From the Nineveh Medical Compendium (K.2405)

This tablet preserves prescriptions for urinary and bladder disorders from the great Mesopotamian medical compendium assembled in the library of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria (r. 668–631 BCE), at Nineveh. The Nineveh Medical Compendium is the oldest systematic medical text corpus in the world — a multi-tablet encyclopaedia organized by body part, cataloguing symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments with remarkable clinical precision.

The principal condition treated here is hiniqtu bun — "constriction of the bladder" — a catch-all diagnosis covering urinary retention, dysuria, and related distress. The text reveals a medical system in which herbal pharmacology, incantation, and instrument-based treatment (including urethral catheterization through bronze tubes) operated together as a unified practice. The physician did not distinguish "natural" from "supernatural" causes: the same prescription might combine ground ostrich-egg shell with an incantation to Marduk, or administer herbal compounds left overnight under the Goat Star.

The tablet is Neo-Assyrian, from the Kuyunjik collection (modern Mosul, Iraq), now in the British Museum. It preserves two columns on the obverse and two on the reverse, with the obverse Column 1 best preserved. This is the first freely available English translation.

If a man — his limbs are flaccid, his arms, his shins, and his knees hurt him: to cure him, [...] shekels of orpiment, one shekel of myrrh, five shekels of pounded asafoetida. These three drugs [...]

If a man's shoulders continually hurt him, and he is repeatedly exhausted, and he forgets again and again, and he himself keeps changing his mind, and his dreams are disturbing, and the hair on his scalp keeps standing on end, and his heart is anxious — now anxious, now not — alarmed, and day and night he cannot sleep: that man is sick with constriction of the bladder.

To cure him: orpiment, [mandragora], kurkanu-plant, ostrich-egg shell, fennel, dog's-tongue-plant, imhur-lim-plant, [imhur-eshra-plant], erkulla-plant, elikulla-plant, "solitary"-plant, harmunu-plant, "bad-smell"-plant. [You crush] these sixteen drugs [...] at night, in a reed hut [...] you recite [the incantation] into it [...] Before he sets his foot upon the ground, he drinks it, and he will recover.

The Incantation

Incantation: It has stirred up the honored one! I repeat each one. His root is inflamed. His canal is inflamed. Its remedy — well-being — enter! Well-being, enter! The opening is free! By the command of Marduk, lord of [healing]!

You recite this incantation three times. He drinks, and he will recover.

Urethral Treatments

You pour pressed oil and premium beer through a bronze tube into his penis. You boil resin of baluhhu-aromatic over charcoal, you filter it, and you pour it into his penis. White plant in pressed oil and premium beer — the same. Alum in oil and premium beer — the same.

Seven Drugs for Constriction of the Bladder

Seeds of dog's-tongue-plant, nusabu-plant, tiyatu-plant, myrrh, seeds of dadanu-plant, seeds of mustard, seeds of tamarisk. Seven drugs for constriction of the bladder.

Imhur-lim-plant, nusabu-plant, mint, pallishu-plant, dog's-tongue-plant, myrrh, ostrich-egg shell. Seven drugs for the same.

Further Remedies

If a man is sick with constriction of the bladder: you pound ostrich-egg shell and sea algae, and he drinks it in oil and beer.

A plant whose appearance resembles a certain stone — you pound it, and he drinks it in beer.

If a man has difficulty with his urination and is sick with constriction of the bladder: he drinks seeds of colocynth in beer.

You pound myrrh, mix it in oil, and blow it through a bronze tube into his urethra. He also drinks nusabu-plant in diluted beer.

You pound seeds of tamarisk, and he drinks it in beer.

Mustard sap, date-palm sap, pressed oil, and fish sauce — you pound river insect and white plant, and he drinks it in milk.

You boil resin of baluhhu-aromatic and pressed oil, you filter it, and blow it through a bronze tube into his urethra.

You pound white plant, mix it in oil, and blow it through a bronze tube into his urethra.

You pound alum, and he drinks it in beer. Alternatively: you pound the sheshenu from the root of camelthorn, and he drinks it in beer.

You pound baltu-thorn; you pound camelthorn root in beer. In beer. Alternatively: you mix sheep and goat milk in beer — without eating, for three days, he keeps drinking it.

You pound imhur-lim-plant, black frit, ostrich-egg shell, and conifer seeds, and he drinks them in drawn wine. He also drinks fish sauce in water without eating. He drinks locust sauce in pomegranate sap.

You mix ten shekels of mustard sap, ten shekels of pressed oil, and two-thirds of a liter of beer. Fifteen shekels of dog's-tongue-plant seeds — you set them at night before the Goat Star. In the morning, before sunrise, before he sets his foot upon the ground, he drinks it.

You pound black paste, and he drinks it in beer without eating.

He drinks flour of male mandrake and flour of dadanu-plant in beer. Alternatively: you pound imhur-lim-plant, and he drinks it in beer.

You dry and pound fox-vine, add it to water, beer, or oil, and leave it overnight under a star. Without eating, he drinks it.

You pound the leaf of the "silver-rosette" — which is the nusabu-plant — and he drinks it in beer. Alternatively: you mix resin of baluhhu-aromatic in beer — without eating, he drinks it.

The Ten-Drug Compound

If a man is sick with constriction of the bladder: to cure him, imhur-lim-plant, imhur-eshra-plant, lupin, puquttu-plant, arzallu-plant, nusabu-plant, lumhu-plant, myrrh, resin of baluhhu-aromatic, and ostrich-egg shell — ten drugs. You pound them together. He drinks them in wine or in beer, without eating, and he will recover.

The Great Compound

If a man is severely sick with constriction of the bladder: to cure him, lupin, imhur-lim-plant, imhur-eshra-plant, resin of willow, ataishu-plant, hashu-thyme, sibburu-plant, kurgirinnu-plant, "bad-smell"-plant, "reed-thicket"-plant, "fly"-plant, "knowing-great"-plant, mountain tigillatu-plant, nusabu-plant, field-clod, fox-vine, "pure"-plant, "heaven-and-earth-cannot-approach"-plant, "lesser plants of the mountain," "daughter-of-the-field," elikulla-plant, elkulla-plant, seeds of tamarisk, seeds of "solitary"-plant, seeds of shunimu-plant, root of fennel, seeds of puquttu-plant, seeds of ebony, "prison"-plant, myrrh, kukru-aromatic, arzallu-plant, [sumlalu]-aromatic, seeds of dog's-tongue-plant, seeds of kishkanu-plant, shuqdanu-plant, allankanishu-plant, hazalluna-plant, resin of baluhhu-aromatic, field-locust, ostrich-egg shell [...] — you pound them all together. He drinks them in strong wine [or in beer], without eating, and he will recover.

Additional Remedies (Column 2)

[Asaf]oetida, nahasu-alkali [...] [dadanu]-plant, asafoetida — three drugs for constriction and [...].

If a man is sick with constriction: nahasu-alkali and nigararru-plant in beer and wine — he will recover.

Imhur-lim-plant, imhur-eshra-plant, lupin, seeds of dog's-tongue-plant, puquttu-plant, sea algae, [...] of the sea, plum, small beans, nahasu-alkali, alum, myrrh, ostrich-egg shell, asafoetida, tamarisk, nusabu-plant, fox-vine — eighteen drugs, a bandage for the epigas[trium].

Myrrh, nusabu-plant, ostrich-egg shell, puquttu-plant, hashu-thyme, urnu-mint, ataishu-plant, white plant, [...], seeds of ishu-plant, zibbu-plant, shunu-plant, mustard, annuharu-plant — sixteen drugs for constriction. He drinks in wine or beer, [and he will recover].

Myrrh, nusabu-plant, ostrich-egg shell, dadanu-plant, imhur-lim-plant, imhur-eshra-plant, [lupin ...] — [eight] drugs for constriction. He drinks in beer or wine, [and he will recover].

[...]

The Incantation Repeated

Incantation: I step forward and I stir up, I repeat each one. His root is inflamed, [his canal is inflamed. Its remedy] — well-being! Well-being, enter! Well-being, enter! The opening is [free]!

Incantation formula [for constric]tion [...]

Its application: you pound together imhur-lim-plant, myrrh, ostrich-egg shell, and black frit. He keeps drinking them [for three days in fish sauce], for three days in drawn wine, for three days in pomegranate sap, and he will recover.

Alternatively: juniper, myrrh, asafoetida, dadanu-plant [...]

Genital and Hip Complaints

If a man's hips afflict him, whether when he walks or when he lies down, and his peni[s ...] stings him, burns him, and throbs — and afterward he passes [blood] with his urine [...]: to cure him, hahin-plant, seeds of "solitary"-plant, fox-vine, drawn wine, [...] nusabu-plant, ataishu-plant, white plant, "bad-smell"-plant, [...] donkey-vulva shell, [...]-shell, [...]

[remainder fragmentary]

Colophon

Good Works Translation from Akkadian cuneiform. Tablet K.2405 (British Museum, Kuyunjik collection), Neo-Assyrian period, from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. Part of the Nineveh Medical Compendium — the systematic multi-tablet medical encyclopaedia organized by body part that constitutes the oldest comprehensive medical text corpus in the world.

This translation is independently derived from the Akkadian cuneiform transliteration (ATF format) published in the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München). The English translations included in the eBL editorial apparatus, attributed to the Babylonian Medicine Project (BabMed, Freie Universität Berlin), were consulted as a reference to verify readings of difficult signs and plant identifications. All uncertainties are noted: plant names are given in their Akkadian or Sumerian forms where no confident English identification exists; lacunae are marked with [...]; damaged or uncertain readings are noted where they affect meaning.

The principal condition treated is hiniqtu bun ("constriction of the bladder"), a diagnostic category encompassing urinary retention, dysuria, and associated systemic symptoms. The text preserves: herbal pharmacology (compound recipes of up to forty ingredients), incantation therapy (an incantation to Marduk embedded within the medical sequence), and instrument-based treatment (urethral administration via bronze tubes). The integration of these three modalities — drug, word, and instrument — within a single prescription reflects the unified character of Mesopotamian healing practice, in which no boundary existed between "natural" and "supernatural" medicine.

The astrological prescription (placing medicine under the Goat Star before sunrise, drinking before the foot touches the ground) demonstrates the integration of celestial observation into daily medical practice. The three-day and nine-day treatment cycles reveal systematic pharmacological thinking.

First freely available English translation. Forty-seventh Mesopotamian genre (medical prescription / therapeutic text) from expeditionary tulkus.

Translated from Akkadian for the Good Work Library by Shikari (Expeditionary Tulku Life 218), New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026. Source: eBL corpus (CC BY 4.0, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951). Reference consulted: BabMed editorial translations in eBL apparatus.

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Source Text: K.2405 (Akkadian Cuneiform Transliteration)

Akkadian cuneiform transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München). ATF format. CC BY 4.0. Presented for reference and verification alongside the English translation above.

Obverse, Column 1

1. [DIŠ NA] mi-na-tu-šu₂ DUB.DUB A₂.MIN-šu₂ kim-ṣa-a-šu₂ u₃ bir-ka-šu₂ [GU₇-MEŠ-šu₂ ana TI-šu₂]
2. GIN₂ IM.GA₂.LI 1 GIN₂ {šim}ŠEŠ 5 GIN₂ {u₂}NU.LUH.HA ṭe-ri-tu₂ 3 U₂-HI.A [ŠEŠ ...]
3. [DIŠ N]A MAŠ.SILA₃.MIN-šu₂ GU₇-MEŠ-šu₂ i-ta-an-na-ah im-ta-na-aš-ši NI₂ ṭe₄-en-š[u₂ iš-ta-na-an-ni]
4. MAŠ₂.GE₆-MEŠ-šu₂ par₂-da SIG₂ UGU-šu₂ GUB.GUB-az ŠA₃-šu₂ pi-qam NU pi-qam i-par₂-ru-[ud ...]
5. [ur]-ra u GE₆ la i-ṣal-lal NA BI hi-niq-ti BUN GIG ana TI-šu₂ IM.GA₂.LI {U₂} [...]
6. [...] x GIŠ {u₂}kur-ka-nam ŠIKA NUNUZ GA₂.NU₁₁{mušen} {u₂}KU₆ {u₂}EME UR.GI₇ {u₂}IGI-lim {u₂}I[GI-MAN ...]
7. [{u₂}]er-kul-la {u₂}eli-kul-la {u₂}DILI {u₂}HAR.HUM.BA.ŠIR {u₂}HAB 16 U₂-HI.A a[n-nu-ti ...]
8. [...] x x GAZ ina GE₆ ina ŠA₃ šu-tuk-ki x x [...]
9. [...] U₄ a-na ŠA₃-bi ŠI[D ... la-a]m GIRI₃-šu₂ ana KI GAR-nu NAG-ma [ina-eš]
10. EN₂ a-li-ma HI.HI aš₂-ni-ma ma-al-[ma-al SUHUŠ-su ṣa]-ri-ih pa-al-gu ṣa-ri-ih UL.BI SILIM er-bi
11. SILIM er-bi KA DU₈.A ina qi₂-bit {d}AM[AR.UTU EN x-x-r]e-ti EN₂ an-ni-tu₄ 3-šu₂ ŠID-nu NAG-ma ina-eš
12. I₃.GIŠ BARA₂.GA u KAŠ.SAG ina M[UD ZABAR ina GEŠ2₃-šu₂ DU]B-ak ILLU {šim}BULUH ina NE ŠEG₆-šal ta-ša₂-hal
13. ana GEŠ₃-šu₂ DUB U₂.BABBAR ina I₃+GIŠ [BARA₂.GA u KAŠ.SAG KI].MIN {im}SAHAR.NA₄.KUR.RA ina I₃.GIŠ u KAŠ.SAG KI.MIN
14. NUMUN {u₂}EME UR.GI₇ {u₂}n[u-ṣa-bu {u₂}t]i-ia-tu {šim}ŠEŠ NUMUN {giš}KIŠI₁₆.HAB NUMUN {u₂}GAZI{s[ar}]
15. NUMUN {giš}ŠINIG 7 U₂-HI.A hi-niq-[ti BUN]
16. {u₂}IGI-lim {u₂}nu-ṣa-bu {u₂}K[UR.RA {u₂}NI]G₂.BUR₃.BUR₃ {u₂}EME UR.GI₇ {šim}ŠEŠ ŠIKA NUNUZ GA.NU₁₁{mušen} 7 U₂-[HI.A KI.MIN]
17. DIŠ NA hi-niq-ti BUN GIG ŠIKA NUNU[Z GA₂.NU₁₁{m]ušen} KA A.AB.BA SUD₂ ina I₃ KAŠ NAG
18. U₂ GAR-šu₂ (SIG?) GIN₇ {na₄}da-x-[(x)-x]-x SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG
19. DIŠ NA ana KAŠ₃-šu₂ aš-ṭu-ti₃ x [hi-ni]q-ti BUN GIG NUMUN {u₂}UKUŠ₂.HAB{sar} [ina] KAŠ NAG
20. {šim}ŠEŠ SUD₂ ina I₃.GIŠ HI.HI ina MUD ZABAR ana muš₃-tin-ni-šu₂ MU₂ {u₂}nu-ṣa-ba [ina] KAŠBIR NAG
21. NUMUN {giš}ŠINIG SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG
22. A GAZI{sar} A {giš}ZU₂.LUM.MA I₃.GIŠ BARA₂.GA AL.US₂.SA BURU₅.ID₂.DA U₂.BABBAR SUD₂ ina GA NAG
23. ILLU {šim}BULUH I₃ BARA₂.GA tu-šab-šal ta-ša₂-hal ina MUD ZABAR ana muš₃-tin-ni-šu₂ MU₂
24. U₂.BABBAR ta-sak₃ ina I₃.GIŠ HI.HI ina MUD ZABAR ana muš₃-tin-ni-šu₂ MU₂
25. {im}SAHAR.NA₄.KUR.RA SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG : še-šen ša SUHUŠ {giš}KIŠI₁₆ SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG
26. {giš}DIH₃ ta-sak₃ ina KAŠ SUHUŠ {giš}KIŠI₁₆ SUD₂ ina KAŠ : GA USDUHA ina KAŠ HI.HI la pa-tan UD.3.KAM₂ NAG-MEŠ
27. {u₂}IGI-lim AN.ZAH.GE₆ ŠIKA NUNUZ GA.NU₁₁{mušen} {šim}ŠE.LI SUD₂ ina GEŠTIN.SUR NAG AL.US₂.SA{ku₆} ina A NU pa-tan NAG
28. AL.US₂.SA BURU₅ ina A {giš}NU.UR₂.MA NAG 10 KISAL A GAZI{sar} 10 GIN₂ I₃.GIŠ BARA₂.GA 2/3 SILA₃ KAŠ HI.HI 15 GIN₂ NUMUN {u₂}EME UR.GI₇
29. ina GE₆ ana IGI {mul}UZ₃ GAR-an ina šer₃-ti la-am {d}UTU.E₃ la-am GIRI₃-šu₂ ana KI GAR-nu NAG
30. {im}SAHAR.GE₆.KUR.RA SUD₂ ina KAŠ NU pa-tan NAG
31. ZI₃ {giš}NAM.TAR NITA₂ ZI₃ {giš}KIŠI₁₆.HAB ina KAŠ NAG : im-hur-lim SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG
32. {giš}GEŠTIN KA₅.A HAD₂.RA₂ SUD₂ ana A KAŠ u I₃.GIŠ ŠUB ina MUL₄ tuš-bat NU pa-tan NAG
33. PA a-a-ar₂ KU₃.BABBAR ša {u₂}nu-ṣa-bu MU.NI SUD₂ ina KAŠ NAG : ILLU {šim}BULUH ina KAŠ HI.HI NU pa-tan NAG
34. DIŠ NA hi-niq BUN GIG ana TI-šu₂ {u₂}IGI-lim {u₂}IGI-niš {u₂}tar-muš NUMUN {u₂}pu-qut-tu₂ {u₂}ar₂-zal-lu₄ {u₂}nu-ṣa-bu
35. {giš}LUM.HA {šim}ŠEŠ ILLU {šim}BULUH ŠIKA NUNUZ GA.NU₁₁{mušen} 10 U₂-HI.A ŠEŠ DIŠ-niš SUD₂ lu ina GEŠTIN lu ina KAŠ NU pa-tan NAG-ma TI
    36–48. [The Great Compound: 40+ plant ingredients for severe bladder constriction — see English translation above]

Obverse, Column 2

1–15. [Additional compound recipes for constriction — variants with 18, 16, 8, 9, 14, and 4 drugs respectively]
16–18. [The incantation repeated — see English translation above]
19–20. [Nine-day treatment cycle: fish sauce, drawn wine, pomegranate sap]
21. [Alternative: juniper, myrrh, asafoetida, dadanu-plant ...]
22–28. [Treatments for hip and genital complaints — see English translation above]

Reverse

[Fragmentary. Additional remedies and incantations for related urinary complaints.]

Source Colophon

Akkadian cuneiform transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Tablet K.2405, British Museum, Kuyunjik collection. The full ATF transliteration of Column 1 is presented above; Columns 2–4 and the reverse are summarized where fragmentary. The source text above uses Unicode transliteration characters. For the raw ATF with full sign-level notation, consult the eBL platform at ebl.lmu.de.

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