Ancient Mesopotamian Artifact
She comes up from the swamp
Is fierce, terrible, forceful, destructive, powerful:
and still) she is a goddess, is awe-inspiring.
Her feet are those of an eagle, her hands mean decay.
Her fingernails are long, her armpits unshaven..."
The High Priest raised his long arms, palms facing upwards. Twelve lamentation priests surrounded him in a circle, their heads bowed, droning the chant. Surrounded by the temple musicians, the circle of lamentation priests swayed to and fro, gently holding each others' hands and reciting the incantation against Lamashtu. One of Uruk's most prosperous merchants, Asshurk, commissioned the rite of protection; his wife was pregnant for the first time and he wanted to ensure the birth of a healthy child. Lamashtu had taken not only his first-born son but also his first wife, who died soon after the child was born. Asshurk wanted no complications with the pregnancy this time, as he was growing old and might not live long.
Twelve days ago, Asshurk awoke from a nightmare. The demon Pazuzu, holy consort of Lamashtu, came to Asshurk in the dream. "Forge an amulet in my image and I shall protect your household from the ill will of my wife," the demon told him. What Pazuzu wanted in exchange for his protection Asshurk did not know, but nor did he care. He had enough money to commission the temple ceremony and vowed to tithe some of his income in support of building a new ziggurat on the edge of town. Asshurk was confident that the gods would be as generous to him as they always had been.
Asshurk sat in the cloister hall near the temple staff, among them Cyrenus, the temple barber and Asshurk's close friend since boyhood. Within earshot of the chanting, the two men squatted on the floor in silence, keeping their eyes closed and praying. Occasionally Asshurk would rest his face in his palms and Cyrenus, understanding his worry, would pat Asshurk on the back.
A bronze cauldron burning scented oil sat on each of the four pillars flanking the cavernous inner sanctum. The High Priest clutched the newly forged amulet in his sweaty palm, his brow furrowed as he lapsed into a trance while chanting:
They are seven, they are seven,
They are seven in the depth of the primeval water,
They are seven adorned in heaven.
They are not male, they are not female,
They are drifting phantoms."
Outside in the cloister hall, Cyrenus the temple barber suddenly rose from his spot on the dusty cloister floor.
A must go now."
Cyrenus fled the cloister, leaving a small cloud of dust in his wake. A few of the temple slaves looked up from their sweeping duties in surprise. Asshurk did not know whether or not he should follow his friend. On the one hand, he felt compelled to find out why Cyrenus left in such a hurry, and on the other, the well-being of his wife and child were at stake and he hoped to remain present until the end of the ritual. Asshurk remained glued to the floor.
Flames from the four cauldrons flickered, leaving demonic shadow prints on the mud brick walls. At a silent prompting from the High Priest, the lamentation priests ceased their chanting and released their hands, and the temple musicians played their last notes. In single file, all but the High Priest exited the inner sanctum through the doorway leading to the cloister and as soon as he saw them, Asshurk rose from the floor and ran over to the priests.
Well? Is it over? May I..."
Please, Asshurk," one of the lamentation priests said softly. "Keep your voice down."
My apologies, your honor, but may I see..."
You may enter the temple," the lamentation priest told him. "The High Priest will need to instruct you as to the proper use of your amulet. Good luck, Assurk. Good luck."
Before Asshurk reached the darkened entryway to the temple, one of the temple prostitutes ran into the cloister hall and yelled, "Something has happened to Cyrenus! He's collapsed in the courtyard. I need an asu -- NOW!"
Asshurk stared at Ishmene, the temple prostitute. When their eyes met, hers held steady, poring into Asshurk, sending signs of urgency into his mind. Asshurk quickly averted her stare and turned his eyes to the floor. At once two guards attended Ishmene's needs in the courtyard outside, but Asshurk stood still, his feet turned toward the temple. All faces in the room looked to Asshurk for some sign of feeling, some reaction to the news.
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