Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface vi
4. Abbreviations vii
5. Chronology of Languages xii
6. Introduction: Curse in the Ancient Near East 1
7. Part 1 The Operation of Curses
8. Chapter 1 Recent Scholarly Approaches to Curses 9
9. Chapter 2 Vows, Oaths, and Curses 32
10. Chapter 3 The Types of Curses 64
11. Chapter 4 Conditional Cursing 96
12. Chapter 5 The Effectiveness of Maledictions by the Deities 134
13. Chapter 6 The Productivity of Curses by Human Beings 153
14. Chapter 7 Executioner Deities, Hypostatization, and the Agents of Curses 170
15. Part 2 Cursing and Society
16. Chapter 8 The Purpose of Curses 199
17. Chapter 9 The Process behind Curses 215
18. Chapter 10 Barriers, Boundaries, and Written Display Curses 246
19. Chapter 11 Of Nets and Arms and Webs of Words Drawing Circles and Twisting Cords 275
20. Chapter 12 Of Nets and Arms and Webs of Words Weapons and Other Images 297
21. Chapter 13 Curse Management 321
22. Chapter 14 Curse Practitioners The Lay Curser 349
23. Chapter 15 Curse Practitioners The Professionals 370
24. Chapter 16 Curse Practitioners Antagonistic Semi-professionals 400
25. Chapter 17 Curse-Acts 427
26. Bibliography 472
27. Index of Authors 510
28. Index of Scripture 517
29. Index of Cuneiform Sources 520