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Animals and their Relation to Gods, Humans and Things in the Ancient World pp 313–343Cite as

Animals and Demons

Faunal Appearances, Metaphors, and Similes in Lamaštu Incantations

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Abstract

Incantations constitute one of the richest text genres of all Mesopotamia. The earliest incantations date to the third millennium, with the oldest examples being, are located at the sites of Fara and Ebla in the 26th century BCE. From this time until the end of cuneiform culture, incantations were vital. Magic played a significant role in the Mesopotamian worldview and magic in itself was not conceived as something negative or threatening.

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  1. Universität Leipzig, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Joonas Hirvonen

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  1. Joonas Hirvonen
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  1. Helsinki, Ahvenanmaa, Finland

    Raija Mattila

  2. Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

    Sanae Ito

  3. Helsinki, Finland

    Sebastian Fink

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Hirvonen, J. (2019). Animals and Demons. In: Mattila, R., Ito, S., Fink, S. (eds) Animals and their Relation to Gods, Humans and Things in the Ancient World. Universal- und kulturhistorische Studien. Studies in Universal and Cultural History. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-24388-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-24388-3_14

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