What is Benu-disease?

Answer 1

Mesopotamian Disease

Benu-disease is one of the few diseases identified in cuneiform texts.; it refers to epilepsy, mentioned in Hammurabi's Code:

"278. If any one buy a male or female slave, and before a month has elapsed the benu-disease be developed, he shall return the slave to the seller, and receive the money which he had paid. "

Mesopotamian diseases are often blamed on pre-existing spirits: gods, ghosts, etc. However, each spirit was held responsible for only one of what we would call a disease in any one part of the body. So usually "Hand of God X" of the stomach corresponds to what we call a disease of the stomach. A number of diseases simply were identified by names, "bennu" for example. Also, it was recognized that various organs could simply malfunction, causing illness. Hence 'Benu-disease'.