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middle_babylonian_letters [2017/01/21 22:36] – [Introduction] lynn | middle_babylonian_letters [2017/01/25 18:02] (current) – [Basic Typology] lynn |
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The biggest part of these administrative documents are //ardu//-letters. //ardu//-letters are reports by lower ranking officials to higher ranking officials. They begin with the form of address and greeting formula ÚRDU-//ka// NN //a-na di-na-an be-lí-ia lu-ul/lul-li-ik/lik.// | The biggest part of these administrative documents are //ardu//-letters. //ardu//-letters are reports by lower ranking officials to higher ranking officials. They begin with the form of address and greeting formula ÚRDU-//ka// NN //a-na di-na-an be-lí-ia lu-ul/lul-li-ik/lik.// |
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In a number of //aḫu//-letters, the governors of the provinces, who were equal in rank, exchanged letters as well, addressing each other as “brothers”. The form of address is usually //a-na// NN //qí-bí-ma um-ma// NN ŠEŠ ///a-ḫu-ka-ma,// sometimes with an additional //ša a-ra-a-mu//. Additionally the greeting formulas //a-na ka-ša lu(-ú) šu-ul-mu// or DINGIR.MEŠ //ša// ON //nap-ša-tik-ka lu(-ú) šu-ul-mu// are used. | In a number of //aḫu//-letters the governors of the provinces, who were equal in rank, exchanged letters as well, addressing each other as “brothers”. The form of address is usually //a-na// NN //qí-bí-ma um-ma// NN ŠEŠ ///a-ḫu-ka-ma,// sometimes with an additional //ša a-ra-a-mu//. Additionally the greeting formulas //a-na ka-ša lu(-ú) šu-ul-mu// or DINGIR.MEŠ //ša// ON //nap-ša-tik-ka li-(iṣ)-ṣu-ru// are used. |
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There are also //bēlu//-letters, which contain orders by higher ranking officials to lower ranking officials as well as a small number of //šarru//-letters sent by the king. | There are also //bēlu//-letters, which contain orders by higher ranking officials to lower ranking officials as well as a small number of //šarru//-letters sent by the king. |
|Obv. 1. |//a-na <sup>I</sup>In-na-an-ni qí-bí-ma//|Speak to Innannu: | | |Obv. 1. |//a-na <sup>I</sup>In-na-an-ni qí-bí-ma//|Speak to Innannu: | |
|2. |//um-ma// <sup>I d</sup>MAŠ-IBILA-ŠÚM-//na-ma//|Ninurta-apla-iddina (says) the following: | | |2. |//um-ma// <sup>I d</sup>MAŠ-IBILA-ŠÚM-//na-ma//|Ninurta-apla-iddina (says) the following: | |
|3. |<sup>ŠE</sup>GIŠ.Ì //ša ḫa-za-an-na-a-ti//|Do not agree to take the sesame seeds of the mayors! | | |3. |<sup>ŠE</sup>GEŠ.Ì //ša ḫa-za-an-na-a-ti//|Do not agree to take the sesame seeds of the mayors! | |
|4. |//la ta-ma-ḫa-ar//|:::| | |4. |//la ta-ma-ḫa-ar//|:::| |
|5. |//at-ta-ma-an-nu// <sup>ŠE</sup>GIŠ.Ì|Whoever it is (lit. Whoever you are), he may press the sesame seeds himself. | | |5. |//at-ta-ma-an-nu// <sup>ŠE</sup>GEŠ.Ì|Whoever it is (lit. Whoever you are), he may press the sesame seeds himself. | |
|6. |//li-iṣ-ḫu-tu-ú-ma//|:::| | |6. |//li-iṣ-ḫu-tu-ú-ma//|:::| |
|7. |Ì.GIŠ //a-na// É <sup>na4</sup>DUB //li-še-ri-bu//|May he let the oil enter the (sealed) storehouse.| | |7. |Ì.GEŠ //a-na// É <sup>na4</sup>DUB //li-še-ri-bu//|May he let the oil enter the (sealed) storehouse.| |
|8. |//ù at-ta// <sup>ŠE</sup>GIŠ.Ì-//ka//|And you: Do press your sesame seeds as well and let the oil enter the (sealed) storehouse! | | |8. |//ù at-ta// <sup>ŠE</sup>GEŠ.Ì-//ka//|And you: Do press your sesame seeds as well and let the oil enter the (sealed) storehouse! | |
|9. |//ṣu-ḫu-ut-ma// Ì.GIŠ|:::| | |9. |//ṣu-ḫu-ut-ma// Ì.GEŠ|:::| |
|10. |//a-na// É <sup>na4</sup>DUB //šu-ri-ib//|:::| | |10. |//a-na// É <sup>na4</sup>DUB //šu-ri-ib//|:::| |
|11. |//ù ṭe-em// ŠE.BAR |And (furthermore): The report about the barley – whatever it is – you never (lit. do not) send me any report (lit. anything)!| | |11. |//ù ṭe-em// ŠE.BAR |And (furthermore): The report about the barley – whatever it is – you never (lit. do not) send me any report (lit. anything)!| |
|Rev. 1. |NINDA //ù// KAŠ //a-na pi-i//|Give (him) bread and beer according to (the number of) his men! | | |Rev. 1. |NINDA //ù// KAŠ //a-na pi-i//|Give (him) bread and beer according to (the number of) his men! | |
|2. |//a-mi-li-e-šu i-din//|:::| | |2. |//a-mi-li-e-šu i-din//|:::| |
|3. |//ù// NINDA.KASKAL-//šu! ša a-di//|And procure for him bread for his journey, (which lasts until he is) by my side! | | |3. |//ù// NINDA.KASKAL-//šu//<sup>!</sup> //ša a-di//|And procure for him bread for his journey, (which lasts until he is) by my side! | |
|4. |//li-tu-ú-a//|:::| | |4. |//li-tu-ú-a//|:::| |
|5. |//e-pu-uš//|:::| | |5. |//e-pu-uš//|:::| |