Divination and Oneirology in the Ancient Near East

[Meslamtaea]

This is just a short overview paper I wrote for my Introduction to Mesopotamian History class. I discuss the subject of dream omens and their place in the overall system of Mesopotamian divination. It was rushed, but I'm pretty happy with the flow of the paper. This was just a fun research assignment to compose after my first year studying Akkadian.

docs.google.com/document/d/1js1xIJgsXZA7zLAEWdUYTZnr5SaOGZml9o9bp21h0YU/edit

[us4-he2-gal2]

Hey man -




I'm just reading through your paper here, thanks for contributing Must say the topic of divination makes for a good paper in my opinion - still enraged at having missed that Rochberg talk but S*** happens.


Well some comments then:

P. 3 Interesting mention of the dream diviners in Mari being referred to as ḫayyādum, I didn't know that.

P. 4 You've left out liver in your list here - well you need that

P.4 Steinkeller's 2006 statement that Utu sees the future because he goes to the netherworld each night, and not because he is high up, is indeed genius - I think you said that Rochberg agreed at the recent talk?

P. 5 the dream gods name is generally normalized as Sisig - wonder why Butler would wrote Sigsig?

P. 6-7 interesting bit on the word play especially the example where cuneiform signs themselves were entered into the play.

P. 9 "consisting of a tablet almost solely devoted to dream omens involving urine!" - You excitement here is entirely understandable (well, especially if the reader knows you 0_0).

P. 9 Urine consumption: How could this item possibly avoid your paper I wonder?


P. 10-11 - I really like the closing remarks about Artemidorus and the suggestion that if Freud had any debt to Mesopotamian thinking on dreams it was through him. Interesting ;] Well have learned a few things more about divination as your paper had much different focus than mine - thanks for submitting