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]
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