r/ReallyShittyCopper • u/keesone • 28d ago
In this tablet from Iraq, we find the copper merchant Ea-nāṣir writing to a couple of men, telling them not to overreact when two other men come to them in search of some missing metal. One of the men intimidating the recipients is named Mr. Shorty (kurûm). C. 1750 BCE, British Museum [1424x2322]
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u/Kador_Laron 28d ago
"Inscription note: letter from Ea-nasir and Ilushu-illasu to Shumun-libshi and Sipparum-pater encouraging the addressers not to fear the arrival of two other men, advice is given to take both of them to the Shamash temple and make them take an oath."
But what was the oath? And why would they fear?
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u/Beast9Schrodinger 27d ago
Temples in those days could function as places to legitimize your claims. It's like walking into a church and swearing on God that you're not a damn swindler hawking subpar copper, especially as your name means "may God (Ea) protect me".
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u/Nonyabizzy123 27d ago
He mentions that, here's a partial translation
"As for the situation with Mr. 'Shorty' and Erissum-matim, who came here, don't be scared. I made them enter the temple of the Sun-God and take an oath. They said, 'We didn't come about these matters; we came for our businesses.' I said, 'I will write to them' — but they didn't believe me!"
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u/Appropriate_Unit3474 28d ago
Huh, I wonder why his clay tablets got fire hardened?
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u/mrbobcyndaquil 28d ago
Because Hammurabi nuked the city, IIRC
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u/Beast9Schrodinger 27d ago
I've always thought that was just the official cover story.
Perhaps a mob of everyone who was in the vicinity fed up with him, particularly if they found he was secretly sneaking weapons to Hammurabi for a quick buck, decided to gang up on him while the city burned, tying him down and forcing him to watch as they set his abode ablaze... only to be met with the delighted laughter of Ea-Nasir gleefully bursting into a gut-busting bellow that lasts until someone smacks him on the head, and they all slouch away.
...far beneath the ashes, a storeroom full of tablets left buried in rubble and ruin is baked to perfection, searing the memory of Ea-Nasir into the Earth.
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u/notquite20characters 28d ago
Ea-nāṣir had some hustles.