Abnu šikinšu, inscribed NA4 GAR-šú, “the stone whose appearance is…,” is one of the most prominent Mesopotamian examples of a lapidary, or “stone identification handbook.” It provides a list of the names of minerals and highlights their therapeutic or magical use. It is currently extant in six fragments: from Sultantepe, ancient Huzirina,[i 1][i 2]Assur,[i 3][i 4] Kuyunjik, ancient Nineveh[i 5] and a late Babylonian exemplar from Sippar[i 6][1] Differences in the surviving copies indicate that more than one version was in circulation in ancient times although its listing in the Exorcists Manual indicates its centrality in the training curriculum of the aspiring ašipu, or exorcist.
The textedit
The work describes the differences of stones in color, design, and function, such as “the name of the stone which looks like unripe grapes is abašmû”[i 1]: 72 and “as a lump of salt is called stone for childbirth.”[i 1]: 42 Some stones are associated with the heavens. Jasper (NA4-aš-pu) is likened to the clear heavens and a rain cloud and represents the lower heavens due to its greenish or bluish hue, the color of the sky. The stone of the middle heaven is described: "The stone whose appearance is like lapis-lazuli is named saggilmud-stone,”[2]: 11 The stone of the upper heavens is then described as “The stone whose appearance is red, covered with white and black patches is named (of) luludānītu stone.[2]: 10 "
The ašgikû-stone, powders of which were used in medical prescriptions to treat pulsating veins in the temples, is described: “the appearance of the stone resembles green obsidian, but [with/without] the striations. As for this stone, ašgikû is its name.”[1]: 116 Statues representing šēdu and lamassu figures were made from specific stones to repel the evildoer.[3] A stone described as like black obsidian was used “to dispel the wrath of the (personal) god.”[4] The ḫusīgu-stone was used in a stone charm preventing a ḫa'attu-demon from attacking the person who wears it.[5] The stone KA.GI.NA.DIB, the stone of truthfulness, “reports to Šamaš what he (the wearer) says, truth as well as falsehood”[6] and “only a pious man should wear it.”[7]
References to Abnu šikinšu also appear in neo-Babylonian texts, such as the colophon of a stone list[i 7] and another tablet[i 8] of a similar genre which is not part of the series but preserves its name.
abnu, šikinšu, inscribed, šú, stone, whose, appearance, most, prominent, mesopotamian, examples, lapidary, stone, identification, handbook, provides, list, names, minerals, highlights, their, therapeutic, magical, currently, extant, fragments, from, sultantepe. Abnu sikinsu inscribed NA4 GAR su the stone whose appearance is is one of the most prominent Mesopotamian examples of a lapidary or stone identification handbook It provides a list of the names of minerals and highlights their therapeutic or magical use It is currently extant in six fragments from Sultantepe ancient Huzirina i 1 i 2 Assur i 3 i 4 Kuyunjik ancient Nineveh i 5 and a late Babylonian exemplar from Sippar i 6 1 Differences in the surviving copies indicate that more than one version was in circulation in ancient times although its listing in the Exorcists Manual indicates its centrality in the training curriculum of the aspiring asipu or exorcist The text editThe work describes the differences of stones in color design and function such as the name of the stone which looks like unripe grapes is abasmu i 1 72 and as a lump of salt is called stone for childbirth i 1 42 Some stones are associated with the heavens Jasper NA4 as pu is likened to the clear heavens and a rain cloud and represents the lower heavens due to its greenish or bluish hue the color of the sky The stone of the middle heaven is described The stone whose appearance is like lapis lazuli is named saggilmud stone 2 11 The stone of the upper heavens is then described as The stone whose appearance is red covered with white and black patches is named of luludanitu stone 2 10 The asgiku stone powders of which were used in medical prescriptions to treat pulsating veins in the temples is described the appearance of the stone resembles green obsidian but with without the striations As for this stone asgiku is its name 1 116 Statues representing sedu and lamassu figures were made from specific stones to repel the evildoer 3 A stone described as like black obsidian was used to dispel the wrath of the personal god 4 The ḫusigu stone was used in a stone charm preventing a ḫa attu demon from attacking the person who wears it 5 The stone KA GI NA DIB the stone of truthfulness reports to Samas what he the wearer says truth as well as falsehood 6 and only a pious man should wear it 7 References to Abnu sikinsu also appear in neo Babylonian texts such as the colophon of a stone list i 7 and another tablet i 8 of a similar genre which is not part of the series but preserves its name Inscriptions edit a b c STT 108 tablet VAT 13940 Archived March 12 2014 at the Wayback Machine STT 109 Archived March 12 2014 at the Wayback Machine BAM IV 378 BAM 194 vii KAR 185 VAT 9587 K 4751 BM 50664 BM 38385 vi 17 BM 77806 References edit a b W Horowitz 1992 Two Abnu sikinsu Fragments and Related Matters Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archaologie 82 1 112 122 doi 10 1515 zava 1992 82 1 112 S2CID 162277804 a b W Horowitz 1998 Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography Eisenbrauns abnu CAD a 1 p 56 CAD s tsade p 258 CAD h p 257 CAD a2 p 371 CAD n1 p 66 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abnu sikinsu amp oldid 1082282847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
