Gender and the Mesopotamian Incantation Bowls

Abstract This article discusses three gender-related aspects found in the Mesopotamian incantation bowls (a field where the topic of gender has only been addressed in a limited fashion): the scholarly terminology, the bowls’ beneficiaries, and their creators. It begins by clarifying the terminology, a task that is essential for a better understanding of the gendered aspects of the incantation bowls. Second, the article considers the bowls’ beneficiaries. While many of these objects were meant to benefit entire households, or at least couples, quite a few of them only display a female name or a male name. Can anything be concluded about the beneficiaries of these bowls based on the names they contained? The third part of the article addresses the creators of the incantation bowls. Can women be identified amongst the authors or producers of these texts, and if so, how?