2016CohenY

Fragments of the article Cohen Y. Sheep Anatomical Terminology in the šumma immeru Omen Series and Additional Texts (2016).

Introduction

The author has translated and commented on the Akkadian text of a clay tablet (BM 29663) from Mesopotamia during the Old Babylonian period (2000-1600 BCE). The discussed document lists parts of the body and internal organs of a sheep. From our point of view, this tablet is the first time in history that the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is mentioned. The author of the cuneiform text is unknown, most likely a diviner.

Quotes selected that mention LCF

Quote 1. P. 82

«The diviner continues to inspect the rear of the sheep, moving to view the nimšū (written ni-im-šu), the sciatic or thigh nerve».

Quote 2. P. 82

«15. A commentary from Uruk [Texte aus Uruk, 1976] equates between Sumerian sa.meš, Akkadian šerʾānu, ‘tendon’, and nimšu, which leaves the identification of the term rather secure; see CAD Š/2 309 [1992RothMT]».

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, akkadian, anatomy, sheep, animals

Original Article

Cohen Y. Sheep Anatomical Terminology in the šumma immeru Omen Series and Additional Texts. Divination as Science: A Workshop Conducted during the 60th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Warsaw 2014. Warsaw: Eisenbrauns, 2016;79–92. [academia.edu]

Authors & Affiliations

Yoram Cohen

Tel Aviv University

Our commentary on the quotes

The article we are discussing is devoted to the first attempt to translate the Mesopotamian clay tablet BM 29663, stored in the British Museum (© The Trustees of the British Museum, «Lexical list; parts of a sheep; Larsa script» №1898,1115.49 britishmuseum.org). In this work, Yoram Cohen translates the Akkadian word «ni-im-šu» as «sciatic or thigh nerve». In a subsequent publication, the author clarifies the interpretation and instead of the concept of «femoral nerve» uses the term «sinew» (2018CohenY). We posit that the Akkadian concept «ni-im-šu» on the tablet signifies the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). It is likely the very first written mention in human history of the LCF of a mammal, dating back to the Old Babylonian period, i.e., 2000-1600 BCE. For more details on the Sumerian / Akkadian words «ni-im-šu», «sa» and «sa.meš», refer to the Assyrian Dictionary (1980RothMT, N/2, p.235; 1992RothMT, Š/2 309), as well as the Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary (psd.museum.upenn.edu).

References

Cohen Y. An Old Babylonian List of Sheep Body Parts (BM 29663). In Panayotov SV, Vacin L. (Eds). Mesopotamian Medicine and Magic. Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2018:131-48. [academia.edu]

Roth MT (Ed). The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Vol. 11, Pt. II. Chicago, Glückstadt: Published by the Oriental Institute and J.J. Augustin verlagbuchhandlung, 1980. [oi.uchicago.edu]

Roth MT (Ed). The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Vol. 17, Pt. II. Chicago, Glückstadt: Published by the Oriental Institute and J.J. Augustin verlagbuchhandlung, 1992. [oi.uchicago.edu]

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

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PRE-SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

Comments

1948EpsteinI

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LCF in 2026 (May ) (Quotes from articles and books published in May 2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris) Kim, P. S., Kang, C., Lee, J. K., & Hwang, J. M. (2026). Hip arthroscopy to treat symptomatic paralabral cysts: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes. Arthroscopy and Orthopedic Sports Medicine , 13 (1), 27-34. [i] e-aosm.org Ko, H. Y. (2026). Vascular Anatomy of the Extremities and Lungs. In Practical Functional Anatomy for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Guide for Physiatrists and Rehabilitation Specialists (pp. 191-223). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. [ii] link.springer.com Aiba, H., Yamaguchi, M., Kimura, H., & Murakami, H. (2026). Advances in limb-salvage surgery and reconstruction for pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors. Frontiers in Pediatrics , 14 , 1817788. [iii] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Bajwa, A., Villar, R., ...

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Wikstrom B , s culpture I will not let you go» (Jacob wrestling the Angel , 20th cent.?) . Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Brit Wikstrom – « I will not let you go» (Jacob wrestling the Angel , 20th?) . O riginal in gg...

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