LAMASHTU: Night Mother of the Threshold

A fearless and elegant journey into the oldest night of the ancient Near East. This definitive nonfiction work opens the ritual dossier of Lamashtu, the Mesopotamian figure feared for stalking the birthing room and the cradle, and shows how real households fought back with words, water, cords, plaques, and guardian pendants.

Clear, calm, and richly detailed, the book walks you from clay tablets to bedside practice. You will see how incantations and objects worked together, why a rider plaque stood near the bed, how a pendant’s fierce gaze guarded the door, and how dawn and dusk formed a daily rhythm of protection. The history remains exact while the prose stays beautifully readable.

What you will find inside

Sixteen focused chapters that move from evidence to interpretation

Deep context for midwives, healers, and household life

A careful comparison with Lilith that preserves accuracy and avoids modern myths

A concise appendix and glossary for quick reference

Guidance on reading modern editions and tracing lines back to museum objects

Perfect for readers of mythology, ancient history, archaeology, folklore, and the history of medicine, as well as writers and creators seeking grounded detail. LAMASHTU sets a new standard for clarity and depth while remaining compassionate to the families who once faced the long night with courage and craft.