The Origin of Toothache

Posted on January 5, 2003 in Dentition Myths & Mysticism

While combing a book of Near Eastern mythology, I came across this explanation of the origins of tooth ache:

After Anu had created heaven,
Heaven had created earth,
The earth had created the rivers,
The rivers had created the canals,
The canals had created the marsh,
And the marsh had created the worm --
The worm went weeping before Shamash,
His tears flowing before Ea:

"What wilt thou give me for my food?
What wilt thou give me for my sucking?"

"I shall give thee the ripe fig,
and the apricot."

"Of what use are they to me, the ripe fig
And the apricot?
Lift me among the teeth,
And among the gums cause me to dwell.
The blood of the worm I will suck,
And of the gum I will gnaw its roots.

Painful imagery, eh? See. You can never trust a god!