witchcraft from babylonia today
Modern "Babylonian witchcraft" is a blend of ancient Mesopotamian historical practices and contemporary Neopagan reconstructions. While the original Babylonian empire has long since vanished, its magical traditions continue to influence modern occultism through surviving texts and cultural legacies.
Surviving Ancient Traditions
The Maqlû Ritual: The most famous survival is the Maqlû ("Burning"), an ancient anti-witchcraft series consisting of nine tablets. It was used by exorcists to protect victims from malevolent magic by symbolically burning the witch in effigy.
Liver Divination (Hepatoscopy): Ancient Babylonians were masters of reading animal livers to predict the future. While no longer common, references to this practice still appear in discussions of historical augury.
Cultural Continuities: Certain traditions, like the Iraqi Jewish Ressasai ceremony (melting lead to remove the "evil eye"), are seen as descendants of ancient Mesopotamian and Babylonian protective magic.
Modern Reconstructions & Neopaganism
Babylonian Wicca & Neopaganism: Some modern practitioners adapt the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian pantheon—including deities like Ishtar, Marduk, and Enki—into their spiritual practice. This often involves "death witchcraft" or rituals involving grave dust and offerings for the deceased.
Healing vs. Maleficium: Ancient practitioners were divided into the āšipu (exorcist/cleric) and the asû (herbalist/physician). Modern "witches" often reclaim these roles as synonymous with healing and spiritual counseling rather than the "malevolent" image often portrayed in ancient texts.
Academic & Pop Culture Interest
Literature: Modern books like Mesopotamian Witchcraft by Tzvi Abusch provide deep historical analysis of how these beliefs evolved from village traditions to state-level religious ceremonies.
Fiction: The "Mesopotamian Trilogy" by John Madison explores the mythology and "real magic" of the region through historical thrillers.
Tourism: The physical site of Babylon in modern-day Iraq is currently undergoing restoration, drawing interest from those looking to connect with its ancient mystical history.