Lamaštu
Lamaštu (also Lamashtu, Labartu ; Sumerian d DIM-ME, d LU.GAM.ME, d LUGAL .ME ) was originally a sky goddess as the daughter of the god Anu . After the flood described in the Atraḫasis epic , she took over the role of a demoness in Mesopotamian mythology since the ancient Babylonian period (2000–1600 BC) , who caused illness and death in order to prevent an overpopulation of humanity on a divine mandate . She belonged to the circle of the " seven evil demons ".
origin
Lamaštu was a demon of divine nature and at the same time a hybrid being. Originally, as the daughter of the god Anu , she was a sky goddess and wind goddess. Her family tree includes her mother Antu , the street gods of Ur and other divine fathers named Enlil and Enki . It is mentioned in texts about the Mesopotamian pantheon , although it belonged to the circle of the " seven evil demons ". In his exorcistic and apotropaic function, Pazuzu appears as Lamastu's antagonist. Belief in the demon Lamăstu is widespread throughout the Middle East and is part of the Babylonian and Assyrian mythology.
Mythological role
Lamaštu is known for killing innocent living beings, their demonic torture is considered an instrument of divine nature. Their presence on earth is due to their expulsion from the world of gods . The emphasis on their divinity is extraordinary for a demon. She stands out among the demons not only because of this, but also because of the severity of her destructive endeavors. Her masculine opposite is Lilītu . She seeks her protection beyond the Oikumene : in wastelands, swamps and mountains.
To the uninhibited multiplication of people to stop, lamashtu received in Atrahasis epic the nickname Tilgerin , alluding to their new mythological function:
“The absorber works among people; she takes the baby on the lap of those who gave birth. "
The frequent designation as the "demon of childbed fever " characterizes only a small part of her activities. The texts refer mainly to fatal illnesses associated with miscarriages , chills, and fever . In this context, their victims were mostly pregnant women , maternity care workers and babies . In Assyrian tales, she stole the breasts of babies from mothers and contaminated both with her plague breath . Lamǎstu gets into the house through the pole piece of the door, the window opening or the sewer pipe and then follows her victims until the time of birth. Then she pretends to be a false wet nurse to get the child under her control and then kill it with her poison.
Their “work environment” is distinctive, often focusing on the areas of swamp , animal droppings and unsanitary materials that cause serious infections . It also terminally ill adult men and could cause livestock diseases . Their goal was to kill the victims and drink their blood just as the bones were gnawed with tendons. There were different ways to fight Lamaštu. On the one hand, medical resources and magically oriented objects could be used for prophylaxis. Such as amulets, chains and phylacteries. Furthermore, protection could be guaranteed by securing windows and doors with seven magical dog figures and the summoning of the gods.
iconography
Lamăstu is often depicted as a hybrid with animal elements. Their external features include a hairy body, which can be potted like a leopard or more feathered, and the head of a dog, bird or lion with donkey ears and donkey teeth. She has a woman's torso with sagging breasts that she lets a dog or pig suckle on. There are claws on their feet like an eagle. She holds a snake in each of her outstretched hands.
In Babylonian incantation texts she is also described with a lion's head and a donkey's body. In her hands, which are nets, she holds a comb and spindle whorl . She also usually has a yellow and white complexion and wears a striking headdress.
The female demon is said to be the worst female demon in Mesopotamian mythology. It is part of the demonic fever triad of Labasu , Lamashtu and Aḫḫazu .
The Assyrians described Lamaštu like this:
- She's angry, she's wild, she's dangerous
- it shines with horror.
- She is a she-wolf, the daughter of Anu.
- Her feet are those of Anzu ,
- their hands are unclean.
- Your face is the face of a hungry lion.
- ... Her hair is tangled, her loincloth torn. ...
- Her hands are dripping with bits of flesh and blood.
- She comes in through the window, crawling on her stomach like a snake.
- She comes and goes into a house (as she wants).
Lamaštu can be banished with an amulet or a statue with the image of Pazuzu on it.
Archaeological evidence
There are some rich records from archeology , which also serve as the iconographic confirmation of Lamăstu and describe the attributes and the ritual processes. The most important evidence includes amulets , on these mostly the representation of a lion-headed hybrid figure can be seen.
François Thureau-Dangin (1921) published the first list of Lamăstu amulets and other archaeological finds. In 2000, a total of 85 archaeological specimens were published as Lamăstu amulets. The most recent datable piece defines the archaeological stratigraphy and comes from the Graeco-Persian layer in Ugarit . You can see the representation of the Lamăstu standing on a donkey, in a boat on the river and tied with her foot to a bush or tree on the bank. In addition, a puppy / piglet is suckling her breasts and she is holding snakes in both hands. The illustration shows the various passages of the Lamăstu incantations, including the representation of Lamăstu with hanging breasts together with four stars : thewinged sun , the crescent moon , the star and seven circles of the Pleiades .
literature
- Erich Ebeling, Ernst F. Weidner, Michael P. Streck: Real Lexicon of Assyriology and Near Eastern Archeology, Lamentation - Lebanon . Volume 6. de Gruyter, Berlin 1983. ISBN 3-11-010051-7 .
- Walter Farber: Lamaštu. An Edition of the Canonical Series of Lamaštu Incantations and Rituals and Related Texts from the Second and First Millennia BC (= Mesopotamian Civilizations 17). Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake 2014. ISBN 978-1-57506-258-7
- Helmut Freydank u. a .: Lexicon of the Old Orient. Egypt * India * China * Western Asia. VMA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1997. ISBN 3-928127-40-3
- Brigitte Groneberg : The gods of the Mesopotamia. Cults, myths, epics. Artemis & Winkler, Stuttgart 2004. ISBN 3760823068
- FAM Wiggermann: Lamaštu, Daughter of Anu. A Profile, in: M.Stol, Birth in Babylonia and the Bible: Its Mediterranean Setting . STYX Publications, Groningen 2000. ISBN 9072371895
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ François Thureau-Dangin: Catalog and Bibliography No. 1-50 . In: Revue d´Assyriologie et d´Archéologie Orientale . Paris 1921.
- ^ FAM Wiggermann: Lamaštu, Daughter of Anu. A profiles . In: M. Stol (Ed.): Birth in Babylonia and the Bible: Its Mediterranean Setting. Cuneiform Monographs 14 . STYX, Groningen, Netherlands 2000, ISBN 90-72371-89-5 , pp. 219 .
- ↑ Erich Ebeling, Ernst F. Weidner, Michael P. Streck: Reallexicon of Assyriology and Near Eastern Archeology . In: Lamentation - Lebanon . tape 6 . de Gruyter, Berlin 1983, ISBN 3-11-010051-7 , p. 442-443 .