عنوان

An Akkadian Demon in the Talmud:

LA118860

انگلیسی

An Akkadian Demon in the Talmud:

[Article]

Between Šulak and Bar-Širiqa

Avigail Manekin Bamberger

Leiden

Brill

This article examines the resemblance between the Talmudic privy demon ("Shed Bet ha-Kise") and Šulak, a well-known Akkadian demon. There are four considerations that point to identifying the privy demon of the Talmud with the Babylonian demon Šulak: (1) They both dwell in the privy; (2) they both are demons that cause epilepsy, strokes, or sudden falls; (3) they both seem to have the form of a lion; and (4) their names ("Šulak" and "Bar Širiqa") are very similar. This suggestion is yet another example of the presence of beliefs and opinions from the Ancient Near East that found an echo in the Babylonian Talmud, one that may be added to a number of examples given by M. Geller. This article examines the resemblance between the Talmudic privy demon ("Shed Bet ha-Kise") and Šulak, a well-known Akkadian demon. There are four considerations that point to identifying the privy demon of the Talmud with the Babylonian demon Šulak: (1) They both dwell in the privy; (2) they both are demons that cause epilepsy, strokes, or sudden falls; (3) they both seem to have the form of a lion; and (4) their names ("Šulak" and "Bar Širiqa") are very similar. This suggestion is yet another example of the presence of beliefs and opinions from the Ancient Near East that found an echo in the Babylonian Talmud, one that may be added to a number of examples given by M. Geller.

2013

282-287

Journal for the Study of Judaism

44/2

1570-0631

Ancient Near East

Babylonian Talmud

Jewish magic

Rabbinic literature

Šulak

Avigail Manekin Bamberger

10.1163/15700631-12340381

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y