Babylonian-Assyrian Birth-Omens and Their Cultural Significance

by Morris Jastrow

If a woman gives birth, and both ears are missing, famine will prevail in the country, and the land will be diminished.

If a woman gives birth, and the right ear is small, the house of the man will be destroyed.

If a woman gives birth, and the left ear is small, the house of the man will be enlarged.

If a woman gives birth, and both ears are small, the house of the man will be overthrown.

If a woman gives birth, and the right ear is detached[107], the house of the man will be destroyed.

If a woman gives birth, and the left ear is detached, the house of the opponent will be destroyed, the house of the man[108] will be enlarged.

If a woman gives birth, and both ears are detached, the house of the man will encounter misfortune.

If a woman gives birth, and the right ear reaches to the cheek, a weakling will be born in the man’s house.

If a woman gives birth, and the left ear reaches to the cheek, a strong one will be born in the man’s house[109].

If a woman gives birth, and both ears reach to the cheek, that land will be destroyed, protection will be withdrawn.