[Abil-ilisu--a "cattle doctor" in Babylonia (circa 1739 B.C.)]

Since decades the search for the first "veterinarians" in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt known by name is accompanied by speculations. Both Ur-Lugal-edinna from Lagash and the Sekhmet-priest Aha-Nakht turned out to be a specific historical fiction. Terminologically assured records for the terms "cattle-doctor" and "donkey-doctor" were found not before about 1800 in Old Babylonian documents and laws. Samsu-iluna, successor to Hammurapi, ruled from 1749-1712. Out of this time there exists a court record that mentions an "a.zu gu4.hi.a", a 'cattle-doctor', factually by his name. This document drawn up in Sippar names Abil-ilisu as one of altogether seven witnesses of a plaintiff that demands his right for restitution (TD 132, AO 2708).