Dr. Frank Simons
Trinity College, Dublin
Šurpu (“Burning”), The Mesopotamian Ritual and Incantation Series Against Divine Punishment: A New Understanding
The ritual and incantation series Šurpu “Burning” is one of the most important sources for understanding religious and magical practice in the ancient Near East. The purpose of the ritual was to rid a sufferer of a divine curse inflicted due to personal misconduct. The text of the series is composed chiefly of the incantations recited during the ceremony. These are supplemented by brief ritual instructions as well as a ritual tablet which details the ceremony in full. The paper will present a comprehensive and radical reconstruction of the entire text, including the reintroduction of an entire Tablet, the absence of which was previously unsuspected, as well as restoring the missing beginning of the ritual.
Monday, April 22 4:00 pm
Penn Museum, Room 345 3260 South Street
University of Pennsylvania
(Enter via Entrance at South End of Building, opposite Parking Garage)
Sponsored by:
Center for Ancient Studies
and
Babylonian Section of the Penn Museum
