Mesopotamian priests

Nadītu (; sometimes romanized as naditu, with the long vowel omitted) were a social class in ancient Mesopotamia, attested only in the Old Babylonian period. They were associated with the tutelary gods of specific cities, and are often considered to be priestesses by modern authors, though this conclusion is not universally accepted, and it is sometimes argued they should be treated as a fully separate class. The best documented community of nadītu resided in Sippar, where they were associated with the god Shamash. They were not allowed to marry or have biological children, though adoption was

thumb|Monumental stone relief (probably) of an Apkallu figure from the Temple of [[Ninurta in the Assyrian city of Kalhu, formerly believed by some experts to be a representation of an āšipu "exorcist-priest", who functioned as a healer and doctor ]]