Illness and Treatment. Illness in ancient Mesopotamia was perceived as an intrusion from outside the body by an evil spirit or demon, who was believed to invade and occupy the body because of divine displeasure or a witch's sorcery. Treatment consisted of offerings to the god who may have caused the ailment; magic spells, incantations, and rituals; and, at the same time, medicinal remedies. Rivers were often the locus of the cure, for it was believed that the evil would be carried away in the rushing waters. Written evidence for Mesopotamian medical knowledge spans at least two thousand years. It may be characterized as a kind of folk medicine based on magic and herbal medicine. Possessing special knowledge and skills, its practitioners would today be called lay doctors. Copious documentation shows how concerned Mesopotamians were about their health and how responsibly their medical...