NCBT 00019

Van Driel Files: 11 a
Text Form: Letter (e.g. ṭuppi PN ana PN)
Domain (Eanna): Higher-order management and policies
Formatting remarks: The text alignment on the left edge is peculiar. The writer spaces one word, šipirtu, out over two lines. Additionally, instead of continuing to write the word on the left edge in the next line, the writer switches to the upper edge for the last sign of the word.
Format of the tablet: portrait

Theme: Living environment (rural); Living environment (urban); Relationships & family structure; Slave/Oblate status
Oblate/Slave Role: Is sold (slave) (passive)

Content

Paraphrase: Letter of Sîn-aplu-iddin, High Priest (šatammu) of the temple of Gula, to Nabû-mukīn-apli (/Nādinu//Dābibī), the High Priest (šatammu), and Nabû-aḫu-iddin, the Royal Overseer (ša rēš šarri bēl piqitti), "his lords", about (f)Baˀu-aqrat, slave of Rēmūt/Ubar-Nabû, a man from (tp)Bīt-Gula, who is (also) an oblate (širku). He tells the recipients to look her up in the writing board (lē’u) of the Eanna because her daughter is about to be sold in the vicinity. He therefore urgently requests a message from the recipients (kapdu). In closing, after two seal impressions, he informs them that he sent his seal with this letter.

Type and Content: Letters
created by: Martina Schmidl, Jan. 16, 2026, 1:15 p.m.
last updated by: Martina Schmidl, May 26, 2026, 2:27 p.m.
Mentioned in the following publication(s): Beaulieu 2003; Schmidl 2019 (unpublished PhD diss.)