zaqātu (GIR₂) "to sting": the verb refers to a type of pain that could occur in various parts of the body. The verb is closely connected to scorpions and describes the sharp painful sensation one feels when stung by this animal. This primary meaning of zaqātu may have been applied in medical context to capture the intensity and stinging character of a type of pain, as opposed to other types of stinging, throbbing and stabbing sensations that were less severe and could be expressed by Akkadian words like dakāšu with its derivate dikšu, saḫālu with its derivate siḫiltu, as well as tarāku. Severe stinging pain as a symptom does not seem be reserved for a specific part of the body; it is recorded in our texts in connection with the head, including different parts of the head area (tongue, nose, teeth, eyes and ears), the limbs, the fingers, the penis and the anus. In certain cases, the flesh and the entire body could also be affected by stinging pain.
[1] Cranium 1, BAM 480+ ii 26: if the middle of a man's cranium causes him a stinging pain [2] Cranium 1, BAM 480+ ii 35: wording of a spell for (the case) "If the middle of a man's cranium causes him a stinging pain
[3] Cranium 1, BAM 480+ iv 38: if the middle of a man's head causes him a stinging pain
[4] Cranium 2, BAM 482 iii 61′-62′: all his flesh is paralysed (and) causes him a stinging pain
[5] Cranium 2, AMT 19/1+ iv 10′: the muscles of his eyes cause him a stinging pain
[6] Cranium 3, K BAM 493+ i 55′: if a man's head causes him a stinging pain (and) buzzes
[7] Ears, BAM 503+ ii 67′: if a man's ears are sick and the inside of his ears is malodorous, causing him a stabbing (and) stinging pain
[8] Stomach 2, BAM 575 iii 31: his flesh is paralyzed and causes him a stinging pain
[9] Hamstring 4, AMT 73/1+ iii 24: if the soles of a man's feet cause him a stinging pain
[10] 'Jastrow' obv. 43: if the middle of a man's head causes him a stinging pain
[11] BAM 9 rev. 51: if a man's head causes him a stinging pain (and) buzzes