Babylonian Liver Omens: The Chapters Manzazu, Padanu and Pan Takalti of the Babylonian Extispicy Series Mainly from Assurbanipal's Library

by Ulla Koch-Westenholz

Overview

The canonical version of the Babylonian omen series concerned with barutu: extispicy (divination from entrails of sheep), consisted of ten chapters or sub-series, and are among the first intellectual adventures of Ancient Man into the field of science. Three of these chapters, all concerned with the front of the liver, are edited here for the first time. Also, the book contains a complete analysis of the Akkadian terms used in divination, a complete index of texts and words, copies of the new-found texts, and photographic plates assisting the reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788772896205
Publisher:	Museum Tusculanum Press
Publication date:	09/07/2000
Series:	Cnai Publications Series , #25
Pages:	580
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 10.43(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface
 
Introduction
 
Chapter 3 of the Babylonian extispicy series: Manzazu, the Presence
 
Chapter 4 of the Babylonian extispicy series: Padanu, the Path
 
Chapter 5 of the Babylonian extispicy series: Pan takaltu, The Front of the Pouch
 
Excerpts
 
Bibliography
 
Index of Texts
 
Index of Words
 
Index of Logograms
 
Plates

Editorial Reviews

The Babylonians were famous even in their own time for their expertise in divination, and Koch-Westenholz suggests the lack of modern scholarship from the extensive written record is because the texts are dry, monotonous, and difficult to access and because divination is thought to be simple superstition not worth serious study. She makes a beginning on the accessibility problem by presenting three texts on interpreting sheep livers as the first of a projected complete series on the divinatory texts from the world's oldest extant general library. The edition is based on a catalogue, compiled by Ulla Jeyes as part of what was to be a collaboration on the project before Jeyes' untimely death, of the collections in the British Museum. The original inscriptions are followed by transcription and English translation. Tablets are illustrated in 48 photographic plates. Livers not included. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews