Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 59

The arura (great U) is valued at 88 hectares, 207 acres in the Babylonian system; a hin is almost 3 litres, or 5 pints and a quarter; 20 hins, therefore, are somewhat more than 13 gallons. The fertility of the Babylonian soil was renowned in antiquity. See Herodotus i. 193.]

[Footnote 3: A fathom, 10-1/3 feet, is the sixtieth part of a stade, 620 feet.]

[Footnote 4: This word is explained in a syllabary copied by Dr. Oppert in 1855, but which has never been published. The three signs of the ideogram ("Bit-gigunu-a") are rendered by "kallatu" ("a bride"), and this very important statement put the translator on the track of the right interpretation.]

COLUMN II

Whosoever in the process of time, among the brothers, the sons, the family, the men and women, the servants both male and female, of the house of Kilnamandu, either a foreigner, or a guest, or whosoever he may be (or anyone else), who will destroy this field, who will venture to take away the boundary-stone, or will vindicate it: whether he consecrate this field to a G.o.d, or earn it for his superior, or claim it for himself, or change the extent, the surface, or the limits, that he reaps new harvests (crops); or who will say of the field with its measures, "There is no granter;"

whether he call forth malediction and hostility on the tablets; or establish on it anyone other who change these curses, in swearing: "The head is not the head;" and in a.s.serting: There is no evil eye;[1]

whosoever will carry elsewhere those tablets; or will throw them into the water; will bury them in the earth; will hide them under stones; will burn them with fire, will alter what is written on them, will confine them into a place where they might not be seen; that man shall be cursed:

May the G.o.ds Anu, El, Hea, the Great G.o.ddess, the great G.o.ds, inflict upon him the utmost contumely, extirpate his name, annihilate his family.

May Marduk, the great Lord of eternity without end, bind him in fetters which cannot be broken.

May Samas, the great Judge of heaven and earth, judge his unpunished misdeeds, and surprise him in flagrant deeds.

May Sin, the brilliant (_Nannar_), who dwells in the sacred heavens, clothe him in leprosy as in a garment, and give him up to the wild beasts that wander in the outsides of the town.

May Istar, the Queen of heaven and earth, carry him off, and deliver him for avenge to the G.o.d and the king.

May Ninip, son of the zenith, son of El the sublime, take away his lands, funds, and limits.

May Gula, the great Queen, the wife of Ninip, infilter into his bowels a poison which cannot be pushed out, and may he void blood and pus like water.

May Bin, the great Guardian of heaven and earth, the son of the warrior Anu, inundate his field.

May Serah destroy his firstborn; may he torture his flesh, and load his feet with chains.

May Nabu, the supreme Watcher, strike him with misfortune and ruin, and blast his happiness that he not obtain it, in the wrath of his face.

May all the great G.o.ds whose names are recorded on this tablet, curse him with irrevocable malediction, and scatter his race even to the last days.

[Footnote 1: This seems to be a usual formula.]

(This monument is equally engraved on a black basalt stone; it offers the same arrangement as the stone of Michaux. The a.n.a.logous doc.u.ments show that numerous inaccuracies have been committed.

In the upper part there occur the same altars, tiaras, birds, as well as the above-mentioned goat, dog, scorpion, and snake. The surface of the ba.s.so-relievo is also covered with Cuneiform writing.

The inscriptions are arranged in four columns, and take both sides of the monument. The first column originally finished at the 30th line; it seems to have been completed by four lines, which contain one of the essential articles of the contract, but which evidently are not in their right place, and had been actually forgotten in the original engraving.

On the margins and the ba.s.sso-relievo many additions and repet.i.tions are to be read, which also prove the engraver's carelessness or precipitation.)

20 hins[1] of corn are sufficient to seed an _arura_,[2] a field in the land of Zunire,[3] on the bank of the river Zirzirri, belonging to the house of Ada.

Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon, has thus sentenced according to the laws of the country of a.s.sur. Bin-zir-basa, his Minister, has favored Marduk-ilusu, son of Ina-e-saggatu-irbu,[4] who has written this to the King of Babylon: I say, He has loaded me with favors, and I proclaim that this rating has been made according to the epha[5] of the King of Babylon.

20 hin of corn are sufficient to seed an _arura_. Bin-zir-basa, the Lieutenant (of the King) has invested him with it, and (the measurer of lands) has thus measured it for the time to come.

In the length[6] above toward the North, turned to the river Zirzirri, adjoining the house of Ada, and the field of the house of the Satraps. In the length below, toward the South of the river Atab-du-Istar, adjoining the house of Ada. In breadth above toward the East, adjoining the limits of Bit-ulbar. In breadth below toward the West, adjoining the house of Ada.

According to the law of Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon, servant of the G.o.ds of the City of the eternal fire,[7] it was so measured by Bel-zir-kini, son of Zikar-Istar, the measurer of the field.

In the town of Dindu, in the month of Tebet, on the 28th day (December) in the 10th year of Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon.

In the presence of Bet-ulbar-sakimu, son of Bazi, Chief of the _ru-bar_ of the countries;

in the presence of Babilai, son of Sin-mustesir,[8] Chief of the head Rulers of the country;

in the presence of Hea-Kudurri-ibni, son of Zikar-Ea, Governor of the provinces;

in the presence of Bel-nasir-habal, son of the Chief of the _rubar_ of the orders in the provinces;

in the presence of Takisa-belit, son of Riu-simti;

in the presence of Uballitsu, son of Karistiya-napasti;

in the presence of Bel-idin-akh, son of Suti;

in the presence of Sukamuna[9]-idin, son of Meliharbat;

in the presence of Isu-il, son of Habliya;

in the presence of Bel-akhesu, son of Meliharbat;

in the presence of Nis-bet-ulbar, son of Ulamhala;

in the presence of Sumidu, son of Marduk-kabuya, Prefect of the house of Ada;

in the presence of E-saggatu-bunuya, _hazan_[10] of the house of Ada;

in the presence of Babrabtatutai, son of Sar-Babil-a.s.surissi;

in the presence of Sadu-rabu-kabuya, Judge;

in the presence of Marduk-nasir, son of Gamilu.

Whoever in the process of time, among the brothers, the sons, among the near relations, the allies of the family of the house of Ada, would claim this land, would nourish against it bad designs, or would suggest them; whoever would utter these words, "There is no giver," who would say, "There is no sealer," or whosoever will say, "I deny that there is a master of the house of Ada, that there is a Chief in the house of Ada; that there is a _hazan_ of the house of Ada; or that there is either a speculator for the house of Ada; or a _gitta_[11] of the house of Ada; or a _sumtalu_; or a _lubattu_; or an _aklu_; or a _kisirtu_ in the house of Ada;" or he will say, "The confiscation has been p.r.o.nounced;" whether he say: "This field has no measurer," or say, "This seal is not of a sealer"

(who has the right to); or whoever will take possession of this field; or consecrate it to the G.o.ds; or claim it for himself; or alter its surface, circ.u.mference and limits; or construct buildings on this land, and in the middle of this field (that man will be cursed):

The G.o.ds who are inscribed on this tablet, all those whose name is commemorated herein, will curse him with irrevocable curses.

May the G.o.ds Anu,[12] Bel, Hea, these great G.o.ds, torment him and overwhelm him; that ...[13]