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2.1.3 The Administration
2.1.3.1 Central administration consisted of the king and his palace
officials. Collectively, it was known as “the palace” (Akk. ekallum,
Sum. é.gal), a term also used in its function as a property owner.
LH mentions responsibilities of the palace in two laws: identification
of the owner of a slave who refuses to name his master (18) and
surveillance of criminal activities through the duty of tavernesses to
report suspicious gatherings (109). There is no sign of a “chancery”
issuing orders in the king’s name, but there was delegation of author-
ity. High officials acting in their own name gave orders to provin-
cial officials much in the same way as the king did (e.g., AbB 2 45;
4 69; cf. 13 8).2.1.3.2 Provincial administration consisted of a number of royal
officials whose rank, responsibilities, and geographical area of author-
ity can only be vaguely discerned. At the highest level, Hammurabi
corresponded with two senior officials (with no title designated) in
the southern part of his kingdom: Sin-iddinam, responsible for the
“lower district,” and Shamash-hazir, based in the Larsa region.^14
They appear to have had a wide range of responsibilities, especially
collecting taxes, public works, allocation of feudal tenancies, and the
administration of justice. Beneath them were local governors respon-
sible for smaller areas (“àpir màtim) or cities (“akkanakkum). Still lower
ranking officials had a confusing variety of titles, including notably
the abi ßàbim, in charge of royal lands and granaries, and the mu"errum,
who recruited labor for work on crown lands. There were also spe-
cial government agencies, such as an irrigation bureau responsible
for the maintenance of canals.^15
All these officials were appointed by the central administration
and reported ultimately to the king. Hammurabi’s correspondence
with his high officials shows him intervening directly in day-to-day
administration, frequently giving instructions on individual cases.2.1.3.3 Local government operated at two levels: the city (àlum) and
the ward (babtum). Its functionaries were appointed from within the(^14) Correspondence with the former is collected in AbB 2 and with the latter in
AbB 4.
(^15) Walters, Water for Larsa.
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