The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

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4. A document attesting to the sale of slaves

The 3rd century B.C.

Uruk

		Obverse Larger view

		Fragment of a document Larger view

A document attesting to the sale of slaves of one Hanna from Uruk; composed in the 3rd century B.C. when Mesopotamia was under the domination of the Greeks.

Translation: "Hanna, daughter of Taddannu-Nana, by her good will Kidin-Anu, her slave, Anu-Ahiddinu, her slave, Anarabi-Nana, her slave [three more names] – all told six slaves, the right hands of whom are stamped with the name of Hanna, daughter of Taddannu-Nana, for three minas of pure silver, for full price, to Nana-Iddinu, son of Tanittum-Anu, descendant of Ahutu, sold once and for all."

Later Hanna testifies that the slaves indeed belong to her, not to a temple or the king, and are not free people. The other side contains the names of more than ten witnesses of the transaction, as well as the names of their fathers and ancestors ("patronymics" and "surnames"). This is followed by the name of the scribe and date: "Anu-bel-shunu, scribe, son of [name of the father is damaged], Uruk, the month of Ululu, day 10, year 15, king Seleucus."

The edges of the tablet contain the impressions of the stamp seals of the buyer and the witnesses.