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are at least twenty-one^15 provinces attested, and there seems to have
been little change in the provincial administration system from the
Kassite to the Isin II Dynasties. Each province was headed by a
governor (“akin màti, later “aknu),^16 who reported directly to the king.
Appointed by the king and moved about by him at will, the gov-
ernor was responsible for most of the normal business in the province.
Other officials subordinate to the provincial governor were also
referred to as “aknu. In some provinces west of the Tigris, the head
of a tribe (bèl bìti) would play a role in governing, possibly heading
a province without a governor, as a subordinate to the governor
or as the ruler of a small territory within yet independent of a
province.
Villages and cities were governed by a mayor (¢azannu), who was
assisted by a magistrate (massû). Persons so identified were called
upon by the king to furnish testimony about the historical back-
ground in legal cases. Scribes (†up“arru) recorded transactions and
served as surveyors.2.1.4 The Courts
2.1.4.1 The King
As in other periods, the king is the highest judge in the land and
sits on cases concerning loss of life. In two texts from Ur, judgment
is passed by a certain Adad-“uma-ußur, “akanakku, probably to be
identified with the king (see 2.1.3.1). Both texts remand the parties
to the ordeal (see 3.3.4 below). Several royal decisions are recorded
in the narûcorpus, including one text recording the decisions of three
successive kings concerning the same estate.^17 The resolution of a
dispute by the king, as commemorated by a narû, was to be per-
manent and inviolable.2.1.4.2 Provincial officials, such as the mayor (¢azannu), heard cases,^18
as did priests.^19 In one case, a priestess heard a prisoner’s protestation(^15) See Brinkman, “Provincial Administration.. .,” 234–5 and Brinkman, Political
History.. ., 297 and nn. 1941–42, and Gurney, Middle Babylonian.. ., 17.
(^16) For the title “aknu, see, most recently, CAD”I, 191.
(^17) BBSt. 3.
(^18) E.g., UET 7 2, 8, 10.
(^19) E.g., UET 7 2, 3, 6.
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