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In a court case, an owner reveals his interest in seeking to recover
a debt owed to his slave.^84 In the same way, assets accumulated by
the slave remained the property of their owner and did not pass to
the slave’s heirs, at least upon intestacy. Nonetheless, in one testa-
ment a man described as the slave (ardu) of another disposes of his
property, including houses and slaves, by testament to his wife and
children.^854.4.7 Slave-mark^86
From sale documents it emerges that many slaves were marked with
a tattoo or brand (“indu).^87 Normally the name of the owner (or a
former owner) was placed on the wrist (rittu), occasionally both in
cuneiform and Aramaic script. Reference to this mark in the sale
document was important for the buyer in order to prevent the slave
being reclaimed by earlier owners. Oblates (“irku) could also be
branded, mostly with symbols of the appropriate deity.4.4.8 Flight^88
Flight by slaves was a perennial problem. In business documents and
divisions of inheritance, runaway slaves were registered as common
property. Whoever hid a runaway slave had to recompense the owner
for the labor lost or face a more severe penalty.^89 The slaves them-
selves were punished by disfigurement—slitting the ears and brand-
ing are attested.4.4.9 Manumission
The owner could free a slave (vb. zukkû) on condition that the slave
continue to provide services for the owner for the rest of the latter’s
life (e.g., BE 8 106). This condition has been compared to Hellenistic
paramonè, but its legal character is unclear.^90 If the former slave failed
to meet his obligations, the owner could annul the manumission
(Nbn. 697).(^84) Dar. 509, discussed by Dandamaev, Slavery.. ., 390–91.
(^85) Stolper, “The Testament...”
(^86) Dandamaev, Slavery.. ., 229–34.
(^87) On the branding tool, see Pearce, “Iron ‘Stars’...”
(^88) Dandamaev, Slavery.. ., 220–28.
(^89) Nbn. 679, collated Wunsch, “Und die Richter.. .,” no. 17.
(^90) Koschaker, Griechische Rechtsurkunden.. ., 78–81, but cf. Samuel, “Paramone
Clauses...”
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