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King of Yamkhad, and his younger brother Yarim-Lim, prior to his
installation as ruler of Alalakh. Lines 19–22 describe the mayor of
Irride, who allowed the enemy enter his town. This incident may
indicate that the security of the city was basically the responsibility
of the mayor (¢azannu), as it was in later times.2.1.4 The Courts
2.1.4.1 The supreme judicial authority was the Great King of
Yamkhad. In four texts describing litigation over property, the par-
ties involved “entered before the king,” that is, the king of Aleppo,
who tried the disputes and gave the final verdict. The usually heavy
pecuniary sanctions in legal transactions are basically for the benefit
of the “palace,” no doubt the Great King of Yamkhad, and of Adad,
the patron god of Aleppo.2.1.4.2 One dispute (AT 8) is brought before three people and the
“king’s officials,” possibly acting on behalf of the Great King him-
self. Another case (AT 10) seems to have been presided over by the
officials of the ruler of Alalakh, although the name of the country
is not preserved on the tablet. Of interest is the fact that the same
matter was brought, presumably later, before the king of Aleppo (AT
9; cf. also AT 98f.). This may indeed prove that the Great King of
Yamkhad was to confirm and validate those transactions that were
previously (and perhaps provisionally) performed at the provincial
court of Alalakh.2.1.4.3 Some witnesses to the lawsuits regularly appear in different
documents and can be identified as high court officials (such as may-
ors, sukkal ministers, or the sanga priest of Ishtar), as well as some
of the creditors and buyers in the extant contracts. In the sale doc-
ument AT 58, both Abban, the Great King of Yamkhad, and his
brother Yarim-Lim, the ruler of Alalakh, appear side by side among
the witnesses to the transaction. Women are not attested as witnesses.
The number of witnesses ranges from two to fourteen, but between
three and six is most common. Among the witnesses, we occasion-
ally find individuals with the title of “judge” (di.ku 5 ) (e.g., AT 6:31
or AT 56:48).WESTBROOK_f17–692-717 8/27/03 12:29 PM Page 696