A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

(Romina) #1

248  


3.4.3.2 The Naramsin treaty also requires that the Elamite ruler
support Naramsin and his allies militarily.

3.4.4 Both treaties forbid the harboring of fugitives and, in the
Abarsal treaty, specifically a person from Abarsal who has become
the slave of an Eblaite.

3.4.5 Both treaties provide for the proper reception of diplomatic
envoys. The Abarsal treaty is concerned with their maintenance, the
Naramsin treaty that they not be detained. The Abarsal treaty also
restricts the right of the ruler of Abarsal to send envoys.

3.4.6 The Abarsal treaty regulates capital crimes such as lèse-majesté
and blasphemy, lesser offenses committed by citizens of Ebla against
citizens of Abarsal and vice-versa, as well as damage to animals or
property. The provisions seem to be mutual in such cases, as are
those for the return of lost property or animals.

3.4.7 The Abarsal treaty seems also to restrict the (military?/com-
mercial?) movement of the ruler of Abarsal without the permission
of Ebla, and to restrict Abarsal’s exports. The ruler of Abarsal even
seems restricted regarding the booty he can retrieve from corpses in
battle.

3.4.8 The citizens of Abarsal are required to quarter Eblaites in
their homes on request, but provision is made for compensation
should the Eblaite guest commit theft or sexual offenses.

3.4.9 The ruler of Abarsal is obligated to make offerings to the
gods of Ebla as well as to his own. The Elamite ruler in the Naramsin
treaty promises to establish a cult for Naramsin’s statue.

3.5 The treaties envisage no remedy for breach beyond the inter-
vention of the gods invoked therein. In reality, the remedy employed
was self-help, namely, threatened or actual military action.^27 Because

(^27) The centuries-long Lagash-Umma boundary dispute is the best example of the
use of ultimatums, military force, and (when the two city-states were under the
authority of a hegemonic overlord) arbitration to counter perceived breaches of bor-
der agreements, many of which must have been marked by treaties such as the
WESTBROOK_F7_240-251 8/27/03 1:42 PM Page 248

Free download pdf