The general idea that mašmašu, “charmer”; kalû, “restrainer”; (?) maḫḫû, “soothsayer”; surru; lagaru; šâ'ilu, “inquirer”; mušêlu, “necromancer”; âšipu, “sorcerer”; all properly “magicians,” are subdivisions of the general term šangû, is yet to be proved. Except when, in rare cases, the same man was both, the scribes carefully distinguish them. The idea seems to arise from the same modern confusion of thought which starts by calling an unknown official first a eunuch, then a priest. We do not yet fully know the functions or methods of these officials. They remain to be studied.[545]
The warden
The ḳêpu, or “warden,” was over the temple servants. He let the temple lands. He inspected the temple slaves and work-people.[546]
The steward
The šatammu was over the revenues. This name is clearly connected with the šutummu or storehouse.
Certain officials, as surveyors or measurers, scribes, et cetera, may have been of priestly rank and held these offices as well. But as a rule, a man appears with an official title, without our being able to see whether he was a priest or not.
The workmen
The temple kept its artificers, who had board and wages. It had its serfs, or land laborers, not actual slaves, but [pg 214] free except for their duty to the temple. They lived on the produce of their holdings, subject to a fixed, or produce-rent.
There were temple slaves, who performed the menial offices without wages, but were clothed and fed.
Within these classes doubtless came some of those who appear as slaughterers, water-carriers, doorkeepers, bakers, weavers, and the like. A temple also had its shepherds, cultivators, irrigators, gardeners, et cetera; but it is far from easy to determine the exact degree of dependence in each case.