YBC 06943

Nanāya-ahu-iddin/Arad-Nabû (NAI), chief of the prison (rab bīt kīli) of Eanna, recounts before Nabû-aḫu-iddin (NAI), Royal Overseer (ša rēš šarri bēl piqitti) of Eanna, and the assembly of freemen (puḫur mār banî) the events that took place on the night of IX.19. Nargia/Il-gabrī (N), herdsman of the Lady of Uruk, and Šamaš-bēl-kalāma/Lâbâši (ŠBK), who were kept in the prison (bīt kīli), tied up Aqarā (A), the oblate of Ištar of Uruk whom NAI put in charge of millstones (ammātu) and flour. They beat A severely with/on his neck-kudurru. While threatening him with a shearing knife (sirpu), they said that they would make a breach (in the prison wall) (niksu nakāsu), get out of the prison, and take other prisoners along with them. A cried for help (ṭerdu šakānu), and NAI arrived to find him badly beaten.

N and ŠBK are brought, and they confess their guilt (eli ramni kânu D) in the assembly (puḫru). They disclose their two accomplices, Nidintu, oblate of Ištar of Uruk from the (tp)Marsh of Šamaš (raqqat Šamaš) irrigation district (tamirtu), working under the management of (ša qātē) Balāṭu, and Šamaš-abu-uṣur, slave of Šamaš-ibni/Gimillu.

The shearing knife seized from N and ŠBK is examined (amāru) in the assembly (puḫru), tied, and sealed (rakāsu kanāku).

(f)Mannu-idassu-īde, a slave of Lâbâši, says in public that she had delivered the shearing knife to ŠBK in the prison.

Written in the presence of Nabû-aḫu-iddin.

6 witnesses.

Scribe: Gimillu/Innin-zēru-iddin.

Paraphrase 1

Depositions regarding a failed escape attempt from the prison (bīt kīli) of Eanna. Nanāya-aḫu-iddin/Arad-Nabû, prison chief of Eanna, declares to Nabû-aḫu-iddin, royal representative (ša rēš šarri) and commissioner (bēl piqitti),  and the assembly of the mār banê that in the night of 19-IX Nargiya/Ilu-gabari, temple shepherd, and Šamaš-bēl-kullati/Lâbâši tried to escape from prison (by cutting an opening with an iron knife) after having taken the temple oblate (širku) Damqiya hostage and wounding him by his collar, before being arrested. Both confess to the crime and add that they were helped by the temple oblate (širku) Nidintu from Raqqat-Šamaš in the service of Balāṭu, and Šamaš-abu-uṣur, the slave of Šamaš-ibni/Gimillu. Their knife is presented in court and  Mannu-idāssu-īde, woman servant of Lâbâši, confesses to having given it to Šamaš-bēl-kullati. Six witnesses and Gimillu/Innin-zēru-iddina scribe.

Paraphrase 2

Legal procedure regarding two prisoners who tried to escape from prison.

The tablet starts with the testimony of A, the chief of prison (rab bīt kīli), given to B, the courtier (ša rēš šarri) and royal supervisor (bēl piqitti) of Eanna, and the assembly (puhru) of mār banês, regarding C1, the herdsman (nāqidu) of the Lady-of-Uruk, and C2, two prisoners who tried to break out of the Eanna prison.

A states that on the night of the 19th of Kislīm (IX), C1 and C2 took iron shears, with which, they said, they would make a breach and escape. The two prisoners also planned to release their fellow prisoners. D, the temple-serf (širku) of Ištar of Uruk who was put in charge of the wheat and flour (produced in prison presumably), tried to stop them, but they launched at him and struck him on his neck chain.

C1 and C2 were brought to the assembly and admitted they attacked D, and that A came to D’s defence while D was trying to prevent their escape. They also state that C3, a temple-serf of Ištar of Uruk working in the irrigated farmland (tamirtu) of Raqqat-Šamaš under the authority of E1, and C4, the slave of E2, joined them in the attacked on D.

The iron shears used by C1 and C2, were shown to the assembly and were then bound and sealed. fF, slave women of G (father of C2), testified in the assembly that she gave the iron shears to C2 in prison.

The tablet is drafted in the presence of B + names of 6 witnesses, and a scribe.

 A= Nanāya-ahu-iddin/Arad-Nabû, chief of prison (rab bīt kīli); B= Nabû-ahu-iddin, courtier (ša rēš šarri) and royal supervisor (bēl piqitti) of Eanna; C1= Nargia/Ilu-gabri, the herdsman (nāqidu) of the Lady-of-Uruk; C2= Šamaš-bēl-kullati/Lâbâši, a known temple-serf (see YOS 7, 77); C3= Nidinti, temple-serf of Ištar of Uruk working in the irrigated farmland (tamirtu) of Raqqat-Šamaš under the authority of E1; C4= Šamaš-abu-uṣur, the slave of E2; D= Damqāya, temple-serf (širku) of Ištar of Uruk, put in charge of the wheat and flour; E1= Balāṭu, work supervisor in Raqqat-Šamaš; E2= Šamaš-ibni/Gimillu, master of C4; fF= fMannu-idassu-idim, slave women of G (father of C2); G= Lâbâši, father of C2 and master of fF.