Medicina babilonese e antropologia medica. Sull’efficacia delle terapie per il ripristino del desiderio sessuale maschile in Mesopotamia

Abstract

Research on the medical systems of ancient Mesopotamia has progressed considerably in recent years and has been enriched by theoretical contributions from the social sciences. This paper aims to show how theories and methodologies of Medical Anthropology can be useful to understand the internal logic of nīš libbi therapies, which aim to regain the male sexual desire. The article explores Mesopotamian classificatory systems related to the body and pathologies, as well as the relationship between male and female agencies in the therapeutic itinerary. Other issues are investigated: recipients of treatment; symptomatology and ideology of binding; interrelationship between incantations and prescriptions; etiological analysis; function of abracadabra and historiolae.