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Among the Babylonians one of the most dreaded of the malign spiritual powers was the terrible female demon Labastu, and a long series of amulets are recommended, one or more of which should be worn to ward off her pernicious influence. For some of these amulets precious stones were used, and the effect of color, probably a determining circumstance in the selection of the particular stone, was to be strengthened by the color of the wrapping about the stone and of the cord by means of which it was to be hung from the neck, or attached to the right or left hand or foot, or to-other parts of the body. As this dreadful spirit was chiefly feared as the inducer of disease, the location of the amulet was perhaps in some cases determined by the presence of local pain or disorder; in this case it would be expected to act as a cure of disease rather than a mere preventive. The following passages refer to such stone amulets:
Thou shalt wrap up a shubu-stone in white wool, and hang it on a white woolen cord, with four eye-stones (enati) and four pare, and bind it to thy right hand.
A black ka-stone shalt thou enwrap in black wool, hang it on a black woolen cord, provide it with three eye-stones and three pare, and bind it to thy left hand.
Thou shalt wrap a white ka-stone in red wool, hang it on a red woolen cord, with four eye-stones and four pare, and bind it to the right foot.
An appu-stone shalt thou wrap up in blue wool, hang it on a blue woolen cord, furnish it with three eye-stones and three pare, and bind it to the left foot.
Seven eye-stones and seven pare shalt thou string on a black cord.
The enati (eye-stones) here mentioned were most probably eye-agates similar to those still prized in the Mesapotamian region for their supposed magical virtues, and more especially for protection against the Evil Eye. There is, indeed, a bare possibility that some form of the cat's-eye (known by that name to the Arabs) or one of the star-stones may occasionally be signified by this Assyrian name. The word pare, as it is not preceded by the determinative character signifying stone, may refer to some other material. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 8
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