The notes in boxes marked on this Babylonian liver model explain what blemishes found in the corresponding areas meant/foretold.

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This ancient clay model of a sheep's liver, dating to 1900-1600 , is inscribed with magical formulae. Most likely it is from Sippar, in present-day southern Iraq. The ancient Babylonians believed that gods controlled the world and that they could indications of future events. A widespread practice was to examine liver - especially sheep's liver. A priest, known as a baru, would interpret the blemishes found on the liver extracted from the slaughtered sheep, and the notes in boxes marked on this model explain what blemishes found in the corresponding areas meant/foretold. The photo dates to 1916.

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Size: 4266px × 4350px
Location: ancient iraq
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ancient, augury, babylonia, babylonian, babylonians, baru, clay, foretelling, fortune, fortunetelling, future, iraq, liver, livers, marking, markings, model, omen, omens, practices, priest, reading, religion, religious, sheep, sippar, telling