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====== Old assyrian letters ====== | ====== Old assyrian letters ====== | ||
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===== Introduction ===== | ===== Introduction ===== | ||
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During the Old Assyrian period (first three centuries of the 2< | During the Old Assyrian period (first three centuries of the 2< | ||
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===== Overview of corpus ===== | ===== Overview of corpus ===== | ||
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Old Assyrian letters start by the classical Mesopotamian address style: //ana// NP< | Old Assyrian letters start by the classical Mesopotamian address style: //ana// NP< | ||
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A short exhortation can be found any place within the letter (// | A short exhortation can be found any place within the letter (// | ||
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There was no standard size or shape for letters. Some were extremely short, written over less than five lines, others needed an additional tablet called //ṣibat ṭuppim//. | There was no standard size or shape for letters. Some were extremely short, written over less than five lines, others needed an additional tablet called //ṣibat ṭuppim//. | ||
- | + | ||
< | < | ||
{{: | {{: | ||
< | < | ||
- | Letter from Aššur-takāku and Šamaš-abi to Abu-šalim and Amur-Ištar, | + | \\ |
- | < | + | \\ |
- | \\ \\ | + | Letter from Aššur-takāku and Šamaš-abi to Abu-šalim and\\ |
+ | Amur-Ištar, | ||
+ | The text is written on a tablet and additional tablet, and is\\ | ||
+ | preserved in its envelope.\\ | ||
+ | Kt 93/k 211, excavated in 1993 at Kültepe.\\ | ||
+ | Photo. C. Michel. ©Kültepe Archaeological Mission. | ||
</ | </ | ||
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Letters were covered by clay envelopes which bear the identity of the correspondents as well as the seal impression of the sender. Letters in their envelopes were travelling wrapped in textiles and leather, on donkey caravans or by special messenger. | Letters were covered by clay envelopes which bear the identity of the correspondents as well as the seal impression of the sender. Letters in their envelopes were travelling wrapped in textiles and leather, on donkey caravans or by special messenger. | ||
- | < | ||
- | Voilà du texte qui contient une adresse : http:// | ||
- | il est reproduit tel quel. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | La même chose est vraie pour %%//__ce__ texte// avec une émoticône ;-)%%. | ||
- | < | ||
===== Contents ===== | ===== Contents ===== | ||
- | Letters form the correspondence exchanged between the Assyrian merchants in Kaneš, their families and colleagues in Aššur or settled in other Assyrian trading outposts located in Central Anatolia.They relate to commercial exchanges, but also tackle domestic matters and daily life, especially women’s correspondence. Some letters were sent by [[http:// | + | Letters form the correspondence exchanged between the Assyrian merchants in Kaneš, their families and colleagues in Aššur or settled in other Assyrian trading outposts located in Central Anatolia.They relate to commercial exchanges, but also tackle domestic matters and daily life, especially women’s correspondence. Some letters were sent by [[http:// |
- | A few letters exists that can be described as diplomatic correspondence involving the Assyrian authorities and local Anatolian rulers (LAPO 19 91 = RA 60, 120, LAPO 19 93 = Kt 85/k 27), or only Anatolian | + | A few letters exists that can be described as diplomatic correspondence involving the Assyrian authorities and local Anatolian rulers (LAPO 19 91 = RA 60, 120, LAPO 19 93 = Kt 85/k 27), or only Anatolian |
Letters are never dated. | Letters are never dated. | ||
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The letter is referred to by the words // | The letter is referred to by the words // | ||
- | < | + | |
The recipient kept in his archives the letters he received for personal reasons or for the data they contained, as a reminder of his commercial activities, of orders given to colleagues or representatives, | The recipient kept in his archives the letters he received for personal reasons or for the data they contained, as a reminder of his commercial activities, of orders given to colleagues or representatives, | ||
- | </ | ||
- | + | ||
+ | |||
===== Sample Text ===== | ===== Sample Text ===== | ||
- | < | + | |
CCT 3, 20: | CCT 3, 20: | ||
- | </code> | + | | Ob. 1 | //a-na Pu-šu-ke-en//< |
+ | | 2 | //um-ma La//< | ||
+ | | 3 | // | ||
+ | | 4 | // | ||
+ | | 5 | 2 // | ||
+ | | 6 | //ub-lam// : 1 // | ||
+ | | 7 | // | ||
+ | | 8 | //ub-lam// 2 // | ||
+ | | 9 | // | ||
+ | | 10 | //ša// zabar // | ||
+ | | 11 | 1 // | ||
+ | | 12 | <1> // | ||
+ | | 13 | // | ||
+ | | 14 | // | ||
+ | | 15 | // | ||
+ | | 16 | // | ||
+ | | 17 | // | ||
+ | | 18 | // | ||
+ | | Rev.19 | ||
+ | | 20 | // | ||
+ | | 21 | // | ||
+ | | 22 | //e-pu-uš u//< | ||
+ | | 23 | tug< | ||
+ | | 24 | // | ||
+ | | 25 | // | ||
+ | | 26 | e< | ||
+ | | 27 | //ku-a-tim I-ku-p//// | ||
+ | | 28 | // | ||
+ | | 29 | // | ||
+ | | 30 | // | ||
+ | | 31 | // | ||
+ | | 32 | // | ||
+ | | 33 | //um-ma a-ta-ma m//// | ||
+ | | 34 | //i-na// e< | ||
+ | | 35 | //ki-ma// e< | ||
+ | | 36 | // | ||
+ | | 37 | // | ||
+ | | 38 | // | ||
+ | | Le.e.39 | ||
+ | | 40 | // | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
- | |< | ||
- | Ob. 1 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | a-na Pu-šu-ke-en6 qi2-bi-ma | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Say to Pūšu-kēn: | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 2 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | um-ma La2-ma-si2-ma 9 tug2hi-a | ||
- | </ | ||
- | thus (says) Lamassī. 9 textiles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 3 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Ku-lu-ma-a na-aš2-a-kum 3 tug2hi-a | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Kulumaya is bringing you. 3 textiles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 4 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I-di2-Su2-en6 na-aš2-a-kum | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Iddin-Suen is bringing you. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 5 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | 2 su2-pa2-ni ša zabar Dan-na-A-šur3 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | 2 bronze supānum-bowls Dān-Aššur | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 6 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ub-lam : 1 su2-pa2-nam ša zabar | ||
- | </ | ||
- | brought me. 1 bronze supānum-bowl | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 7 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u3 it-qu3-ra-am ša zabar I-a-šar | ||
- | </ | ||
- | and a bronze ladle Ia-šar | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 8 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ub-lam 2 it-qu2-ra-tim ša zabar | ||
- | </ | ||
- | brought me. 2 bronze ladles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 9 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I-di2-Su2-en6 ub-lam : 1 it-qu2-ra-am | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Iddin-Suen brought me. 1 ladle | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 10 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ša zabar A-hu-wa-qar ub-lam | ||
- | </ | ||
- | in bronze Ahu-waqar brought me. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 11 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | 1 su2-pa2-nam ša ku3-babbar I-ku-pi2-a ub-lam | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Ikuppia brought me 1 silver supānum-bowl. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 12 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | <1> su2-pa2-nam ša ku3-babbar dumu I-bi-su2-a ub-/lam | ||
- | </ | ||
- | The son of Ibbi-sū’a brought me 1 silver supānum-bowl. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 13 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | sa3-ma-la2-tim it-qu2-ra-tim | ||
- | </ | ||
- | cups, ladles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 14 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u2 ṣi2-ba-tim ub-lu-nim šu!-ma be-l i2 a-ta | ||
- | </ | ||
- | and ṣibtum-objects they brought me. If you are my master, | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 15 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | a-šu-mi3 : tu2ghi-a ša ta-a2š-pu-ra-ni | ||
- | </ | ||
- | on account of the garments about which you have written me | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 16 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | la2 u2-še2-bi-la2-ku-ni li-ba-ka3 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | and (which) I have not sent you | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 17 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | la2 i-la2-mi3-in ki-ma ṣu2-ha-ar-[tum] | ||
- | </ | ||
- | do not be angry. Since the girl | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 18 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | i-ir-ta-bi-u2-ni : tu2g iš-te2-en6 u2 še2-na | ||
- | </ | ||
- | has grown up, a few heavy textiles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | Rev.19 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ka3-ab-tu3-tim a-na na-ar-ka3-ab1-/ | ||
- | </ | ||
- | for the wagon | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 20 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | e-ta-pa2-aš2! ú a-na ni-ši2 be2-/tim | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I have made. And for the household personnel | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 21 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u2 a-na ṣu2-uh3-ri-im | ||
- | </ | ||
- | and for the children, | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 22 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | e-pu-uš u2-la2 ak-ta-ša-ad-ma | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I also made (garments), (this is why) I could not manage | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 23 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | tug2hi-a la2 uš-te2-bi-la2-kum tug2hi-a | ||
- | </ | ||
- | to send you some textiles. Whatever textiles | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 24 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ma-la2 qa2-ti2 i-ka3-šu-du iš-ti2 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I can manage (to make), with | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 25 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | wa-ar-ki-u2-tim u2-še2-ba-la2-kum | ||
- | </ | ||
- | later caravans I will send you. | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 26 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | e2 A-bu-um-dingir i-na i-ga-ar-tim | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Concerning the house of Abum-ilī, against your wall, | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 27 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ku-a-tim I-ku-pi2-a ša e2 A-ta-a | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Ikuppia, from the house of Ataya, | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 28 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | i-ga-ar-tam2 šu-a-tam2 iš-ta-kan2 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | placed his wall | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 29 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u2 a-na-ku a-ṣa-al-ma um-ma šu-ut-ma | ||
- | </ | ||
- | so I made an objection, but he (said) as follows: | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 30 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ta-pa2-u2-tum-ma u2-ta-pa2-šu mi3-ma-ma | ||
- | </ | ||
- | “I will reach an agreement with him.” (But) | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 31 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u2-la2 u2-ta-pa2-šu : it-be2-a-ma (erased sign) | ||
- | </ | ||
- | I will not agree with him about anything! He set out | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 32 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | i-ta-ṣa-am a-ta a-ma-kam qi2-bi-šu-um | ||
- | </ | ||
- | and left. You, over there, tell him | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 33 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | um-ma a-ta-ma mi3-šu-um i-ga-ar-ta-ka3 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | as follows: “Why your wall | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 34 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | i-na e2be2-ti2-a : ta-aš2-ku-un | ||
- | </ | ||
- | have you placed against my house? | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 35 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ki-ma e2 la2 a-ši2-ri-im : te2-pu-uš | ||
- | </ | ||
- | You just act as (someone would) with a property without a protector!” | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 36 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u3 a-šu-mi3 ba-pi2-ri ša ta-aš2-pu-ra-ni | ||
- | </ | ||
- | Concerning the beer bread you wrote to me about | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 37 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ba-pi2-ru-um wa-di2 e-pi2-iš ša-ak-/ | ||
- | </ | ||
- | – the beer bread is certainly made and ready! | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 38 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | u2 ṣu2-ha-ar-tum da-ni-iš | ||
- | </ | ||
- | The little girl has quite | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | Le.e.39 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | ir-ti2-bi te2-eb-a-ma a-tal-kam a-na su2-ni A-šur3 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | grown up, set out and come here. To (the god) Aššur | ||
- | </ | ||
- | |< | ||
- | 40 | ||
- | </ | ||
- | šu-ku-ši2 u3 še2-ep i3-li2-ka3 ṣa-ba-at | ||
- | </ | ||
- | consecrate her and touch the foot of your god! | ||
- | </ | ||
- | < | ||
- | </ | ||
===== Bibliography ===== | ===== Bibliography ===== | ||
- | < | + | |
C. Michel, 2001. Correspondance des marchands de Kaneš au début du IIe millénaire av. J.-C., Littératures du Proche-Orient ancien 19, Paris : Editions du Cerf. | C. Michel, 2001. Correspondance des marchands de Kaneš au début du IIe millénaire av. J.-C., Littératures du Proche-Orient ancien 19, Paris : Editions du Cerf. | ||
- | </ | + | |
C. Michel, 2008. La correspondance des marchands assyriens du xix< | C. Michel, 2008. La correspondance des marchands assyriens du xix< | ||
- | C. Michel, 2015. Les lettres des rois d’Aššur découvertes à Kaniš (xix< | + | C. Michel, 2015. Les lettres des rois d’Aššur découvertes à Kaniš (xix< |
K. R. Veenhof, 2008. Communication in the Old Assyrian Trading Society by Caravans, Travelers and Messengers, in C. Michel (éd.), //Old Assyrian Studies in Memory of Paul Garelli//, OAAS 4, PIHANS 112, Leyde. Pp. 199--246. | K. R. Veenhof, 2008. Communication in the Old Assyrian Trading Society by Caravans, Travelers and Messengers, in C. Michel (éd.), //Old Assyrian Studies in Memory of Paul Garelli//, OAAS 4, PIHANS 112, Leyde. Pp. 199--246. | ||
- | ** ** | + | ** ** |
- | + | ||
Cécile Michel | Cécile Michel | ||
+ |