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of innocence and granted him an opportunity to apprehend the
wrongdoer.^202.1.4.3 Cases were also heard by the “judge” (dayyànu), presumably
a royal appointee.^21 The title “judge” is not attested outside of legal
contexts.2.2 Functions
2.2.1 Compulsory Service
A steady point of contact between the citizens and the government
was their obligation to perform service for the crown. Several of the
narûs commemorate the king exempting residents of a given terri-
tory from performing these obligations.^222.2.1.1 ilku, tup“ikku, and dikûtu. Compulsory labor for the crown
was called most commonly ilku, although the terms tup“ikkuand dikûtu
(something like “called-up-service”) also occur, used apparently as
parallel terms.^23 Labor on various aspects of the irrigation system is
the service principally exempted.^242.2.2 Petitions
The citizens also had contact with their king when they petitioned
him in his role as highest court in the land. A famous petition is
commemorated in a narû of Nebuchadnezzar I, wherein an officer,
having served the king valiantly in his victory over the Elamites,
petitions the king to restore ancient exemptions to the province under
his control.^25 Another narû records that the recipient of an estate
petitioned the king when conflicting claims to the same estate were
lodged—according to the text, the petitioner “made (it) known to
the king.”^26 When we read that the king re-affirmed an individual’s(^20) UET 7 7.
(^21) E.g., UET 7 9.
(^22) See esp. SBKI 2, as well as MDP 10 pls. 11–12, Hinke kudurru, BBSt. 6, BBSt.
24.
(^23) E.g., Hinke kudurru(ilku and dikûtu); BBSt. 24 (ilkuand tup“ikku).
(^24) See 2.1.1 above. Additional exemptions included fieldwork, delivery of agri-
cultural products, seizure of servants, animals and equipment, grazing privileges.
(^25) BBSt. 6.
(^26) BBSt. 3.
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