BM 118977

Bēl-ibni/Šamaš-īpuš (BI) purchases a parcel with a date grove from Bēl-aḫḫē-erība/Aḫḫēa (BAE). The price corresponds to a debt (rašûtu) of 2 minas 30 shekels of silver belonging to BI owed by Aḫḫēa/Zabdān (A), father of BAE.

The parcel is located in the quarter (erṣetu) of the (tp)Royal Canal (nār šarri), which lies the meadowland (ugāru) of Uruk. It is adjacent to the (tp)Royal Canal, the ‘fifty cubit’-field complex (ḫanšû), and the properties of Balāṭu/Nabû-nāṣir, and Nabû-lēˀi/Marduk. This is the agreed area under sale, irrespective of whether the plot is found to be larger or smaller (mala bašû) (upon measuring).

2 minas 30 shekels of silver in pieces (šibirtu) are declared (nabû) as its purchase price (maḫīru, šīmu). It is paid together with (adi) a supplementary payment (atru) of 1 talbultu-garment (see Notes). BAE relinquishes any future claims on behalf of A’s household. Non-compliance will result in a 12-fold repayment.

17 witnesses.

Scribe: Kidin-Marduk//Rēš-ummāni.

The document includes the clause concerning fingernail impressions of BAE, and the tablet is marked with them.

Notes

- Only the supplementary payment is actually received by seller.

- This document is a retroact for BM 118982 (Frame 2013 no. 24).

Purchase of a garden: A purchases a date garden (kirî gišimmari) for 2 ½ minas of silver in pieces (šibirtu), together with an additional payment (atru) of one talbultu-garment, from B₁. The purchase price corresponds to the claim (rašûtu) towards B₂, the father of the seller, and, hence, is in fact not handed over; instead the garden serves as compensation. The transferred garden is located in the district (erṣetu) of the royal canal (nār šarri) in the meadowland (ugāru) of Uruk. Its upper side borders on (the property of) C₁, its lower side on (the property of) C₂ and its lower front on hanšû-land. Its upper front, which measures 230 cubits (115 m), follows the royal canal (nār šarri). No cardinal directions are given in the record. 17 witnesses and the scribe. Fingernail impression (ṣupru) of the seller. . The same type of procedure is recorded in BM118982.
 
A = Bēl-ibni/Šamaš-īpuš; B₁ = Bēl-ahhē-erība/Ahhē; B₂ = Ahhēa/Zabdānu; C₁ = Balāṭu/Nabû-nāṣir; C₂ = Nabû-lēˀi/Marduk; Scribe = Kidin-Marduk//(Ša)-rēš-ummāni