Details

LOT 0233

Western Asiatic Old Babylonian Cuneiform Adoption Tablet for a Baby Girl by Priestess Beltani

DATED 1886 BC

3 1/4" (188 grams, 85mm).

A ceramic pillow-shaped tablet with Akkadian cuneiform text to both broad faces, one long and one short edge, concerning the adoption of a baby girl by Beltani, a priestess; dated to year 8 of Sumu-El of Larsa (circa 1886 BC), numbered '109' to one end; the text reads: 'Beltani, a naditu-priestess, daughter of Warad-Sin and (...) has adopted ... a suckling baby girl from Ya'um, her father, and Shuhatum, her mother. If in the future Ya'um and Shuhatum say 'Set free my daughter!' they will pay 2 minas of silver. In the future there will be no (legal) reversal. Oath sworn by Shamas and Sumu-el. Witnesses: Azalum; Hashishum, daughter of Adad-rabi; Shanmada, daughter of Azalum; Erraja, 'barber', Taphua; Shat-Eshtar; Bela, daughter of Azalum; Ninkarrak ,,,, Bikem daughter of Azalum; Baturatum. Year (named) Sumu-el the king defeated the town Pi-naratim.'.

Provenance

Ex North London gentleman; formerly in a private collection formed between 1990 and 2000; accompanied by an old academic identification and translation sheet with catalogue reference number M3/109.

CONDITION