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in the prologue to his law code, stating that he obligated households
for seventy days (per year) and single men for ten days (per month).
The local authorities were responsible for ensuring that corvée work-
ers were supplied when required by the administration. It was pos-
sible for individuals to hire a substitute.2.2.1.2 Military
To go on the “campaign of the king” (¢arràn “arrim) was the duty of
the soldier (redûm) and the “fisher” (bà"irum), but also of non-military
personnel. A third category, the “bearer” (nà“i biltim) had to supply
the palace with agricultural produce, possibly for the provisioning of
armies, and some may have staffed the baggage train.^26 All three
received land from the palace in return (see 6.1 below). Persons could
be hired for “bearer” service, but LH 26 strictly forbids a “soldier”
or a “fisher” to hire a substitute, on pain of death.^272.2.2 Petitions
A second point of contact arose from the special role of the king,
as head of the judicial and administrative system, in hearing peti-
tions from aggrieved individuals. We are not told how the petition
reached the king, who merely states in his correspondence with his
officials: “PN has informed me...” (ulammidanni).
Petitions related either to private litigation or to abuse of power
by officials, as where a higher official overrode the decision of a tri-
bunal without due process: “In the matter of breaking tablets in the
absence of judges and parties, may my lord render me justice!” (AbB
7 153).- L^28
3.1 Parties
A substantial number of litigants were women, who appear to have
been subject to no legal disabilities in this respect. Sometimes their
interests were represented in court by male relatives (TCL 1 157).(^26) Finet, “na“i biltim...”
(^27) Stol, “Miete,” §3.9 in fin.
(^28) Dombradi, Darstellung...
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