Babylonian and Assyrian Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 377 pages of information about Babylonian and Assyrian Literature.

Babylonian and Assyrian Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 377 pages of information about Babylonian and Assyrian Literature.

By this table, the author of the everlasting limits has forever perpetuated his name.[1]

25 hins[2] of corn are sufficient to seed an arura,[3] in a field lying on the bank of the river Besim, belonging to Hankas.

In length[4] above toward the North, adjoining the property of Hankas; in length below toward the South, adjoining the property of Imbiyati; in breadth above toward the West, adjoining the property of Hankas; in breadth below toward the East, limited by the river Besim.

Such is what Marduk-nasir, Captain of the King, has received from the hands of Nis-Bel, son of Hankas.  He has paid the price for it.  Sapiku son of Itti-Marduk-balat, son of Zikar-Ea, is the measurer[5] of the field.

                                         Weights of
1 Chariot with its team of horses[6] 100 silver 6 Harnesses 300 " 1 Ass from Phoenicia 30 "
6 Harnesses, 1 Ass from Phoenicia 50 "
                                                Weights of
 1 Mule 15 silver
 1 Cow (pregnant) 30 "
30 Measures of corn, 60 Measures of 12 epha[7] 137 "
 1 Hemicorion, 10 Shovels of 4 epha 16 "
 2 Dogs, good 12 "
 9 Greyhounds from the East 18 "
 1 Hunting dog 1 "
 1 Shepherd dog 1 "
 1 Dog (bloodhound[8]) 6 "
     Total 616[9] (weights of) silver.

Such is what Nis-Bel, son of Hankas, has paid in the hands of Marduk-nasir, Captain of the King, as equivalent of the price of a field of 25 hins of (grain).

At any epoch whatever, in the days to come (or process of time) either an aklu,[10] or a no-servant, or a farmer, or a husbandman, or a workman, or any other guardian who presents himself, and who settles in the house of Hankas, and will endeavor to lay waste this field, will earn its first-fruits, will turn it over, will plough it (mix up the earth), will have it put under water, who will occupy this property by fraud or violence and will settle in its territories, either in the name of the god, or in the name of the King, or in the name of the representative of the Lord of the country, or in the name of the representative of the house, or in the name of any person whatever, whoever he may be, who will give it, will earn the harvest of the land, will say,[11] “These fields are not granted as gifts by the King”; whether he pronounce against them the holy malediction or he swears by these words, “The head is not the head”; and establish anyone therein, in saying, “There is no eye”; or who will carry away this tablet, or will throw it into the river, or will break it into pieces, or will bury it under a heap of stones, or will burn it by fire, or will bury it in the earth, or will hide it in a dark place, that man (shall be cursed): 

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Babylonian and Assyrian Literature from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.