next article in this issue  |
|
Document Details : Title: The Ladies Amat-Aja and Šāt-Aja Subtitle: Business Associates under Hammurabi Author(s): VAN LERBERGHE, K. Journal: Orientalia Lovaniensia Periodica Volume: 25 Date: 1994 Pages: 5-26 DOI: 10.2143/OLP.25.0.583456 Abstract : Some 4,000 years ago two women, Amat-Aja and Šāt-Aja, were business associates in the city of Sippar in Northern Babylonia. Both came from well-to-do families and belonged to a class of women called nadītū. These nadītū-women lived together in private homes within the gagûm, a “beguinage”, and were devotees to the god Šamaš, chief god of Sippar. Many of these nadītū were involved in all kind of economic enterprises as private individuals. Often they acted as lessors of their vast real estate holdings and as creditors, lending out silver. As a consequence they are mentioned in a great number of legal and administrative documents related to sale, lease and inheritance of their properties, division of their paternal estates or litigations concerning their possessions. Thus nadituare among the best known persons in Assyriology and often their genealogy can be retraced. Therefore it is remarkable that very little is known about both our ladies, Amat-Aja, daughter of Nūr-ilišu and Šāt-Aja, daughter of Ikun-pî (-Sin?). |
|
