51�Թ�

She had kindled a little fire, cooked food for herself and Bazuzu, and was now on her knees offering up incantations to Namtar, the demon of the plague.

Her daily portion, as with other divinities, comes from the table of the gods, brought by her faithful messenger, Namtar.

Hades, the abode of Nin-erisgal or Allat, had been entered by Nergal, who, angered by a message sent to her by the gods of the upper world, ordered Namtar to strike off her head.

The idea is that the Namtar, on beholding his own likeness, will flee from it in dismay!

Some of these diseases, moreover, were personified, as Namtar, the demon of 'plague,' and Ashakku, the demon of 'wasting disease.'