at a fixed ratio—and (occasionally) bread and beer bread are given.
The i“-gána and other payments in kind again suggest a feast, but
the fixed rates clearly demonstrate that they are already developing
into a kind of monetary contribution to the price. That state will be
reached at the end of the OS period, when they are included in the
price. Then they seem to become a means of finalizing the trans-
action with a last concluding payment—a matter of some impor-
tance, since payment could extend over a long period.^165 Frequently,
a ritual act performed with oil is mentioned (“oil was spread at the
side”), together with a public announcement (thereof ?). In ELTS
32–33, the buyer’s witnesses each receive a gift of a cloth (probably
recorded because the document was drafted in the buyer’s interest;
the seller may well have given his witnesses gifts).7.1.5 Old Sumerian and Sargonic Periods
7.1.5.1 ΩGirsu/Laga“
7.1.5.1.1 In the inscription on the Lú-pà.d Statue (ELTS 21), from
the time of Ur-Nan“e.k or his son A-kurgal (see 4.1 above),^166 pur-
chases are drafted ex latere emptoris. This is the first occurrence of the
form which was later to become dominant throughout the country
and to remain so for millennia, though undergoing many changes
over time. The Lú-pà.d Statue also mentions a ritual act using oil
and the use of a nail driven into a wall.7.1.5.1.2 By the time of Enanatum (Lumma-tur-tablets: ELTS 22–23
and appendix),^167 the standard formula for landed property (fields
and houses) is as follows:(1) O(2) from (s) (3a) (3b) bought from him/them.
(4a) The —(4b) it is the price of (/or 4b’: its price) was
received (or 5': (s) received). (6a) G (6b) as/its “gift”
(7) were received (/7' (s) received), (8) L (-
). (9a) He drove the nail into the wall, (9b) he
had spread oil at the side.^168(^165) See the discussion in Wilcke, “Neue Rechtsurkunden...,” 13–14, 19–24.
(^166) See Bauer, Altorientalische Notizen, 14 no. 22.
(^167) Hallo, “The Date of the Fara Period.. .” (time of Enmetena.k); SRU 30–35.
(^168) The order is not fixed; e.g., (2) and (3) may be reversed.
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