Edited by:
Ulrike Steinert
Funded by:
European Research Council (ERC)
Languages:
English, Multiple languages
Published/Copyright:
2026
Treatments for women from ancient
Mesopotamia form the most extensive medical corpus on female health from
antiquity beside the Hippocratic gynaecological works. This volume
presents a comprehensive edition of cuneiform texts from the first
millennium BCE concerned with women’s health issues.The book,
which includes numerous hitherto unpublished tablets, contains
diagnostic and therapeutic texts, ranging from medical prescriptions to
incantations, rituals and fertility tests. Selected texts from the
second millennium BCE as well as scholarly commentaries on diagnostic or
therapeutic texts from the first millennium BCE are also included in
the volume. While the main thematic focus of Mesopotamian women’s
healthcare lies on female fertility, pregnancy and birth, the corpus
covers an impressive range of health problems spanning from haemorrhage
to cosmetic treatments. Complemented by philological commentaries and an
introduction that provides an overview of the textual history and a
discussion of medical concepts and practices, this textbook forms an
up-to-date survey for both specialists and non-specialist readers
interested in ancient Mesopotamian healing traditions.
eBook ISBN:
9781501506475Hardcover ISBN:
9781501515255Audience(s) for this book
All those interested in Assyriology, ANE Studies, Ancient History, History of Medicine, Gender Studies, Medical Anthropology
Safety & product resources
Open Access
1 Text Editions
Open Access
51 Part II: Therapeutic Texts
Open Access
