On the Intersection of Magic and Zoology: Scorpions in Old Babylonian Incantations Nathan Wasserman More than other genres in ancient Mesopotamian literature, incantations reflect real-life ex- periences unfiltered by ideology (contrary to, e.g., wisdom literature or royal inscriptions). Incantations are filled with detailed observations of the natural world: animal behavior, as- tronomical and meteorological phenomena, disease symptomology. Paying attention to these non-magical aspects of magical texts can be rewarding. This paper demonstrates the fruitful- ness of this type of inquiry by investigating an important group of Old Babylonian incanta- tions against an animal which intrigued (and still intrigues) magicians from all places and civilizations 3 the scorpion. When viewed through a modern zoological lens, this corpus of ancient magical texts yields fascinating insights. 1 Introductory Remarks Scorpions belong to the class of arachnids and comprise around 2,700 species worldwide. They live on all continents (except Antarctica) below 50° of latitude. The Middle East is inhabited by 117 species of scorpions, 22 of which are dangerously venomous, delivering potentially life-threatening stings. 2 In modern Iraq, which largely corresponds to ancient Mesopotamia, 25 species are known. 3 Solitary, shy, and primarily nocturnal, scorpions tend to live in desert habitats but adapt well to other biomes and habitats, including subtropical and tropical environments (grasslands, savannas, and forests 3 even in the Himalayas). In desert areas (as in Syria and Iraq), they are active mostly in the spring (April). In the hottest months (July and August) they tend to retreat into their deep burrows. 4 Scorpions prey on insects, lizards, and other arachnids, and are attacked by ants, spiders, large lizards, and some birds (ibis, owls). 5 A scorpion9s lifespan may be surprisingly long, ranging from 4 up to 25 years. 6 Scorpions sting humans only when threatened. They are especially risky to the young, elderly, and physically infirm. Most victims suffer severe local pain, but a few, especially children, may develop systemic envenoming that primarily affects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Other syndromes include paralysis, bleeding disorders, local tissue 1 Akkadian incantations cited in this paper follow the recent edition of Wasserman/Zomer 2022. They are referred to by their AML [=Akkadian Magic Literature] number, as in, for example, AML 7. 93. 2 Amr et al. 2021, 82. 3 Amr et al. 2021, 84. 4 Shehab et al. 2011, 339; Prendini 2012; Mullen/Sissom 2019, 4893494. 5 Shehab et al. 2011, 338. 6 Lourenço 2018, 8.