The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies

by Irving Finkel

If ever, A long time from now, Far into future time, In the days to come, Anyone should find this tomb, May he not clear it away; May he restore it; May that man, who finds this, Not despise it; Rather he should say as follows: ‘This tomb, I shall certainly restore it.’ May the favour he did be requited to him! Above, may his omens Be propitious! Below, May his ghosts Drink pure water!

This dead person is a definite outsider. It exemplifies the transparent ‘ours or theirs’ view that underpins ghost texts. It also shows that a dissatisfied ghost from an uncaring household on the loose can try and adopt a new family, rather like cats do in London.

Spell of God Asalluḫi: Ghost! Do not keep coming in!

zizig nu’edaš saggiš luabdaš

Among living things, Do ye not come up! Raise thy head,

Given the amulets’ long distribution over time – nearly two thousand years – and the range of archaeological sites where they have been discovered, it is not surprising that the words come down to us in different forms. They are magic, after all.

Dead people! Why do you keep appearing to me? Whose cities are ruin heaps, who are but bones? I am not going to Kutha, the Ghostly Assembly!

You, why do you always walk behind me? You are abjured by Abatu the Queen, by Ereshkigal the Queen, By Ningeshtinanna, scribe of the gods, Whose stylus is of lapis and carnelian!

Crafty or experienced ghosts knew routes that others didn’t. With divine intervention they will be denied such illicit access to mankind. The sufferer is to wash his hands with soap and gypsum, and recite this second spell: Oh Shamash, the evil ghost whom you know but I do not know, he shall not approach me, he shall not come near me, he shall not draw near me; block his path!

The same mixture of roasted grain in water is added to an ox hoof, but here it has to be stirred – not shaken – before Shamash with a blade of alfalfa-grass.

the liberated victim urges the ghost to enjoy his ‘honeymoon’ to the full. It is curious that the skinny ‘wife’, who is set up with all her heart could desire, is given a nickname, Tiny One (zerzerru