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2.1.5 The Administration
2.1.5.1 The City
2.1.5.1.1 Assur
There is much evidence for the City Assembly’s function as a court
of law and as a body which issued binding orders (awàt àlim) and
instructions (têrtum). The assembly could deal with various aspects of
the trade (articles not to be traded in, their relative quantities, set-
tling accounts)^24 but also with the contribution to be paid by the
colonies for building the wall of Assur.^25 The City’s administrative
authority over the colonies was maintained by official letters and by
visits of the “Envoys of the City” (“iprù“a àlim). They were involved
in diplomatic contacts with the Anatolian rulers, but could also inter-
fere in matters concerning Assyrian traders, probably on the basis of
a decision of the City Assembly.^26
In the economic life of Assur the “City house” (bèt àlim) played a
very important role in collecting taxes, fees, and debts (the result of
unpaid taxes and credit sales). Its head was the lìmum (the institu-
tion is also called “lìmu-house”), a title we cannot translate. He was
designated by drawing lots, served for one year, and gave his name
to that year, the reason why we call him “year eponym.”^27 From
the legal point of view, these institutions were important, because
many letters and records deal with debts to the “City-house” and
report about the powers of the lìmum(and his “inspectors,” bèrù), no
doubt backed by the authority of the City, to enforce payment, which
ranged from sealing the debtor’s residence (hence freezing his assets)
and confiscating valuables to selling the house.^282.1.5.2 The Colonies
In Anatolia, the Assyrian administration comprises both the small
“trading stations” (wabartum) and the colonies (kàrum). The colonies
were autonomous vis-à-vis the local rulers and palaces as to admin-(^24) See Larsen, City-State.. ., 172; Veenhof, “Legislation.. .,” 1736; AKT 3 73:23ff.
(^25) TC 1 1, see Larsen, City-State.. ., 163f.
(^26) In CCT 4 7c, they open a trader’s sealed strongroom in order to inspect its
contents.
(^27) Larsen, City-State.. ., 123 (pt. 2, chap. 3 of his book is an analysis of the insti-
tution); Veenhof, Year Eponyms.. ., chap. 4.
(^28) See, e.g., the letters TPK 1 26 and 46.
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