ISAW Exhibition Lecture: I Call Upon You, Gods of the Night: Protecting against Witchcraft and Demons in Mesopotamia

Event details Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) Type: Exhibits About this event Gina Kostantopoulos UCLA The ancient Mesopotamian world was populated with a wide range of demonic and monstrous creatures, all of which intersected with daily life in a variety of mostly-malignant ways. Most often, demons, or the chaotic figure of the witch, could cause serious harm, being associated with disease and illness, or even death, particularly in infants and young children.This talk will discuss some of the major threats found in Mesopotamia—the demonic, chaotic witch; the demoness Lamashtu, who was often responsible for infant mortality; and others—examining in detail how they could be safeguarded against, or actively opposed once they were believed to be present. This lecture will take place in person at ISAW (15 East 84th Street). Official event details: https://events.nyu.edu/event/402312-isaw-exhibition-lecture-gods-of-the-night