Ancient "Demon of Epilepsy" Images Baffle Scholars After 2700-Year Discovery
Hidden in the dust and grime of an old, 2,700-year-old clay tablet from Mesopotamia, lies a chilling reminder of ancient beliefs and superstitions. This tablet, now hailing from a museum shelf, was once a tool in the hands of healers who believed the mysterious creepy-crawlies they dealt with could bend the very fabric of reality. And this particular demon, now referred to as the demon of epilepsy, was no exception.
This ancient tablet, which once resided in the cradle of civilization, now adorns the halls of the University of Copenhagen, thanks to the keen eye of noted Assyriologist Troels Pank Arbøll. Little did he know that the back of this tablet would introduce him to a creature straight out of a horror movie - a demon with large horns, a snake-like tail, and a tongue like a wriggling serpent.
The Assyrians, those ancient masters of war and wisdom, depicted this demon as the one responsible for what they called Bennu's disease, a term that encapsulates the tell-tale symptoms of epilepsy. This demon, the elusive epilepsy demon, is now considered the oldest illustration of a demon associated with epilepsy ever discovered.
"In the annals of history, we knew that the ancient folks thought diseases were the work of gods, demons, or the cackling of witches. Guys, healers were the bodysnatchers of those days, using rituals, drugs, and incantations to chase off these otherworldly scoundrels", explains Arbøll. "But this is the first time we've been able to link one of these rare demonic illustrations to epilepsy specifically. This little deviant was the star of the show, the A-list villain if you will."
Drawings of supernatural creatures are rarer than hen's teeth on tablets featuring magical and medicinal treatments. Usually, these drawings decorate the rituals used by healers, but this time, we've got a close-up view of the epilepsy demon as the performing artist himself!
Epilepsy, known as Bennu's demon, was nothing to scoff at in ancient Mesopotamia. Seizures, loss of consciousness or reason, and the ear-piercing screams of a goat were just a few of the symptoms terrorizing the minds of the ancient Mesopotamians.
"According to the text, this pesky little demon was acting on behalf of the moon god, Sîn, when he struck someone with epilepsy. Yes, you heard it right - the moon, epilepsy, and lunacy - ancient Mesopotamia had it all!" points out Arbøll.
Fast-forward a few thousand years, and we can still see the echoes of the ancient beliefs in how we discuss mental health and medical conditions. You can even find these influences in modern English language with words like "lunacy." It's mind-boggling, isn't it? The ancient folks didn't have high-tech devices, fancy medical equipment, or even a solid understanding of the physical world, and yet, the beliefs they held centuries ago left a significant impact on how we understand illnesses even today.
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- The demonic demon of epilepsy: a closer look at the ancient Mesopotamian belief system
- In ancient Mesopotamia, epilepsy was associated with a demon named Bennu's demon, as depicted in a 2,700-year-old clay tablet discovered by Troels Pank Arbøll.
- Remarkably, Bennu's demon was depicted as a supernatural creature with large horns, a snake-like tail, and a wriggling serpent tongue, making it an unusual addition to the medicinal and magical illustrations on the tablet.
- With this demon, we can trace the fascinating connection between superstitions, healers, and neurological disorders like epilepsy in the history of Mesopotamia, lending insights into the early understanding of mental health and medical conditions.
- The demonic depiction of epilepsy not only reveals the ancient beliefs but also impacts our modern vocabulary, as "lunacy" is a term derived from the association of the moon with epilepsy and madness, which was once believed to be caused by supernatural entities like Bennu's demon.
