It is in the second generation that the acquired wealth was translated into assets,
prestige and office. Nabû-ah
̆
h
̆e ̄-iddin underwent a scribal education and legal training
that allowed him to act as a court scribe. From the few records that survive of this
period we get a glimpse on his early career: during the late years of Nebuchadnezzar
he spent some time at Opis, a royal administrative centre. There he issued, for instance,
documents to royal officials on their private matters, probably as a by-product of his
main occupation, serving the administration. Among his clients was the administrator
of the crown prince’s palace. Nabû-ah
̆
h
̆e ̄-iddin also is known to have arranged legal
and financial issues for the purchase of a valuable house by Neriglissar (some time
before the latter usurped the throne), acting as his ‘lawyer’ so to speak. He disentangled
a complex web of creditor rights in a bancruptcy case. After Neriglissar’s death he
managed to advance his career under the next king, Nabonidus, when he held an
influential position as royal judge in Babylon. Many of his business tasks were then
delegated to his eldest son or to some skilled and well-trusted slaves.
After Nabû-ah
̆
h
̆e ̄-iddin’s death early in the thirteenth year of Nabonidus, Itti-
Marduk-bala ̄t.u managed the affairs of the Egibi house in the third generation, until
the end of Cambyses’ reign. The Persian conquest of Babylonia occurred at this period.
The political transition seems to have been smooth, though Itti-Marduk-bala ̄t.u must
have made some special efforts to keep the business going since a huge part of his
commodity trade depended on cooperation with the royal administration. He untertook
several long trips to Persia, obviously as part of a group of Babylonian business people
in pursuit of the royal court and its influential personalities. As later records show,
he succeeded in maintaining and expanding his position in the tax collection in the
Babylon area and in providing army supplies.
He seems to have died suddenly at the beginning of Darius’ reign, with his eldest
son Marduk-na ̄s.ir-apli being neither married nor introduced to his father’s business
affairs. Both matters were only accomplished according to Itti-Marduk-bala ̄t.u’s
intentions by the latter’s father-in-law, with whom he had a close business relationship;
apparently he did not consider his own brothers trustworthy in such matters.
Marduk-na ̄s.ir-apli stayed in charge of the family business for 14 years. At this
point his two younger brothers demanded to receive their shares. The record of the
inheritance division shows the wealth of the family: 16 urban properties in Babylon
and Borsippa and more than 100 slaves are distributed among the brothers; gains
and losses of pending business were to be shared accordingly. The fields and gardens,
as well as houses in H
̆
ursagkalamma (where some business operations were based),
are only mentioned in passing as they were not yet subject to division.
This inheritance division was problematic as it reduced the working capital. Marduk-
na ̄s.ir-apli can be seen pledging valuable properties for debts owed to the temple
Esagila in Babylon, presumably in connection with his rent or tax farming activities.
One record attests to the foreclosure on assets worth 50 minas (about 25 kg) of silver.
However, despite this trouble there is no indication of a general or drastic decline in
the family’s fortunes.
Marduk-na ̄s.ir-apli’s son Nidinti-Be ̄l took over the business after the death of his
father in the thirty-sixth year of Darius. Only few records remain from this time, as
the archives as we know them came to an end at the beginning of Xerxes’ reign
during a period of political unrest. Nidinti-Be ̄l seems to have sifted through his
tablets, keeping those of immediate interest for his business affairs while putting
— The Egibi family —