the belief in witchcraft and its practice seem to have been widespread in the ancient near east and nile valley. it played a clear role in the cultures of ancient egypt and in babylonia. later tradition included an akkadian anti-witchcraft ritual, the maqlû. a section from the code of hammurabi (about 2000 b.c.) prescribes:if a man has put a spell upon another man and it is not justified, he upon whom the spell is laid shall go to the holy river; into the holy river shall he plunge. if the holy river overcome him and he is drowned, the man who put the spell upon him shall take possession of his house. if the holy river declares him innocent and he remains unharmed the man who laid the spell shall be put to death. he that plunged into the river shall take possession of the house of him who laid the spell upon him.