Semitic magic, its origins and development / by R. Campbell Thompson.

  • Reginald Campbell Thompson
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Semitic magic, its origins and development / by R. Campbell Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the Royal Tabu,1 explained on p. 138, and the ‘unwitting’ sin of the individual, which has already been discussed. The Tribal ‘Atonement’ (case 5) for ‘unwitting’ sin is of a similar nature. The Priestly ‘ Atonement ’ (case 4) is clearly to be accounted as a method of cleansing the priest-elect from any unknown breach of tabu which must be removed before he can be consecrated, and this must be the explanation of Num. xxix, 1 ff. Our next step is to substantiate our theory from the Assyrian incantations. We have seen that the ‘atonement’ of the Hebrews in which the bird flies away with uncleanness is ordinary magic, and the transference of ills to waxen figures or animals is as common among the Semites as with other savages. In Assyrian folklore this was one of the commonest ways of exorcising a demon to go forth from the sick man, and, what is fiffore, as we have already mentioned, the word in frequent use is kuppuru, radically the same as the word for ‘ atone ’ in Hebrew. The process is simple: the priest slaughters an animal, pig or kid, as a substitute for the sick man, so that he may thus, as Tylor says, coax the demon, threaten it, make offerings to 1 One of the Assyrian ‘ atonements’ published by Zimmern (Ritual- tafeln, 137) gives the ceremony for purifying the king— “ Thou shalt make pure ‘ atonements ’ for the king, Bringing a censer (and) a torch to him, Washing him in a water howl ; Fill [two] burzigalsai'-vessels with water from the bowl, Putting cedar (and) cypress in the water, Put two ‘ atonement ’-vessels there ; The king shall hold one ‘ atonement ’-vessel on his right and his left hand.” The rest is mutilated. Unfortunately the preceding part of the tablet is lost, and we cannot tell why a purification is needed. But it certainly points to the principle of Royal Tabu.