BM 118970

Mušēzib-Marduk/Kiribtu(//Sîn-nāṣir) purchases a ruined house (bītu abtu) from Aḫu-iddin-Marduk/Aplāya (AIM).

The house plot is located in Uruk the quarter (erṣet) of the (tp)Gate of the Market (bāb maḫīri) and measures 55 × 30 cubits. It is adjacent to the wide street, the thoroughfare of the god and the king, and the house plots of Ibnāya/Aḫu-šubši, Nabû-ušēzib/Dāmiru and Nanāya-īpuš/Pirˀu.

2 minas of silver in pieces (šibirtu) are declared (maḫīru nabû) as the purchase price. It is received with (u) a supplementary payment (atru) of 2 shekels. AIM relinquishes any future claims on behalf of his household, and swears an oath (nīšu zakāru) by Marduk, Zarpanītu and the king.

Written in the presence of Ea-zēra-iqīša, the (tp)Amukean (Amukānu; the leader of the Bīt-Amukāni Chaldean group), and 12 witnesses.

Scribe: Nabû-šumu-līšir/Nabū-zēru-ukīn (“writer of the tablet” šāṭir ṭuppi).

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

Notes

It is a duplicate of BM 118976 (Frame 2013 no. 04b).

Purchase of a house in Uruk: A purchases a ruined house (bītu abtu) for 2 minas of silver in pieces (šibirtu), together with an additional payment (atru) of 2 shekels of silver, from B. The sold house is located in the district (erṣetu) of the Market Gate (bāb mahīri) inside of Uruk. Its upper and lower side (in the north and south) as well as upper front (in the west) border on the houses of C₁, C₂ and C₃. Its lower front (in the east) borders on the thoroughfare (mūtaqu) of the god and the king. It measures 55 x 30 cubits (27.5 x 15 m). The seller has taken an oath (nīšu zakāru) by the god Marduk well as his divine spouse Zarpanītu and by the king. The transaction is concluded in the presence of (ina uzuzzi) the leader of the tribe Bīt-Amukāni (Ea-zēru-(i)qīša). 12 witnesses and the scribe, also defined as writer of the tablet (šāṭir ṭuppi). Fingernail impression (ṣupru) of the seller.
 
A = Mušēzib-Marduk/Kiribtu; B = Ahu-iddin-Marduk/Aplāya; C₁ = Ibnāya//Ahu-šubši; C₂ = Nabû-ušēzib/Dāmiru; C₃ = Nanāya-īpuš/Pirˀu; Scribe = Nabû-šumu-līšir//Nabû-zēru-ukīn