Word apisi-

Meanings


Comment
Meaning Comment
physician With Sumerographic determinative LÚ 'man'. Akkadogram LÚ/ ASHIPU 'exorcist', a profession imported from Mesopotamian Babylon with the term THeth 7.143-145. A separate profession, Sumerogram A.ZU 'physician', was the person consulted about bodily injury: THeth 7.137-142. This was preceded by a Sumerographic determinative, either LÚ 'man' or MUNUS 'woman' (older reading SAL). See also 'sorcerer' 22.430.
sorcerer, witch 'Person practicing witchcraft': see alwanzatar 'witchcraft' 14.420, alwanzahh- 'bewitch'. Witchcraft was a capital offense by the king's decree, but sorcerers and sorceresses often functioned as medical personnel. The hasawa- (= Sumerogram MUNUS/ SHU.GI, literally 'old woman', Puh 'hag, sorceress') pronounced rituals, attended at births but was distinct from the hassanupalla- 'midwife': StoBT 29. The loan [apisi-] 'exorcist' is based on Akkadian ASHEPU, ASHIPU; see 'physician' 04.870. See also 'mold (clay)', a sorcerer's action 09.720.