Mesopotamian medicine

History of Medical and Health Sciences Mesopotamian Medicine Dr.Akram Abood Jaffar Ph.D.

References and suggested reading ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Click on a bullet to view the link

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Mesopotamia ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Cradle of civilizations ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Cradle of civilizations ,[object Object]

Features of Mesopotamian civilizations ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],The Ur Ziggurat. In it's day, it was taller. There was a temple built atop of this structure. Ishtar gate in Babylon

Cuneiform writing ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Stylus found in Kish revealing the method used in cuneiform signs

Cuneiform tablets ,[object Object],Tablet commemorating the construction of Sîn-kšid‘s palace Uruk

Mesopotamian concepts of disease and healing ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Sumerian gods

Mesopotamian concepts of disease and healing Assyrian palace gateways were flanked by protective winged bulls to drive away illness carrying demons.

Mesopotamian concepts of disease and healing ,[object Object],[object Object]

Mesopotamian medical practitioners ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Marduk-šakin-šumi and Nabu-naṣir carried the title āšipu, often translated "exorcist”, while Urad-Nanaya was an asû, usually translated "physician”.

Mesopotamian medical practitioners ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Seal of a Babylonian Asu with reverence to the gods, a self-portrait and depictions of bronze knives, cups and needles. Translation: O Edinmagi, servant of the god Girra, who helps mothers in childhood, Ur-Lugaledina the physician is your servant.

The relationship between Ashipu and Asu ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Other health providers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],The goddess Gula with her dog. Detail from a boundary stone dated to the reign of Babylonian king Nabu-mukin-apli, 978-943 BCE.

Other health providers ,[object Object],A healing ritual taking place in a reed hut. The healing goddess's dog on the roof. The sick person is stretched out on a bed, two priests carry out the rite. Cylinder seal from Tel Halaf. Dated to the first half of the first millennium BCE. Reed hut

Other health providers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Clay model of a sheep’s liver. Babylonian, about 1900-1600 BC. Sippar, southern Iraq. The model was used to teach students. 1-right lobe 2-left lobe 3-caudate lobe 4-quadrate lobe 5-porta hepatis 6-lymph nodes 7-gallbladder

Sources of Mesopotamian medicine ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Sumerian medical tablet (2400 BC), ancient city of Nippur. Lists 15 prescriptions used by a pharmacist.

The library of Ashurbanipal ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Ashurbanipal 669-627 B.C. - ruled and expanded Assyria to include Babylonia, Persia, Egypt, and Syria. Ashurbanipal describes himself as a literate person in an account written by himself on his life and education.

"Treatise of Medical Diagnosis and Prognoses“ ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Law Code of Hammurabi ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Code of Hammurabi, large block of polished diorite. Louvre Museum in Paris Hammurabi receiving his laws from Babylon's sun god and god of justice, Shamash

Law Code of Hammurabi ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Law Code of Hammurabi ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],A physician testifies and defends himself in a trial concerning a malpractice complaint by his patient Hammurabi strictly enforced compliance through severe penalties. If they were not satisfied, patients could seek justice from a legal system

Spiritual methods of treatment ,[object Object],Assyrian jewellery was not simply pretty adornment. Coloured stones (and glass) were considered to have beneficial properties: they warded off evil and protected against harm.

Spiritual methods of treatment ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Preparing a ram for sacrificial divination; detail of the stone decoration of Assurnasirpal's Northwest Palace in Nimrud, c.860 BC

Empirical methods of treatment ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Medical instruments from Mesopotamia Medical instruments included bronze lancets, metal tubes to blow remedies into bodily orifices, and spatulas.

Surgery ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Pharmaceuticals ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Delivery ,[object Object],Protective bronze plaque depicts the evil demon Lamaštu travelling on a boat through the Underworld as she prepares to snatch away a newborn. The mother in labour is surrounded by fish-cloaked scholars, protective genies, and Lamaštu's nemesis Pazuzu, who pokes his head up over the back. Musée du Louvre.

Empathy and encouragement ,[object Object],[object Object],Berlin Museum Replica of a stele depicting Esarhaddon Assyrian King 7th century BC.

Mesopotamian medicine

Mesopotamian medicine

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