A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

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5.1.4.4 The bride-price was normally paid in silver, but at times

other items appear in addition to or as an alternative to silver.

Particularly interesting are the standard conveyances of one ox, one

ass, ten sheep and ten shekels of silver, for a total amount reckoned

at forty shekels of silver—the commonest bride-price attested at

Nuzi.^86 The ceremonial implications of this peculiar kind of payment

are not entirely clear; the same combination also occurs in sale con-

tracts of slave girls.^87 At times, the bride-price consisted of real estate

(fields, houses);^88 the import of these unusual transfers escapes us.

5.1.4.5 The dowry often consisted of part of the bride-price which

was then “bound in the hem” of the bride.^89 At times, brides were

dowered with real estate (fields, houses):^90 the relationship between

these infrequent occurrences and the division of the family estate

among sons and daughters still requires detailed investigation.^91

5.1.4.6 An interesting feature of marriage transactions in which the

dowry consisted of real estate is the presentation of a gift (qì“tu) to

the dowry giver by the bride.^92 These counter-dowry payments almost

invariably consist of textiles, blankets and animals of various kinds;

payments in silver are never recorded.^93 Gifts (qì“tu) also occur in

some adoptions. The person who adopts the girl presents her guardian

with the same type of goods as in a counter-dowry: blankets, ani-

mals, barley, oil.^94 Upon arrangement of the girl’s marriage, the

adopter will receive “her silver,” the bride-price paid by the groom.

(^86) Cf. Zaccagnini, “Transfers.. .,” 152–53.
(^87) E.g., JEN 179 and HSS 19 124.
(^88) E.g., JEN 438, 436; HSS 19 98, 93, 97 (for which cf. Zaccagnini, “Transfers...,”
153).
(^89) Cf. the textual references in CAD M/2, 193b–194a, s.v. mulùguand mulùgùtu.
(^90) E.g., Gadd 31; HSS 5 76; HSS 19 76. Note that in HSS 19 79 some houses
representing a bride’s dowry are transferred to the groom.
(^91) Cf. Grosz, “Dowry and Brideprice.. .,” 165–70.
(^92) E.g., Gadd 31; HSS 5 76. In HSS 19 76, the gift is presented by the groom.
(^93) Cf. Grosz, “Dowry and Brideprice.. .,” 173–75 and Zaccagnini, “On Late
Bronze Age Marriages,” 602. The transaction recorded in HSS 19 71, which men-
tions a “gift” of 20 shekels of silver, does not belong to the sphere of marriage
agreements.
(^94) See, e.g., HSS 19 68, 69; HSS 14 543.
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