Includes bibliographical references and index.

Front Matter -- Preliminary Material / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- Preface / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- Introduction / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- I Text I Šēp lemutti ina bīt amēli parāsu, “to block the entry of the enemy in someone’s house” / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- II Text II Extracts from šēp lemutti ina bīt amēli parāsu and di’a šibṭa mūtānī šūtuqu / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- III Text III Bīt mēseri / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- IV Text IV Purification of a new house / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- V Text V A building ritual / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- VI Text VI The ritual for the substitute king / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- VII Inventory of Monsters. Brief Discussions / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- Back Matter -- Selective Bibliography and Abbreviations / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- Plates / F. A. M. Wiggermann -- Indices / F. A. M. Wiggermann.

Wiggerman's study of Mesopotamian monsters bridges the gap between text and image. Wooden and clay figures of monstrous spirits such as Hairy-One (lahmu), Bison-Bull (kusarikku), and Furious-Snake (mušhuššu) stand guard at the entrances to buildings to protect the inhavitants from demonic intruders. Deriving his information from the ritual texts that describe the production and installation of these figures, the author identifies the monsters of the texts with objects from the archaeological record and presents a detailed discussion of the identities and histories of a variety of Mesopotamian monsters. See Less

English

Description based on print version record.