 To defend themselves against the spirits of those they had wronged, they would leave offerings known as "kispu" in the person's tomb in hope of appeasing them.If that failed, they also sometimes took a figurine of the deceased and buried it in the ground, demanding for the gods to eradicate the spirit, or force it to leave the person alone.The ancient Mesopotamians also used magic with the goal of protecting themselves from evil sorcerers who might place curses on them.