Open Access. © 2021 Elyze Zomer, publiziert von De Gruyter. Dieses Werk ist lizenziert unter der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Lizenz. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110743005-004 Elyze Zomer Demons and Tutelary Deities from Heaven The Hyleme-Pattern “X Descends from Heaven” in Akkadian Incantation Literature Abstract: This paper is concerned with the phenomenon of heaven-sent entities in Mesopotamian magical texts. The heavenly travellers can be malevolent (de- mons bringing diseases) as well as benevolent (tutelary deities coming to the aid of ailing humans), and their descent from heaven to earth can take place in a variety of ways, and with the aid of various implements such as a rope, by being transformed into falling stars, or simply falling down to earth by accident. 1 Introduction When studying the Mesopotamian incantation corpora, one notices multiple differences between the Sumerian and Akkadian traditions. One of the innova- tions of the Akkadian incantation corpora is the use of the hyleme-pattern “X(1-2) descends from heaven”. 1 This hyleme-pattern is incorporated in the hyleme- sequence of mythical introductions (historiolae) in incantations describing the origins of mostly malevolent entities, such as diseases and demons descending from heaven to earth. Although aspects of this feature within Akkadian incanta- tions have been recognized and briefly discussed by various scholars (Farber 1990; Stol 1993, 12-14; Cunningham 1997, 177; Wasserman 2007, 40-61), a sys- tematic overview has never been presented. This study seeks to provide a novel approach to investigating “X(1–2) descends from heaven” as a hyleme-pattern within Akkadian incantations by deploying the innovative method devised by Christian Zgoll (2019). || Note: This paper is the result of a collaboration with the Collegium Mythologicum in Göttingen. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Annette and Christian Zgoll for inviting me to participate in this innovative approach to the investigation of ancient texts. Furthermore, I am thankful for the rich and fruitful discussions with all members of the Collegium Mythologicum. || 1 For the terminology (hyleme, hyleme-pattern etc.) see C. Zgoll, Grundlagen der hylistischen Mythosforschung, in this volume; for an earlier version in English see C. Zgoll 2020.