Literature:Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir

The complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir (UET V 81) is a clay tablet that was sent to the ancient city-state Ur, written c. 1750 BCE. It is a complaint to a merchant named Ea-nāṣir from a customer named Nanni. Written in Akkadian cuneiform, it may be the oldest known written customer complaint. It is currently kept in the British Museum. In 2015, the tablet's content and Ea-nāṣir in particular gained popularity as an online meme.

The tablet is 11.6 centimetres (4+9⁄16 in) high, 5 cm (1+15⁄16 in) wide, 2.6 cm (1 in) thick, and slightly damaged.

Translations

Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir

Akkadian

A transcription of the text on the obverse, reverse, and left edge of the tablet

Front

1. 𒀀𒈾 𒂍𒀀𒈾𒍢𒅕
1. a-na e₂-a-na-ṣi-ir
2. 𒆠𒉈𒈠
2. qi₂-bi₂-ma
3. 𒌝𒈠 𒈾𒀭𒉌𒈠
3. um-ma na-an-ni-ma
4. 𒀀𒉡𒌑𒈠 𒋫𒀠𒇷𒆪
4. a-nu-u₂-ma ta-al-li-ku
5. 𒆠𒀀𒄠 𒋫𒀝𒁉𒄠
5. ki-a-am ta-aq-bi-am

6. 𒌝𒈠 𒀜𒋫𒀀𒈠
6. um-ma at-ta-a-ma
7. 𒄖𒁀𒊑 𒁕𒄠𒆪𒁴
7. gu-ba-ri da-am-qu₂-tim
8. 𒀀𒈾 𒄀𒅖𒀭𒋢𒂗 𒀀𒈾𒀜𒁲𒅔
8. a-na gi-mil-ᴰsu-en a-na-ad-di-in
9. 𒋫𒀠𒇷𒅅𒈠 𒋫𒀝𒁉𒀀𒄠
9. ta-al-li-ik-ma ta-aq-bi-a-am
10. 𒌑𒆷 𒋼𒁍𒍑
10. u₂-la te-pu-uš

11. 𒄖𒁀𒊑 𒆷 𒁕𒄠𒆪𒁴
11. gu-ba-ri la da-am-qu₂-tim
12. 𒀀𒈾 𒈠𒅈 𒅆𒅁𒊑𒅀
12. a-na ma-ar ši-ip-ri-ia
13. 𒋫𒀸𒆪𒌦𒈠 𒌝𒈠 𒀜𒋫𒈠
13. ta-aš-ku-un-ma um-ma at-ta-ma
14. 𒋳𒈠 𒋼𒇷𒆠𒀀 𒇷𒆠𒀀
14. šum-ma te-le-qe₂-a le-qe₂-a
15. 𒋳𒈠 [𒆷] 𒋼𒇷𒆠𒀀 𒀜𒆷𒅗
15. šum-ma [la] te-le-qe₂-a at-la-ka

16. 𒅀𒋾 𒀀𒈾 𒆠𒈠 𒈠𒀭𒉌𒅎
16. ia-ti a-na ki-ma ma-an-ni-im
17. 𒌅𒅆𒅎𒈠 𒉌[...]𒈠
17. tu-ši-im-ma ni-x-(x)-x-x-ma
18. 𒆠𒀀𒄠 𒋼𒈨𒊭𒀭𒉌
18. ki-a-am te-me-ša-an-ni
19. 𒈠𒊑 𒀀𒉿𒇷 𒀀𒈾 𒆠𒈠 𒅗𒋾
19. ma-ri a-wi-li a-na ki-ma ka-ti
20. 𒀀𒈾 𒆠𒋛𒅀 𒈠𒄩𒊑𒅎
20. a-na ki-si-ia ma-ḫa-ri-im

21. 𒀸𒁍𒊏𒄠𒈠
21. aš-pu-ra-am-ma
22. 𒌅𒈨𒄿𒊭𒄠𒈠
22. tu-me-i-ša-am-ma
23. 𒄿𒈾 𒂵𒂵𒅈 𒈾𒀝𒊑𒅎
23. i-na qa₂-qa₂-ar na-ak-ri-im

Reverse

1. 𒅖𒋾𒅖𒋗 𒅇 𒅆𒉌𒋗
1. iš-ti-iš-šu u₃ ši-ni-šu
2. 𒊑𒆪𒋢𒉡 𒌅𒋼𒅕𒊏𒄠
2. ri-qu₂-su-nu tu-te-er-ra-am
3. 𒄿𒈾 𒀀𒇷𒅅 𒋼𒂖𒈬𒌦
3. i-na a-li-ik te-el-mu-un
4. 𒈠𒀭𒉡𒌝 𒊭 𒆠𒀀𒄠
4. ma-an-nu-um ša ki-a-am
5. 𒄿𒁍𒊭𒀭𒉌𒄿𒈠
5. i-pu-ša-an-ni-i-ma

6. 𒀜𒋫 𒈠𒅈 𒅆𒅁𒊑𒅀 𒌅𒈨𒂊𒅖
6. at-ta ma-ar ši-ip-ri-ia tu-me-e-iš
7. 𒀀𒈾 𒈠<𒆷> 𒅗𒊍𒉿𒅎
7. a-na ma-<la> ka-as-pi-im
8. 𒊭 𒄿𒈾 𒂵𒋾𒅀 𒌅 𒊺𒍪𒌑
8. ša i-na qa₂-ti-ia tu-še-ṣu₂-u₂
9. 𒆠𒀀𒄠 𒋫𒁕𒁍𒌒
9. ki-a-am ta-da-bu-ub
10. 𒅇 𒀸𒋳𒄿𒅗
10. u₃ aš-šum-i-ka

11. 𒀀𒈾 𒂍𒃲𒇷
11. a-na _e₂-gal_-li
12. 𒌋 𒐍 𒄘 𒍏 𒀀𒈾𒆪 𒀜𒁲𒅔
12. _1(u)8 (diš)gu₂ ᵘʳᵘᵈᵃ_ a-na-ku ad-di-in
13. 𒅇 𒋗𒈪𒀀𒁍𒌝
13. u₃ šu-mi-a-bu-um
14. 𒌋 𒐍 𒄘 𒍏 𒄿𒁲𒅔
14. _1(u)8 (diš)gu₂ ᵘʳᵘᵈᵃ_ i-di-in
15. 𒂊𒍣𒅁 𒊭 𒀀𒈾 𒂍 𒀭𒌓
15. e-zi-ib ša a-na _e₂_ ᴰutu

16. 𒆪𒉡𒊌𒅗𒄠 𒉌𒍣𒁍
16. ku-nu-uk-ka-am ni-zi-bu
17. 𒀀𒈾 𒉿𒊑𒅎 𒊭𒀀𒋾
17. a-na wa-ri-im ša-a-ti
18. 𒆠𒄿 𒋼𒁍𒊭𒀭𒉌
18. ki-i te-pu-ša-an-ni
19. 𒆠𒋛 𒄿𒈾 𒂵𒂵𒅈 𒈾𒀝𒊑
19. ki-si i-na qa₂-qa₂-ar na-ak-ri
20. 𒌅𒊌𒋾𒅋
20. tu-uk-ti-il

21. 𒆠𒋛 𒀀𒈾 𒂵𒋾𒅀
21. ki-si a-na qa₂-ti-ia
22. 𒋗𒇻𒈠𒄠 𒂊𒇷𒅗𒄿𒋗
22. šu-lu-ma-am e-li-ka i-šu
23. 𒆠 𒈠𒀭 𒉌𒆠𒀀𒄠
23. ki-ma an-ni-ki-a-am
24. 𒉿𒊑𒀀𒄠 𒆷 𒁺𒈬𒂵𒄠
24. we-ri-a-am la du-mu-qa₂-am
25. 𒆷 𒀀𒈠𒄩𒊒𒅗 𒋫𒆷𒈠𒀜
25. la a-ma-ḫa-ru-ka ta-la-ma-ad

26. 𒄿𒈾 𒆠𒊓𒇷𒅀
26. i-na ki-sa-li-ia

50. 𒅖𒋾𒈾𒀀 𒌑𒈾𒍝𒀝𒈠
50. iš-ti-na-a u₂-na-sa₃-aq-ma
51. 𒂊𒇷𒆠
51. e-le-qe₂

Left

1. 𒅇 𒀀𒈾 𒊭 𒌅𒈨𒄿𒊭𒀭𒉌
1. u₃ a-na ša tu-me-i-ša-an-ni
2. 𒈾𒋛𒄴𒋫𒄠 𒂊𒁍𒍑𒅗
2. na-si-iḫ-ta-am e-pu-uš-ka

English

Tell Ea-nasir: Nanni sends the following message:

When you came, you said to me as follows: "I will give Gimil-Sin (when he comes) fine quality copper ingots." You left then but you did not do what you promised me. You put ingots which were not good before my messenger (Sit-Sin) and said: "If you want to take them, take them; if you do not want to take them, go away!"

What do you take me for, that you treat somebody like me with such contempt? I have sent as messengers gentlemen like ourselves to collect the bag with my money (deposited with you) but you have treated me with contempt by sending them back to me empty-handed several times, and that through enemy territory. Is there anyone among the merchants who trade with Telmun who has treated me in this way? You alone treat my messenger with contempt! On account of that one (trifling) mina of silver which I owe you, you feel free to speak in such a way, while I have given to the palace on your behalf 1,080 pounds of copper, and Umi-abum has likewise given 1,080 pounds of copper, apart from what we both have had written on a sealed tablet to be kept in the temple of Samas.

How have you treated me for that copper? You have withheld my money bag from me in enemy territory; it is now up to you to restore (my money) to me in full.

Take cognizance that (from now on) I will not accept here any copper from you that is not of fine quality. I shall (from now on) select and take the ingots individually in my own yard, and I shall exercise against you my right of rejection because you have treated me with contempt.

Soc'ul'

Cohxauc Ea-nasir: hanr'úzax Nanni jál sutxiux:

Xil eý āhcozr'úz, corxauc jál: "Uc' sehxec Gimil-Sin (xil eý āhr'úz) eylziax xedbet c'an." Cozñéi xil eý í corseñerai. Coxmiuji eylziax āl sutxih en eý xen āhiycualjí (Sit-Sin) cuxauc: "Ih coxxeý coxey, āhcoxey; ih xen coxxeý coxey, āhcozñéi!"

Xen corteirí, āhcují hez'i curiuc' curiuc' xad āhcoren? Sehr'úzax ratspfer' āhxeyjí coil sutxié je āhhandi yail cüa en ne (socnejíl) í corjí hez'i curiuc' āhñéiejax cuder hun' xen' syen je, āhziñuz jen'ire. Xen hazen jux xauauñ'an ne āhxec' Telmun āhharjí hez'i jál? Cozen jál jál āhcorjí hez'i curiuc' sutxih! Un' mina tatniv (réum) je āhcorñuyt'eují, āhcozc'ua c'e c'e cozxauc hez'i jál, xil ne miu setnxec xedbet iamanad cú xeuayan nu āhsuén je, miu hanxec hez'i xey Umi-abum xedbet iamanad cú, hez'i hianjí ez'e syen ej āhcuxañ'iýax xad zíuxañ' mayai eý āhjiyan'iý xíc'eu Samas eý je.

Xen r'úiad āhcorjí jál xebdet je? Corjemyai yail cüa jen'ire eý āhsyen xenuz; uc' un' ez'e jí nuj āhcorlauax hez'i jutxux (cüa) en.

Cozāziý xen (jir' jir') āhsetnyaual hej jál eý xebdet jux xen āhc'anjí. Uc' (jir' jir') setnhiandoc' setnídui setney eylziax eñjar en eý, āhsocjí hez'i yanux az' en āhun' je āhcorjí hez'i curiuc'.

Coh-xauc

2>CL2-tell

Ea-nasir:

Ea-nasir

han-r'úz-ax

CL2>CL4-come-CAUS

Nanni

Nanni

jál

DEM

sutxiux:

message

Coh-xauc {Ea-nasir}: han-r'úz-ax Nanni jál sutxiux:

2>CL2-tell {Ea-nasir} CL2>CL4-come-CAUS Nanni DEM message

Xil eý

when

āh-coz-r'úz,

REL-2>2-come

cor-xauc

2>1-say

jál:

DEM

{Xil eý} āh-coz-r'úz, cor-xauc jál:

when REL-2>2-come 2>1-say DEM

"Uc'

SUBJ

sehxec

1>CL2-give

Gimil-Sin

Gimil-Sin

(xil eý

when

āhr'úz)

REL-come

eylziax

ingot.PL

xedbet

copper

c'an."

high-quality

"Uc' sehxec {Gimil-Sin} {(xil eý} āhr'úz) eylziax xedbet c'an."

SUBJ 1>CL2-give {Gimil-Sin} when REL-come ingot.PL copper {high-quality}

{{interlinear |Coz-ñéi {xil eý} í cor-señerai. |2>2-leave then but 2>1-{break promise} ||display-messages=no|italics1=yes|italics2=no|italics3=no}}

Cox-miuji

2>CL3-put

eylziax

ingot.PL

āl

face

sutxih

messenger

en

1.POSS

eý

at

xen

NEG

āh-iy-cual-jí

REL-CL3>CL3-good-ADJ.VBZ

({Sit-Sin})

Sit-Sin

cu-xauc:

2>CL5-say

Cox-miuji eylziax āl sutxih en eý xen āh-iy-cual-jí ({Sit-Sin}) cu-xauc:

2>CL3-put ingot.PL face messenger 1.POSS at NEG REL-CL3>CL3-good-ADJ.VBZ {Sit-Sin} 2>CL5-say

"Ih

if

cox-xeý

2>CL3-want

cox-ey,

2>CL3-take

āh-cox-ey;

REL-2>CL3-take

ih

if

xen

NEG

cox-xeý

2>CL3-want

cox-ey,

2>CL3-take

āh-coz-ñéi!"

REL-2>2-leave

"Ih cox-xeý cox-ey, āh-cox-ey; ih xen cox-xeý cox-ey, āh-coz-ñéi!"

if 2>CL3-want 2>CL3-take REL-2>CL3-take if NEG 2>CL3-want 2>CL3-take REL-2>2-leave

Xen

Q

cor-teirí,

2>1-deem

āh-cu-jí

REL-2>CL5-do

hez'i

ADVZ

curiuc'

contempt

curiuc'

REDUP

xad

PFRM

āh-coren?

REL-COP.2>1

Xen cor-teirí, āh-cu-jí hez'i curiuc' curiuc' xad āh-coren?

Q 2>1-deem REL-2>CL5-do ADVZ contempt REDUP PFRM REL-COP.2>1

{{interlinear |Seh-r'úz-ax ratspfer' āh-xey-jí coil sutxié je āh-han-di yail cüa en ne (soc-nejíl) í cor-jí hez'i curiuc' āh-ñéiej-ax cuder hun' xen' syen je, āh-ziñuz jen'ire. |1>CL2-come-CAUS gentleman REL-{in common}-ADJ.VBZ REFL messenger.PL for REL-CL2>CL3-collect bag money with 1.POSS 1>2-{entrust with} but 2>1-do ADVZ contempt REL-return-CAUS many COP.CL2>CL5 nothing COP.1>1 to REL-{go through} {enemy territory} ||display-messages=no|italics1=yes|italics2=no|italics3=no}}

Xen

Q

hazen

COP.CL2>CL2

jux

any

xauauñ'an

merchant.PL

ne

among

āh-xec'

REL-trade

Telmun

Telmun

āh-har-jí

REL-CL2>1-do

hez'i

ADVZ

jál?

DEM

Xen hazen jux xauauñ'an ne āh-xec' Telmun āh-har-jí hez'i jál?

Q COP.CL2>CL2 any merchant.PL among REL-trade Telmun REL-CL2>1-do ADVZ DEM

Cozen

COP.2>2

jál jál

only

āh-cor-jí

REL-2>1-do

hez'i

ADVZ

curiuc'

contempt

sutxih!

messenger

Cozen {jál jál} āh-cor-jí hez'i curiuc' sutxih!

COP.2>2 only REL-2>1-do ADVZ contempt messenger

Un'

COP.CL5>CL5

mina

mina

tatniv

silver

(réum)

pitiful

je

for

āh-cor-ñuyt'eu-jí,

REL-2>1-debt-ADJ.VBZ

āh-coz-c'ua

REL-2>2-think

c'e

ABIL

c'e

REDUP

coz-xauc

2>2-say

hez'i

ADVZ

jál,

DEM

xil

short time

ne

with

miu

PROG

setn-xec

1>CL3-give

xedbet

copper

iamanad

iiuanin

cú

six

xeuayan

xeuayan

nu

CL1.POSS

āh-suén

REL-COP.1>2

je,

for

miu

PROG

han-xec

CL2>CL3-give

hez'i

ADVZ

xey

share

Umi-abum

Umi-abum

xedbet

copper

iamanad

iiuanin

cú,

six

hez'i

ADVZ

hian-jí

split-ADJ.VBZ

ez'e

NZ

syen

COP.1>1

ej

two

āh-cu-xañ'-(i)ý-ax

REL-1>CL5-write-PASS-CAUS

xad

PFRM

zíuxañ'

tablet

mayai

covered

eý

at

āh-jiyan'-(i)ý

REL-keep-PASS

xíc'eu

temple

Samas

Samas

eý

at

je.

for

Un' mina tatniv (réum) je āh-cor-ñuyt'eu-jí, āh-coz-c'ua c'e c'e coz-xauc hez'i jál, xil ne miu setn-xec xedbet iamanad cú xeuayan nu āh-suén je, miu han-xec hez'i xey {Umi-abum} xedbet iamanad cú, hez'i hian-jí ez'e syen ej āh-cu-xañ'-(i)ý-ax xad zíuxañ' mayai eý āh-jiyan'-(i)ý xíc'eu Samas eý je.

COP.CL5>CL5 mina silver pitiful for REL-2>1-debt-ADJ.VBZ REL-2>2-think ABIL REDUP 2>2-say ADVZ DEM {short time} with PROG 1>CL3-give copper iiuanin six xeuayan CL1.POSS REL-COP.1>2 for PROG CL2>CL3-give ADVZ share {Umi-abum} copper iiuanin six ADVZ split-ADJ.VBZ NZ COP.1>1 two REL-1>CL5-write-PASS-CAUS PFRM tablet covered at REL-keep-PASS temple Samas at for

Xen

Q

r'úiad

way

āh-cor-jí

REL-2>1-do

jál

DEM

xebdet

copper

je?

for

Xen r'úiad āh-cor-jí jál xebdet je?

Q way REL-2>1-do DEM copper for

Cor-jemyai

2>1-withhold

yail

bag

cüa

money

jen'ire

enemy territory

eý

at

āh-syen

REL-COP.1>1

xenuz;

from

Cor-jemyai yail cüa jen'ire eý āh-syen xenuz;

2>1-withhold bag money {enemy territory} at REL-COP.1>1 from

uc'

SUBJ

un'

COP.CL5>CL5

ez'e

NZ

jí

do

nuj

2.POSS

āh-cor-lauax

REL-2>1-restore

hez'i

ADVZ

jutxux

all

(cüa)

money

en.

1.DAT

uc' un' ez'e jí nuj āh-cor-lauax hez'i jutxux (cüa) en.

SUBJ COP.CL5>CL5 NZ do 2.POSS REL-2>1-restore ADVZ all money 1.DAT

Coz-āz-(i)ý

2>2-show-PASS

xen

NEG

(jir'

INCH.CONT

jir')

REDUP

āh-setn-yaual

REL-1>CL3-accept

hej

2.INAL

jál eý

here

xebdet

copper

jux

any

xen

NEG

āh-c'an-jí.

REL-{high-quality}-ADJ.VBZ

Coz-āz-(i)ý xen (jir' jir') āh-setn-yaual hej {jál eý} xebdet jux xen āh-c'an-jí.

2>2-show-PASS NEG INCH.CONT REDUP REL-1>CL3-accept 2.INAL here copper any NEG REL-{high-quality}-ADJ.VBZ

{{interlinear |Uc' (jir' jir') setn-hiandoc' setn-ídui setn-ey eylziax eñjar en eý, āh-soc-jí hez'i yanux az' en āh-un' je āh-cor-jí hez'i curiuc'. |SUBJ INCH.CONT REDUP 1>CL3-choose 1>CL3-{do individually} 1>CL3-take ingot.PL yard 1.POSS at REL-1>2-do ADVZ freedom reject 1.POSS REL-COP.CL5>CL5 ADVZ contempt ||display-messages=no|italics1=yes|italics2=no|italics3=no}}

Luthic

Rogiâ du Ea-nāṣir: Nanni saggiat lo segguente messaggio:

Can qemasti, roðisti mis sva: “Gevaraggio du Gimil-Sîn (can qemat) liggottos coprom gôðana calitadi.” Eis lasciati, ac non tavisti ce faeraroðisti mis. Mostrasti liggottos carge non erando gôðonos messaggera meina (Sit-Sîn) e roðisti: “Si veglias eis nemare, þû nemâ eis, si non veglias eis nemare, galeiþâ!”

Faur ci mic hais presu, faur trattare aena persona svasve mic tali disprezza? Saggiai messaggeros herres svasve unse faur riccogliere la busta la meina scatta (depositata þus), ac trattasti mic disprezza, rispedindu eis inermi mis manage veci, e þatha attraverse lando fegiando. Hâþ giumano mercantivo ei, caufondo in Telmun ci mic trattaut svasve? Solamente þû trattasti lo meino messaggero disprezza! Faurcê giaena aena mina di selovri carge debbo þuc, sentis fre faur rogiare desta maniera, þande gevai palazza ad atha namno þeino 1.080 libbras coprom, ed Umi-abum analeice gevaut 1.080 libbras coprom, separatamente du ce screvemmos ana aena tavola sigillata faur bihaldada nal tempio di Šamaš.

Come trattasti mic faur giaeno copro? Gavesti lo meino scatto mis in lando fegiando; nu ist þus faur ritornare (il meino scatto) mis follamente.

Capi ei (di hora in avante), non andanemaraggio har nissaeno copro þus ei, non ist gôðana calitadi. Scolo (di hora in avante) scegliere e nemare los liggotos individualmente lo meino proprio gardo, ed usaraggio þus il meino raetto di rifiuta, faurcê mic trattasti disprezza.