Fungal Constellations

The Fungal Constellations of the Sumerian Healers is an archaeoastronomical hypothesis proposing that certain Sumerian star maps encode the morphology of sacred fungi used in healing rituals.

Proponents argue that the recurring pattern of three radiating dots in star tablets from Nippur corresponds to the cap, stem, and root of Amanita mesopotamica, a fungus identified on temple altars. The theory gained prominence after Schültke’s comparative study (2024) linking fungal motifs in healing incantations to early attempts at cataloguing medicinal properties through celestial symbolism.

Critics dismiss the interpretation as “astro-mycological pareidolia,” but recent multispectral imaging has revealed pigment traces consistent with dried fungal matter on several tablets, reviving scholarly debate.