Amat-Shamash claims to be the adopted daughter of Shamash-gâmil and his wife Ummi-Araḫtum. Her witnesses proving unsatisfactory, her claim was disallowed on the oath of Ummi-Araḫtum that they had never adopted her. Ḥammurabi (?).[211]
Ilushu-abushu hired a pack-ass, imer bilti, of Ardi-Sin and Ṣilli-Ishtar and lost it. The judges awarded them sixteen shekels of silver as compensation. Apil-Sin 5.[212]
Babilîtum sued Erish-Saggil, Ubar-Nabium, and Marduk-nâṣir for a share of her family possessions, bît abiša. The judges assigned her a share. Samsu-iluna 5.[213]
Nidnusha and Shamash-abilu sue the daughter of Sin-eribam about property which she claimed to have inherited. They charge her with having forged the will of Amti-Shamash in her favor. The judges went to Gagim, where the property was, and examined witnesses who proved that Amti-Shamash had left the property to the daughter of Sin-eribam. The judges therefore confirmed her title. N. D.[214]
Mâr-erṣitim left a female slave Damiḳtum to Erib-Sin. His wife Mazabatum and his brother Ibni-Shamash dispute this legacy. The judges inspect a document by which Erib-Sin, on the suit of Mâr-erṣitim, had granted Damiḳtum to Mazabatum and Ibni-Shamash. The judges return Damiḳtum to Mazabatum. Ḥammurabi (?).[215]
Legal practice of Assyrian times
In Assyrian times we have comparatively few legal decisions. The judges who appear are the sartênu, or chief-justice; the ḫazânu, the chief civil magistrate of a city, the parallel of the ancient rabiânu; the sukallu, or chamberlain; and one or two others, besides the simple daiânu, or judge. Some of these are not judicial officers, but act in that capacity.
Usually the judge is said to lay the blame on the guilty party, arnam eli A emêdu; or to lay the penalty upon one, sartu eli A emêdu. The sentence itself was a dienu, or “judgment.” As in former times, the legal decisions refer to all manner of cases, and here more than anywhere else a mere translation does not convey much meaning to the reader.
Thus:[216] a scribe A prosecuted a farmer B for the theft of a bull. They came before Nabû-zêr-kênish-lîshir, the deputy ḫazânu of Nineveh. Restitution, bull for bull, was imposed on the defendant, who meantime was held for the fine. “On the day that he shall have made good the value of the bull he shall go free.” Dated the 12th of Elul. Eponymy of Mushallim-Ashur. Twelve witnesses.
Again:[217] A stole four slaves of B, who summoned him before the sukallu. The judge laid on him a fine of two hundred and ten minas of copper. B then deposited a pledge with A, either himself, or a slave, to perform work equivalent to the amount of the debt. If B, or any representative of his, pays the money, the pledge is void. “Whoever shall withdraw from this agreement, Ashur and Shamash shall be his judges, he shall pay ten minas of silver and ten minas of gold, he shall pay it in the treasury of Bêlit.” Dated the 10th of Adar, b.c. 678. Eleven witnesses.