YBC 03994

Bazuzu/Šamaš-šumu-ukīn (B), herdsman (nāqidu) of cattle of the Lady of Uruk, reported the theft of an adult cow marked with the star symbol before the royal judge Rēmūtu, and the scribe Ileʼi-Marduk. He said that Lâbâši/Kunāya//Šangû-Ninurta (L) lead this cow away (abāku) without his permission, when it stayed behind (namarkû) the herd at the (tp)Royal Canal (nār šarri). The judges send (šapāru) a messenger for L, but L could not be found (amāru), as he escaped (ḫalāqu).

Later Innin-zēru-ušebši/Ibni-Ištar//Bābūtu and Balāṭu/Nabû-aḫḫē-šullim//Gimil-Nanāya told Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī (NMA), High Priest (šatammu) of Eanna, and Nabû-aḫu-iddin (NAI), Royal Overseer (ša rēš šarri bēl piqitti) of Eanna, that L and his co-worker (šutāpu) Šamaš-aḫu-iddin/Ibni-Ištar (ŠAI) litigated (dīnu dabābu) in their presence about an adult cow. L said that while he had given^? (corrupted verb form) the cow to B, ŠAI did not pay his share (zittu) (of the price). ŠAI answered that he had given 3 shekels of silver to B. But B said that he did not receive silver, and that L led the cow away lawlessly (ina šigilti).

5 witnesses including the Aramaic scribe (sēpiru) Amurru-šarru-uṣur/Talīmu.

Scribe: Marduk-nāṣir/Madānu-aḫḫē-iddin//Šigûa

It is not clear, if L really gave the cow to B (corrupted verb form it-tan-na: 3. person instead of 1. person, partially corrected and written over erasure?; missing preposition). Alternatively he could have paid B for the cow (cf. von Bolla: eṭ-ṭer(-)na(?)).

Accusation of theft. Before  Rēmūt, the royal judge, and Ile”i-Marduk, the scribe, the temple shepherd Bazūzu/Šamaš-šumu-ukīn accuses Lâbâši/Kūnaya//Šangû-Ninurta of having stolen from him a cow dragging late (namarku) behind his herd at the king’s canal. Lâbâši is summoned, but flees. Innin-zēru-ušabši/Ibni-Ištar//Babutu and Balāṭu/Nabû-aḫḫē-ušallim//Gimil-Nanāya testify to Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī, bishop (šatammu) of Eanna, Nabû-aḫu-iddin, royal representative (ša rēš šarri) and commissioner (bēl piqitti) of Eanna, that Lâbaši claimed that Bazūzu had given him the cow, and that his associate (šutapu) Šamaš-aḫu-iddin/Ibni-Ištar refused to pay him his share for the animal while he was using it. Šamaš-aḫu-iddin claims to have paid 3 shekels of silver to Bazūzu for his cow, which the latter refutes. Five witnesses and Marduk-nāṣir/Madānu-aḫḫē-iddin//Šigû’a, the scribe.