Prayer and Curse in the Assyrians with Political Aspects

Human beings are prone to appeal to the gods and seek refuge in them when they feel helpless. Issues that cannot be resolved by human effort are often entrusted to divine intervention, turning to the gods who are regarded as the most powerful beings. Every society actively employs the practices of prayer and curses within the framework of their own beliefs. Semitic societies, in particular, stand out compared to other societies for their frequent recourse to these practices in almost every aspect of life. Beyond their daily lives, oaths and curses also hold significant importance in their political affairs. The Assyrian State, one of the most prominent states established by Semitic societies in history, is perhaps the most notable in this regard. Assyrian kings combined the practices of prayer and curses in all their activities, from construction projects to military campaigns, and from correspondence to treaty texts. In this study, based on information obtained from Assyrian cuneiform texts, we will explore the situations, methods, and purposes for which prayer and curses were employed by the political authorities.