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Chapter 2: mesopotamia
1Dipartmento di Storia e Tutela Dei Beni Culturali (DIBE), University of Udine, Udine, Italy. mario.fales@gmail.com
Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|November 7, 2009
Summary
Ancient Mesopotamian medical texts, particularly the sakikkū series, detail numerous neurological symptoms and syndromes. These afflictions were often attributed to supernatural causes, reflecting a unique etiological perspective.
Area of Science:
- History of Medicine
- Neurology
- Ancient Civilizations
Background:
- No dedicated treatise on ancient Mesopotamian clinical neurology exists.
- Extensive research has been conducted on Mesopotamian medical texts.
- Mesopotamian civilization (c. 3000-100 BC) produced vast cuneiform records on clay tablets.
Observation:
- Neurological symptoms were frequently attributed to invisible external agents, often supernatural.
- This etiological perspective, viewing the supernatural as part of reality, contrasts with later Hippocratic medical thought.
- The 40-tablet series sakikkū ("Symptoms") extensively documents neurological conditions.
Findings:
- The sakikkū series details a wide range of neurological issues including headache, motor/sensory impairments, coma, seizures, cranial/spinal trauma, brain tumors, strokes, pediatric neurology, basal ganglia disorders, and infectious neurological diseases (rabies, tetanus, cerebral malaria).
- Recurring supernatural agents were cited as causes for these afflictions.
- These supernatural attributions may have functioned as early technical labels for specific neurological disorders.
Implications:
- This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of clinical neurology in ancient Mesopotamia.
- Understanding these early medical concepts offers insights into the historical development of neurology and diagnostic practices.
- The sakikkū series represents a significant, yet understudied, resource for the history of medicine and neurology.
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