BM 130827

Aya-ˀidâ//Sagrānu purchases a house in good repair (bītu epšu), roofed (bīt ruggubi), with a doorframe in place, a door and a lock installed (sippu daltu u sikkūru kunnū) from Nabû-aḫḫē-šullim/Ḫašdia (NAŠ).

The house plot is located in Uruk in the quarter (erṣetu) of the (tp)Canal of Kanisurra (nār Kanisurra) and measures 47 × 42 cubits. It is adjacent to the canal all the way to the seven date palms on the river-flats (ušallu), a narrow street, the house plot of Šākin-šumi/Nummuru, and the plot that was part of the same property (libbi eqli), (which is) the house plot of NAŠ.

3 minas and 20 shekels of silver in pieces (šibirtu) are declared (maḫīru nabû) as the purchase price. It is received with (u) a supplementary payment (atru) of 10 shekels. NAŠ relinquishes any future claims on behalf of his household. A lengthy curse invoking the gods Anu, Enlil, Ea, Marduk, Sîn and Nabû in case of violation of the terms of the contract follows the operative section.

Written in the presence of Aḫḫēšāya, the Governor (šākin ṭēmi) of Uruk, […] High Priest (šatammu) of Eanna, and 20 witnesses (many of them bearing West-Semitic names).

Scribe: Nabû-ušallim/Balāṭu, City Priest (šangû) of Nusku („writer of the tablet” šāṭir ṭuppi).

The document includes the clause concerning fingernail impressions of NAŠ, but the tablet is not marked with them.

Notes

The document is carved on a stone tablet.

Purchase of a built house in Uruk (written on a stone tablet): A purchases a built house (bītu epšu) for 3 1/3 minas of silver in pieces (šibirtu), together with an additional payment (atru) of 10 shekels of silver, from B. The sold house is located in the district of the Kanisurra Canal (erṣet nār Kanisurra) inside Uruk. Its upper side (in the north) borders on the house of C and its lower side (in the south) on a narrow street (sūqu qatnu). Its upper front (in the east) borders on the inner side of the field (libbi eqli) of the seller and its lower front (in the west) borders on the canal (nāru) extending to the seven date palms (gišimmaru) on the island (ina uṣalli). It measures 47 x 42 cubits (23.5 x 21 m). Except for the common penalty clauses, also elaborate curses are written on this stone tablet. The transaction is concluded in the presence of (ina ušuzzi) the governor (šākin ṭēmi) of Uruk (Ahhēšāya) and the šatammu of Eanna (name lost). 20 witnesses and the scribe. Instead of a seal impression (kunukku), fingernail impression (ṣupru) of the seller.

A = Aidaˀ//Sagranu; B = Nabû-ahhē-šullim//Kuddiya; C = Šākin-šumi//Nummuru; Scribe = Nabû-ušallim//Balāṭu