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4.4.2.2 Citizen and Foreigner
An “Elamite fugitive” fettered with a heavy copper chain and assigned
to the temple apothecary was presumably reduced to slavery, although
not designated as such.^814.4.2.3 Special Rules for Female Slaves
Following a royal decree mandating the freedom of the women of
Nippur, a woman writes on behalf of her sister to her sister’s owner:
“My sister will not serve as a slave in your household. If you want
my sister and will bring her (formally) into your household so that
she may produce a family and bear children, she must be your
wife.”^824.4.4 Treatment
Measures to prevent slaves from running away apparently included
a metal chain fastened about the waist.^83 In one case, a slave appre-
hended after eight years is entrusted to the person with whom he
was found to prevent him from escaping by sea.^844.4.5 Termination
There are allusions to royal decrees terminating slave status. One
comes in the form of a letter written by a woman to the “owner”
of her sister. In the letter, the writer refers to the king’s decree free-
ing the women of Nippur (see 4.4.2.3 above). Other evidence includes
an adoption text from ›ana (see 1.2 above) stipulating that the
adopted son is “incontestable and free from claims or anduràru.”^85
anduràru, known from earlier periods, is a royal declaration annulling
debts and freeing debt slaves.(^81) D-K 2. But see Wohl, “Agaptaha.. .,” in which a “Hanigalbatian fugitive,”
who was also a craftsman, receives a royal land grant.
(^82) Brinkman, Review of Symbolae.. ., 259 and n. 6.
(^83) D-K 2.
(^84) TuM 5 67 (= Petschow MB Rechtsurkunden 10).
(^85) RBC 799 (= Podany et al., “Adoption...”).
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