Associations chromatiques entre ingrédients et problèmes de santé dans la thérapie mésopotamienne : laine rouge, plante blanche et réglisse

Abstract

Mesopotamian medicine offers a rich set of data related to the subject of colour, noted not only in diagnosis, but also in therapy. This contribution addresses the question of chromatic associations between given curative elements and symptomatologies, despite the methodological problems related to this line of research. A selection of health problems characterized by clear nuances has been presented : on the one hand, bodily fluids, such as blood and pus ; on the other, cutaneous ailments, for which cuneiform sources provided us with descriptions. The results reveal shared beliefs about the colour of certain ingredients, but also principles of chromoanalogy, similia similibus curantur, as well as their opposites.

Keywords

• Ancient Near East
• Mesopotamian medicine
• bodily fluids
• skin diseases
• materia medica
• colours