659
the city of Emar” by the same king might suggest a treaty limiting
the overlord’s powers over the citizens of Emar (Emar 18). At all
events, it is clear that at least some Emarites had direct access to
the Hittite administration.
Ekalte seems to have been a provincial town within the kingdom
of Emar. The law reflected in its tablets, at all events, is with minor
exceptions indistinguishable from that of Emar. There is, however,
no mention of an imperial overlord and no tablets of the “Syro-
Hittite” type.2.2 Emar Administration
2.2.1 The King
The king of Emar sat as a court of first instance (RE 21; Westenholz
3). In return for services to the state, he had the power to free slaves
(Emar 17) or grant land (ASJ 12:7) or a priesthood (Sigrist 6). He
also granted irrigation rights (TBR 86). Fines for breach of land sale
contracts were sometimes payable to the palace, which seems to have
been recognized as a separate entity from the person of the king, at
least for fiscal purposes.^10 In their private capacity, members of the
royal family had extensive landholdings and bought and sold land.2.2.2 Local Authorities^11
The city was represented by the elders of Emar.^12 They could sit
collectively as a court (ASJ 14:44). Their main recorded function
related to the sale of confiscated property. Land could be confiscated
from its owner because he had committed “a great sin against his
master and the city” (e.g., Emar 1; RE 16, 34). The former prob-
ably referred to the king. Nonetheless, it was the god to whom the
property was forfeit, and dNIN.URTA and the elders, as the new
owners, who proceeded to sell the land. Fines for challenging the
transaction were payable to dNIN.URTA and the city, or occasion-
ally to the palace.
The implications for royal jurisdiction are unclear. On the one
hand, the benefit of land forfeited for an offense against the king(^10) Leemans, “Aperçu.. .,” 223.
(^11) Yamada, “Dynastic Seal...”
(^12) lú.me““u.gi uru e-mar. The “great ones” (lú.me“.gal.gal) of RE 34 and Emar
257 are probably synonymous. There was also a mayor (¢azannu), whose functions
are not specified.
WESTBROOK_f16–657-691 8/27/03 12:29 PM Page 659