g[a.a.meš] (19) lú dingir.bi an.da.ri.a gaba.mu.un.ri.eš túg.gin₈ dul.la.a.⸢meš⸣ (21) [ug]u.na ba.an.si.eš uš₁₂.bi gál.la.a.meš	(18) a-šar ki-mil-ti DINGIR šú-nu i-ḫi-iš-u-ma qu-la i-na[m-du-u] (20) a-me-lu ša DINGIR-šú it-ti-šú is-su-ú im-ḫu-ru-ma GIM ṣu-ba-ti ik-tu-mu-šú (22) e-li-šú i-ši-ru-ma im-tú um-tal-lu-šú	(18) ašar kimilti ilu šunū iḫišu-ma qula ina[ddī] (20) amēlu ša ilušu ittišu issē imḫuru-ma kīma ṣubati iktumušu (22) eliši iširu-ma imtu uttallūšu	(17/18) they rush to the place where the god (has turned) his wrath (and) cast a silence (of) dejection. (19/20) They have encountered the man from whom his god had withdrawn and covered him like a cloak, (21/22) they have pounced straight upon him and filled him with (their) venom [...].	(17/18)There, they now rush to where they know that god is angry and impose a silence of terror, (19/20) they confront the man from whom god has distanced himself, and cover him with a cape, (21/22) they jump on him and poison him, tie his hands, paralyze his feet, they cover the body with scabies and spray it with gall.

Appendix 15.5

The technician in first person
Tablet, lines	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
V-VI, 173	ÉN ŠANGÁ.MAḪ-ku-ma at-ta-paḫ i-šá-ta (174) KI.NE at-ta-paḫ at-ta-din pi-šìr-tu	šiptum ramku-ma attapaḫ išāta (174) kinūna attapaḫ attadin piširtu	Incantation. I am the purification-priest, I kindled a fire. (174) I kindled the stove, I threw in the magic ingredients,	Incantation. I am a technician of purification, I lit the fire, (174) I lit the stove, I threw in the magic ingredients.
V-VI, 175	ra-am-ku KÙ šá ^dÉ-a DUMU šip-ri šá ^dAsal-lú-ḫi a-na-ku	ramku ellu ša Ea mār šipri ša Asalluḫi anāku	I am the purified, the clean (priest) of Ea, the messenger of Marduk.	I am purified, the pristine one of Ea, I am the messenger of Marduk.

Appendix 15.6

Marduk as a prototype of the technician Shortly after the description of the sick person afflicted by demons (described in the text cited above as 15.4), Marduk is presented as the exorcist who follows the teachings of his father Ea, as the technician himself must do.
Tablet, lines	Sumerian, Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Sumerian, Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Reiner	English translation gB
VII, 37	[^dAsal.l]ú.ḫi : ^dAMAR.UD ip-pa-[l]is-su-ma : igi.im.[ma].an.sum (38) [a.a.ni ^dEn.ki.r]a é.a ba.ši.in.tu gù.mu.un.na.an.d[è.e] (39) [a-na a-bi-šú ^d]É-a a-na É i-ru-um-ma i-šá-as-s[i]	[^dAsal.l]ú.ḫi : ^dAMAR.UD ippa[l]issu-ma : igi.im.[ma].an.sum (38) [a.a.ni ^dEn.ki.r]a é.a ba.ši.in.tu gù.mu.un.na.an.d[è.e] (39) [ana abišu] Ea ana bīti irūm-ma išass[i]	Marduk noticed him, (38/39) went into the house [to his father] Ea and cried out:	Marduk realized this (38/39) and went to his father, Ea, in his house, and exclaimed:
VII, 40	(40) [a.a.mu buru₅ šà.ZU+.t]a im.ta.è.a.n[a] (41) [a-bi di-me-tum ult]u qí-rib ap-si-i it-ta-ṣa-a	(40) [a.a.mu buru₅ šà.ZU+.t]a im.ta.è.a.n[a] (41) [abi dimētum ult]u qirib apsī ittaṣā	(40/41) [«Father, the dimītu-disease] had come out [fro]m the midst of the Apsû!»	(40/41) "O father, the convulsions have come out of the underworld."
VII, 42	[a.rá.min.kám.ma : a-di ši-na i]q-bi-šum-ma : .aš ù.ub.dug₄	[a.rá.min.kám.ma : adi šina i]qbišum-ma : .aš ù.ub.dug₄	He repeated this to him [a second time] (and said):	He spoke for a second time, in these terms:
VII, 44	(43) [a.na íb.ak.a.na.bi nu.]zu a.na ba.ni.íb-gi₄.gi₄ (44) [mi-na-a e-pu-uš LÚ š]u-a-ti ul i-di ina mi-ni-i i-pa-áš-šaḫ	(43) [a.na íb.ak.a.na.bi nu.]zu a.na ba.ni.íb-gi₄.gi₄ (44) [mīna ēpuš awīli š]uāti ul idi ina mīni ipaššaḫ	(43/44) «I don't know [what to do], what would quiet him».	(43-44) "I do not know what to do, what will calm him down."
VII, 45	(45) [^dEn.ki dumu.ni ^dAsal.l]ú.ḫi mu.un.na.ni.íb.gi₄.gi₄ (46) [^dÉ-a DUMU]-šú ^dAMAR.UD ip-pal	(45) [^dEn.ki dumu.ni ^dAsal.l]ú.ḫi mu.un.na.ni.íb.gi₄.gi₄ (46) [Ea māri]šu Marduk ippal	(45/46) [Ea] answered his [son] Marduk:	(45/46) Ea replied to his son Marduk:
VII, 48	(47) [dumu.mu a.na nu.ì.zu] a.na.ra.ab.daḫ.e (48) [mari mi-na-a la t]i-di mi-na-a lu-uṣ-ṣip-ka (49) [^dAsal.lú.ḫi a.na nu.ì]zu a.na.ra.ab.daḫ.e (50) [^dAMAR.UD mi-na-a l]a ti-di mi-na-a lu-rad-di-ka (51) [níg.mà.e ì.zu.a.mu] ù za.e in.gá.e.z[u] (52) [šá a-na-ku i-du-u] at-ta ti-i-[di] (53) [gin.na dumu.mu : a-lik ma-ri ^dAM]AR.UD : ^dAsa[l.lú.ḫi]	(47) [dumu.mu a.na nu.ì.zu] a.na.ra.ab.daḫ.e (48) [māri īna lā t]idi mīna luṣṣipka (49) [^dAsal.lú.ḫi a.na nu.ì]zu a.na.ra.ab.daḫ.e (50) [Marduk mīna l]ā tidi mīna luraddika (51) [níg.mà.e ì.zu.a.mu] ù za.e in.gá.e.z[u] (52) [ša anāku idū] attā ti[di] (53) [gin.na dumu.mu : ālik māri Marduk : ^dAsa[l.lú.ḫi]	(47/48) [«My son, what is it you] do [not] know? What more could I give to you? (49/50) [Marduk, what is it] you do [no]t know? What could I give you in addition? (51/52) [Whatever I know], you know (too). (53) [Go, my son] Marduk!	(47/48) "My son, what do you not know? What else can I give you? (49/50) Marduk, what is it you do not know? What else can I add for you? (51/52) Everything I know, you know too! (53) Go, my son, Marduk!
VII, 54	(54) ninda 7 ninda zíd.še kù.ga.ta šu.u.m[e.ni.ti] (55) si-bit a-kal tap-pi-in-ni el-li li-qí-[ma]	(54) ninda 7 ninda zíd.še kù.ga.ta šu.u.m[e.ni.ti] (55) sibit akal tappinni elli liqi-[ma]	(54/55) Take seven loaves of pure coarse flour, [...]	(54/55) Get seven loaves of pure flour, [...].