Doença, sofrimento e ação divina em Ludlul bēl nēmeqi: o topos do Justo sofredor na antiga Mesopotâmia
Resumo
São conhecidos, desde os finais do III milénio a.C., alguns textos sapienciais mesopotâmicos que se centram no topos do Justo Sofredor, como o famoso poema babilónico Ludlul bēl nēmeqi. Estas composições relatam, de modo geral, a história de um indivíduo que vê o seu destino sucumbir pelo acumular de infortúnios, e, por isso, apela aos deuses, implorando pela resti- tuição da sua felicidade e bem-estar. Nesta conjuntura, e embora nem sempre explicitamente mencionada, a manifestação da doença como uma das múltiplas desgraças que recaem sobre o sofredor, assume-se como uma característica incontornável nestas narrativas.
Nesse sentido, e tendo em consideração que, de acordo com o pensamento religioso mesopo- tâmico, qualquer acontecimento desfavorável era encarado como um sinal de abandono e/ou de castigo divino, este tipo de narrativa pressupõe a existência de um sofredor que clama ser inocente no seu comportamento. Assim, ao confessar uma inconsciência/desconhecimento da ofensa cometida que provocou uma resposta tão implacável por parte dos deuses, este indi- víduo torna-se um exemplo máximo da extensão dos caprichos e da injustiça divina sobre os assuntos e destinos da Humanidade.
O presente artigo propõe explorar esta complexa relação entre doença, sofrimento humano e justiça divina, em Ludlul bēl nēmeqi, com referências comparativas a outros textos mesopotâmi- cos para contextualizar este tema. Através da análise dos motivos e das implicações teológicas presentes em Ludlul bēl nēmeqi, este artigo procurará determinar em que medida a noção de um sofredor inocente encontra expressão na literatura e, em última análise, no quadro mental destas populações da antiga Mesopotâmia.
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