ašû I
41. As skin affliction
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [šumma sim]mu šikinšu kīma ummedī iraššīšumma ukkak pan simmi mê nadi a-šu-ú šumšu Sakikkû XXXIII 2 “[if] the characteristic [of a lesi]on, like the ummedu condition, itches him so that he constantly scratches (himself), the surface of the lesion exudes fluid – a. is its name”. new
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [šumma sim]mu šikinšu kīma ummedī ṣīssu ebât* mašakšu? iraššīšumma adi .[.]. simmu uqtallap* a-šu-ú šumšu Sakikkû XXXIII 3 “[if] the characteristic [of a lesi]on is that, like ummedu , its outgrowth is thick, his skin(?) itches him until .[.]., the lesion is peeling off (by itself) – ašû is its name”. See also Sakikkû XXXIII 1 (like ummedu), 4f. (difficult hearing, inflammations, birdū-skin condition, and stomach ache). new
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) (sunlight has burned him and) bubuʾtu kīma a-ši-i .[..] Sakikkû XXXI 11′ “boil(s) .[..] like a.” Corresponds to 28′f. in Heeßel 2000. See also Sakikkû XXXI 12′ (30′f. in Heeßel 2000). new
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [a]-šu-ú qāt [Gula] Sakikkû XXXIII 103b “[ a]šû – (this is caused by) the hand of [Gula]”. new
22. Varieties of a.-disease
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [šumma] simmu šikinšu kīma nišik kalmatima pagaršu sām a-šu-ú muttaprišu šumšu Sakikkû XXXIII 6 “[if] the characteristic of a lesion is like the bite of a parasite and his body is reddened – flying ašû is its name”. new
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [šumma simmu šiki]nšu panūšu šaggū itâtī⸢šu⸣ ummedī mali u .[.]. kullar a-ši-i šumšu Sakikkû XXXIII 9 “[if the characteris]tic of a lesion (is that) its surface is stiff, alongside of it (the lesion?), it is full of ummedu -wheals(?) and .[.]. – ašû -like kullaru is its name”. new
Discussion
1. The attestations from Sakikkû XXXIII make it quite clear that the term was understood to refer to a disease that affects at first the skin. However, Sakikkû XXXIII 4 lists additional symptoms such as hearing problems, inflammation or swelling, and abdominal pain. Accordingly, the disease described here was not limited to the skin.
2. When the term is used in a medical context in relation to the eyes, it could refer to a different type of condition, likely connected to the meaning of ešû II, “to confuse”. A derivation from this verb remains uncertain, especially, since no var. of ašû I with e-spelling is attested even though etymogically, ešû IV should go back to *ġṯj. The var. ḫašû of ašû I is now read differently (s.b.), which excludes an original beginning of the root with ġ.
3. The "plant (against) ašû" (šammi ašî/ašê) can also be used against other ailments (cf. CAD A/2, 477 ašû A 2b). Attestations from the plant list Uruanna suggest association with the plant kamantu.
4. The variants ḫašû and ušû mentioned in CAD are most likely non-existend: TDP 1, 184 r 1 reads mu-šam-šu-ú. For ARM 3, 64: 11 ḫa-šu-um-ma see ḫâšu I.