Abstract
Cuneiform texts from the second and first millennium are one of the oldest sources for plague or pestilence in the ancient times. Letters from the royal archive of the kingdom Mari written in the early second millennium inform us individual cases of contaminations in royal court and the outbreak of plague in various cities. Similarly to the conception of diseases, plague and pestilence were considered as a punishment of the gods. Moreover, the concept about illnesses including plague is closely connected to the impurity. The Mesopotamians used several medical and magical practices to protect themselves. In this paper magical amulets (so called ‘plague amulet’ and necklace made of various amulet stones) and a healing treatment (an ointment) were presented. Rituals were also performed to protect domestic animals against pestilence. A complex Neo-Assyrian ritual for purifying the military camp were here also presented.
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