YBC 03954

Kāṣiru/Nabû-balāssu-iqbi (K) shall present his backer (arkû) on the first day of m.XI. Else, he will be charged thirtyfold for an adult red cow marked with the star symbol on its withers (ṭurru) and upper thigh, that was confiscated (kullu) from him and Nabû-uballiṭ by Gimillu/Innin-šumu-uṣur (G). By command of G in the steppe (ṣēru), Pirʼu/Eanna-šumu-ibni had brought (abāku) the cow to Nabû-mukīn-apli (NMA), High Priest (šatammu) of Eanna, and Nabû-aḫu-iddin (NAI), Royal Overseer (ša rēš šarri bēl piqitti) of Eanna, and reported about this incident. NMA and NAI had examined (amāru) the marks of the cow in the assembly (puḫru) and questioned K, who stated that he had acquired the cow from the carpenters Iddināya and [...] for a female slave (f)Nanāya-[…].

Written in the presence of: NMA, NAI.

6 witnesses including Bēl-eṭēri-Nabû, the royal courtier (ša rēš šarri).

Scribes: Nādinu/Bēl-aḫḫē*-iqīša//Egibi, Arad-Marduk/Marduk-šumu-iddin//Bēl-aplu-uṣur (restoration of the name based on YOS 7 43: 23). 

Following Weszeli 2007, the cow is marked on its hoof (ṭupru) and on its upper thigh, but “hoof” is unlikely. Read: ṭu-ur^{! (Text: IB)}-ru  (l. 1) and ṭu-ár^?-ru (l. 14) “withers”, cf. CAD K, 45.

Court judgement regarding a (potentially) stolen temple cow. Pir’u/Eanna-šumu-ibni brings back from the fields a star-marked red cow to Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī, bishop (šatammu) of Eanna, and Nabû-aḫu-iddin, royal representative (ša rēš šarri) and commissioner (bēl piqitti) of Eanna. He informs them that Gimillu/Innin-šumu-uṣur had found it in the possession of Kāṣiru/Nabû-balāssu-iqbi and Nabu-uballiṭ and had ordered him to return it to the temple. Kāṣiru is questioned by the temple assembly and indicates that the cow was given to him in payment by Iddināya and [PN], carpenters, for the purchase of a slave. He has until 1-XI to bring them to court. The judgement is witnessed by Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī, bishop (šatammu) of Eanna, and Nabû-aḫu-iddin, royal representative (ša rēš šarri) and commissioner (bēl piqitti) of Eanna. Six further witnesses and Nādinu/Bēl-aḫḫē-iqīša and Arad-Marduk/Marduk-šumu-iddin//Bēl-aplu-uṣur, the scribes.