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of household.^61 In social status, the màrat a"ìlewould be the “patri-
cian (wife)” as opposed to the a““at a"ìle, “plebeian (wife),” the latter
belonging to a class deemed inferior to the a““uràiu.^62 But the exis-
tence of such an intermediate class of semi-free persons is very doubt-
ful (see 4.2.1 above). It seems rather that the Akkadian expression
includes all free women who are not under the authority of a hus-
band; most frequently she would be a spinster, but she could also
be a widow, the wife of an absent husband, or a priestess.^634.3.3 Priestesses and Prostitutes
MAL (A 40) and a decree of A““ur-uballi†I (Edict 1) mention a cat-
egory of priestess called qadiltu. She could marry, in which case she
had the right, indeed the obligation, to wear a veil in public, like
any other married woman (MAL A 40:61–62). If she is a spinster,
on the other hand, she must go bare-headed in the street, like a
prostitute or a slave (MAL A 40:63–65). This association has led
scholars to conclude that the qadiltuwas a prostitute rather than a
priestess.^64 She is also mentioned alongside the midwife (e.g. Edict
1), which raises the presumption—given the etymology of the term
qadiltu, “pure”—that she had the task of washing/purifying women
after they gave birth.^65 The prostitute (¢arimtu) might not be veiled,
indicating her lower status. Only respectable women (wives, daugh-
ters) were subject to this duty, which at the same time was regarded
as a privilege.^66 Notwithstanding her social position, the prostitute
benefited from the protection of the law in case of a miscarriage
caused by violence (MAL A 52).4.3.4 Harem
The harem edicts give us an insight into the daily life of the palace
women. They are not cloistered but can go out and even travel.
They mingle with the royal court but always under the surveillance(^61) Westbrook, Studies.. ., 61–62. For a refutation of these two interpretations, see
Lafont, Femmes.. ., 355.
(^62) Driver and Miles, Assyrian Laws.. ., 15–17, 108.
(^63) Cardascia, Lois.. ., 59–60, 137–38.
(^64) Lambert, “Prostitution,” 141–42, citing also ana itti“uVII iii 7ff. Contra CAD,
qadi“tu, 50a.
(^65) Lambert, “Prostitution,” 145.
(^66) Cardascia, Lois.. ., 204–5.
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