The Ḫabbātum in the Old Babylonian Period

Document Type : Original Article

Author

faculty of Arts - History Department -Minia University

Abstract

The present study deals with the elements of the Ḫabbātum, one of the groups that spread across Mesopotamia during the Old Babylonian Period (2003–1595 B.C.). The significance of this study reflects the fact that Ḫabbātum has received little attention from scholars who have been interested in elements that function outside of organized society’s legal structures, such as other elements that have spread in Mesopotamia. Moreover, the present study aims to shed light on the existence of these elements and to investigate the reasons for the major changes in their function within the community in the regions that have appeared during the Old Babylonian Period. In the early texts of the Old Babylonian Period, the nature of the interpretation of ḫabbātum’s function differed from the late Babylonian texts; thus, their social function is discussed. The article tries to examine the reasons for these shifts from outlaw elements to working for the official authority.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
:Arabic references
- Ibn Manẓūr Muḥammad,  Lisānal-ʿArab, vol.7, Beirut: Dār Ṣādr, 1968.
- Abū- Ṣāliḥ, Samā Muḥammad, «al-Ḫpīrū fī al-nuṣūṣ al-akkadīya», Master Thesis,Faculty of Arts - University of Aleppo, 2008.
- al-Aswad Ḥikmat Bašīr, «Adab al-raṯāʾ fī bilād al-Rāfidīn fī ḍuʾ al-maṣādir al-mismārīya», Master Thesis,Faculty of Arts - University of Mosul, 2002.
-    Bāqr, Ṭaha, Muqdima fīʾadab al-ʿIrāqal-qadīm, Baghdad, 1976.
- al-Ǧwārī, Hayṯam Aḥmad, «Nūṣūṣ al-fāʾl al-bābilīya fī ḍuʾ al-maṣādir al-mismārīya», Master Thesis,Faculty of Arts - University of Mosul, 2005.
-    al-Rawīḥ, Ṣāliḥ, al-ʿAbīd fī al-ʿIrāq al-qadīm, Baghdad, 1976.
-    Salīm, Aḥmad Amīn, Tārīḫ al-ʿIrāq - Iīrān- Ăsyā al-ṣūġrā, Alexandria: Dār al-Maʿrifa al-ǧāmiʿiya, 2000.
-    Salīm, Aḥmad Amīn, Haḍāra al-ʿIrāqal-qadīm, Alexandria :Dār al-Maʿrifa al-ǧāmiʿīya, 2011.
-    Sūlaīmān, ʿAāmir, al-Qānūn fīal-ʿIrāqal-qadīm, Baghdad, 1987.
- Sūlaymān, Nabīl Ḫālid, «Ṭūqūs al-wiqāya min al- šar Nāmbūrbī ʿind al-ʿirāqīīn al-qūdamāʾ», Journal al-Rrafidain Archaeology5, University of Mosul, 2020, 215–229.
- al-Ṣawāf, Ṣūbḥī, «Mūlūk Ḥalab min al-sūlāla al-ʿamūrīya fī ibtidāʾ al-alf al-ṯānīya q.m», Maǧālt al-Ḥwlyāt al-Aṯarīya al-Sūrīya7, No.1, 1957, 143–154.
- Ḍāḥi, Hiba, al-ʿIlaqāt al-Sīāsīyā bīna mamlakati Ǧūrdā wa An-dārǧ min ḫilāl Siǧilāt Mārī (qabl qiīām Imbrāṭūrīyā Ḥammūrābī fīmā bīna al-Nahrīn, Dirāsāt fī  atar al-Waṭan al -῾Arabī19, 2016, 346–362. 
- ʿAbās, Raǧāʾ ʿAadil, «Ẓāhirat al-badāwa waʾl- istiqrār min ḫilāl nūṣūṣ Mārī al-Malakīya fī al-niṣf al-awal min al-qarn al-ṯāmin ʿašr qabl al-mīllād», Master Thesis, University of Damascus, 2010.  
- ʿAbd al-Raʾūf, Ṣafāʾ, «al-Mūtasawilūn waʾl-mūtašridūn fī Miṣr wal-ʿIrāq al-qadīm», Journal of the Faculty of Arts, Fayoum University 13, No.2, 2021, 682–742.
-    ʿAbd al-Laṭīf, Mūḥammad, al-Marākiz al-tūǧārīya al-Ašūrīya biwasṭ Ăsyāal-ṣūġrā fī al-ʿaṣr al-Ašūryal-qadīm (min awāsiṭ al-qarnal-ʿišrīn ʾilā ʾawāsiṭ al-qarnal-ṯāmīn ʿašr q.m, Alexandria, 1984.
-    ……………, «Ḫpīrū = Ḫā-b/pī-rū Mūškila ḥaqīqīya ʾam mūftaʾila», Dirāsāt tārīḫīya32, No.3, Albasrah university, 1989, 155–168.
-    ………………., al-Rasāʿil al-syāsīya fī bilad al-Šām: aḍwāʾ ǧadīda ʿalā al-ṣirāʿ al-syāsī fī šamāl Sūrya al-Šām fī ʿaṣr Mārī min ḫilāl nūṣūṣ ʾaṣlīya, Dirāsāt tārīḫīya 99/ 100, 2007, 47–77.     
-    ʿAbdullah, Yāsir Mūḥammad, Ǧarīmat al-sariqa fī tārīḫ al-qānūn al-ʿIrāqī Dirāsa taḥlīlīya mūqārana fī qawānīn wādī al-Rāfidīn waʾl-šarīʿa al-Islāmīya, Journal of the College of Law for Legal and Political Sciences3, No.1, Kirkuk University, 2012, 188–297.
- Qūbīsī, Mūḥammad Bahǧat, al-Qūds fī al-aṯār waʾl -kītābāt (al-Miṣrīya waʾl -Kanʿānīya waʾl -Arāmīya) wa tafnīd al-mazāʿīm al-ṣūhyūnīya, Dirāsāt fī atār al-Waṭan al -῾Arabī12, 2009, 654–677.    
-    Marʿī, ʿId, «Mamlakat Qaṭna», Dirāsāt tārīḫīya117-118, 2000, 1–29.
-    Mūṣṭafā, ʾIslām, «Dirāsa liʿl-ʿIlaqāt al-tūǧārīya bīna Mamlakt Apūm wa Ăšūr min ḫilāl mūʿaāhad Till- Līlān», maǧalt Kūlīat al-ʾAdāb, Fayoum University 14, No.1, 2016, 54–77.
- Sacks, Harry, al-Bābilyūn, translated by:  Saʿīd al-Ġānimī, Reviewedby: ʿAmir Sūlymān, Beirut, 2009.
foreign references
- Abrahami, Ph., L’Armée d’Akkad, Abrahami, Ph. & Battini, L. (eds.), Les Armées du Proche-Orient Ancien (IIIe-Ier mil. av. J.-C.), Oxford, 2008, 1–22.
- Abrahami, Ph.: «Las Obligaciones Militares entre Aliados a Partir del Testimonio de los Archivos de Mari de Época Paleobabilónica (ca. 1810-1761 aC)». Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar 8, 17, 2019, 43–69.
- Al-Khatawi, M.M.:«Yamut-Bal Kingdom, A Historical Study in the Political and Cultural Perspective (1834–1763) BC. » Sci.Int. 30, No.4, 2018, 519–530.
- Alster, B. & Vanstiphout, H.:«Lahar and Ashnan: Presentation and Analysis of a Sumerian Disputation. » ASJ 9, 1987, 1–43.
- Alster, Wisdom of Ancient Sume, Bethesda, 2005.
- Astour, M.C.: «The Hapiru in the Amarna Texts: Basic Points of Controversy», Uf 31, 1999, 31–50.
- Attinger, P .: « A Propos de AK «Faire» (II).»ZA 95, No.2, 2005, 208–275.
- Badamchi, H .: « Old Babylonian International Law and Protection of Merchants against Robbery. Responsibility of Local Ruler for Robbery», ZAR 19, 2013, 59–77.
- Badamchi, H .: « The Meaning of "Theft» In Ancient Near Eastern Law, FolOr 53, 2016, 369–386.
- Birot, M., Correspondance des Gouverneurs de Qaṭṭunân. Archive Royales de Mari 27, Paris, 1993.
- Capitani, M., Girsu Messenger Texts in the British Museum, Milone, M.E. et al. (eds.), Umma Messenger Texts in the British Museum-Girsu Messenger Texts in the British Museum, part 2, Roma, 2003.
- Charpin, D., Un Traité entre Zimri-Lim de Mari et Ibâl-pî- El II d’Ešnunna, D. Charpin, F. Joannes (éd.), Marchands Diplomates et Empereurs. Etudes sur la Civilisation Mésopotamienne Offertes à Paul Garelli, Paris, 1991, 139–166.
-  Charpin,D. »:Histoire Politique du Proche-Orient Amorrite (2002-1595)«, Mesopotamien. Die Altbabylonische Zeit, Göttingen, 2004, 25–480.
- Charpin, Ziegler N.: «L'Époque de Samsi-Addu (ca.1792-1775) »,  FM 5, Paris, 2003.
- Cooper, J. S., The Curse of Agade, Baltimore, 1983.
- Curtiss, H. »:Dumuzi's Dream: Dream Analysis in Ancient Mesopotamia« , Dreaming 14.4, 2004, 240ff.
- Dawdy, S. & Bonni, J. ».:Towards a General Theory of Piracy «, AnthrQuart 85, 2012, 673–699.
- De Vaux, R. ».:Le Problème des Ḫapiru après Quinze Années «,  JNES 27, No.3, 1968, 221–228.
- Dercksen, J. G., & V. Donbaz. ».:Merchants in Distress: An Old Assyrian Text Mentioning habba-tu«,  JEOL 35-36, 2001, 103–110.
- Dossin G., Correspondance de Šamši- Addu et de ses Fils, Archive Royales de Mari I, Paris, 1950.
- ............., »Une Mention de Cananéens dans une Lettre de Mari.« , Syria 50, 3/4, 1973, 277–282.
- Douglas R. F., Old Babylonian Period (2003–1595 BC). Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early Periods 4, Toronto, 1990.
- Douglas R. , Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC) , Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early Periods 3/2, Toronto, 1999.
- Driver G.R. & J.C. Miles, The Babylonian Laws: 1. Legal Commentary, Oxford, 1952.
- Durand, J.-M., Fragments Rejoints pour une Histoire Élamite, L. De Meyer, H. Gasche, F. Vallat (eds.), Fragmenta Historiae Elamicae. Mélanges offerts à M. J. Steve, Paris, 1986, 111–128.
- Durand, J., Précurseurs Syriens aux Protocoles Néo-assyriens, D. Charpin & F. Joannès (eds.), 1991, 13–72.
- Durand, J., Unité et Diversité au Proche-orient à l'ÉpoqueAmorrite, D. Charpin & F. Joannès, 1992, 97–128.
- Durand, J., Les Documents Épistolaires du Palais de Mari, vol. II, Paris, 1998.
- Durand, J., Charpin, D., Archives Épistolaires de Mari, Archive Royales de Mari , 27: I/2, Paris, 1988.
- Eidem, J. .: « Tell Qal'at al Hādi Again », N.A.B.U9, 1988.
- Eidem, North Syrian Social Structure in the MB Period. New Evidence from Tell Leilan, Ismail, F., (ed.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Syria and the Ancient Near East, Vol. 56, No. 512, 1995, 77–86.
- Eidem, The Royal Archives from Tell Leilan: Old Babylonian Letters and Treaties from the Lower Town Palace East. PIHANS 117, Leiden, 2011.
- Eidem, Laessøe, J., The Shemshara Archives, vol. 1, The Letters, Copenhagen, Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 2001.
- Estes, A. L. »:Enforcementpractices in Ur III Lagaš and 18th Century BC Mari«, Ph.D Thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 1997.
- Fleming, D. E, People without Town: The ‘apiru in the Amarna Evidence, Hasselbach, R., & Pat-el, N. (eds.), Language and Nature: Papers Presented to John Huehnergard on the Occasion of his 60th Birthday, Chicago, 2012, 39–49.
- Geller, M. J., Ancient Babylonian Medicine: Theory and Practice, Vol. 11, 2010.
- Günbatti, C., Two Treaty Texts found at Kültepe, Dercksen, J.G. (ed.), Assyrian and Beyond, Studies Presented to Mogens Trolle Larsen, PIHANS 100, Leiden, 2004, 249–268.
- Harris, R. »:On Foreigners in Old Babylonian Sippar «RAAO 70, 1976, 145–152.
- Heimpel, W., Letters to the King of Mari, A New Translation, with Historical Introduction, Notes, and Commentary, Mesopotamian Civilizations 12, Indiana, 2003.
- Heltzer, M., The Suteans, Naples, 1981.
- Khazanov, A. M., Nomads and the Outside World, Cambridge, 1984.
- Konstantopoulos, G.V. »:They are Seven: Demons and Monsters in the Mesopotamian Textual and Artistic Tradition«, Ph.D Thesis, the University of Michigan, 2015.
- Kupper J-R., Letters Royales du Temps de Zimri-Lim. Archive Royales de Mari 28, Paris, 1998.
- Leemans, W. »: Some Aspects of Theft and Robbery in Old-Babylonian Documents«, RSO 32, 1957, 661–666.
- Mayer W. R. »:Wie die Alten Babylonier und Assyrer Einander Vorwürfe Machten und Einander Beschimpften , Or 82, No. 3, 2013, 207–271.
- Michalowski, P., Letters from the Time of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Atlanta, 1993.
- Naʾaman, N. »: Ḫabiru and Hebrews: The Transfer of a Social Term to the Literary Sphere «, JNES 45, No.4, 1986, 271–288.
- Oppenheim, A. L., E. Reiner et al., The Assyrian Dictionary of the University of Chicago, 1956-2010.
- Owen, D.: « A SA.GAZ Tablet from Ur in the John Frederick Lewis Collection«, OrAnt 21, 1982, 73–80.
- Parpola, S., Assyrian Dictionary, Helsinki, The Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, 2007.
- Pettinato, G. & S.A. Picchioni, Testi Economici diLagash del Museo di Istanbul. Parte II: La. 7601-8200, Materiali per il Vocabolario Neosumerico 7, Rome, 1978.
- Richardson, S., Trouble in the Countryside, ana tarṣi Samsuditana: Militarism, Kassites, and the Fall of Babylon I, Van Soldt, W. (ed.) Ethnicit y in Mesopotamia, PIHANS 102 (Leiden, 2005), 273–289.  
- ………………., The World of the Babylonian Countrysides, Leick, G. (ed.) The Babylonian World, London, 2007, 13–38.
- ………………. .: « Texts from the Late Old Babylonian Period. »JCS 2, 2010, 1–102.
- ………………… .: « Early Mesopotamia: The Presumpti ve State » ,  P&P 215, 2012, 3–49.
- ……………….., Insurgency and Terror in Mesopotamia, Howe, T. & Brice, L.L. (eds.) Brill's Companion to Insurgency and Terrorism in the Ancient Mediterranean, Leiden, 2016, 29–61.
- ……………….., The Many Falls of Babylon and the Shape of Forgetting , Nadali, D. (ed.) Envisioning the Past through Memories, London, 2016, 101–142.
- ……………….: « The Oracle BOQ 1, 'Trouble,' and the Dūr-Abiešḫ Texts: the End of Babylon I » JNES78/2, 2019, 215–237.
- …………….., By the Hand of a Robber: States, Mercenaries and Bandits in Middle Bronze Age Mesopotamia, Evans, R. & De Marre, M. (eds.) Piracy, Pillage and Plunder in Antiquity Appropriation and the Ancient World, London, 2020, 9–26.
- Rients, D. B., Amorites in the Early old Babylonian Period, Leiden, 2014, 20–31.
- Ristvet, L. M.: «Settlement, Economy, and Society in the Tell Leilan Region, Syria, 3000-1000 BC» , Ph.D Thesis., University of Cambridge, 2005.
- Roth, M., Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, Writings from the Ancient World, vol. 6. Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, 1995.
- Rowton, M. B .: « Enclosed Nomadism» JESHO 17, 1974, 1–30.
- Rowton, M. .: « Dimorphic Structure and the Problem of the CApiru- lbrim », JNES 35, 1976, 13–20.
- Schwemer, D., .: « Protecting the King from Enemies, at Home and on Campaign: Babylonian Rituals on Th 1905–4–9, 67= BM 98561» ZA 102, 2012, 209–218.
- Sigrist, M., Old Babylonian Account Texts in the Horn Archaeology Museum, Michigan, 1990.
- Spalinger, J.A., War in Ancient Egypt, Malden, 2005.
- Vallat, F., L’Élam à l’Époque Paléo-Babylonienne et ses Relations avec la Mésopotamie, Durand, J. M. (ed.), Amurru 1. Mari, Ebla et les Hourrites. Dix Ans de Travaux, Éditions Recherche sur les Civilisations, Paris, 1996, 297–319.
- Van Koppen, F, The Geography of the Slave Trade and Northern Mesopotamia in the Late Old Babylonian Period, Hunger H., & Pruzsinszky, R. (eds.), Mesopotamian Dark Age Revisited, Vienna, 2004, 9–34.
- Vidal, J., Mercenarios en los Ejércitos Paleobabilónicos (ca. 2000-1600 a.n.e.), Espino, A. (ed.), Nuevas Fronteras de la Historia. de la Guerra, Pórtico; Zaragoza, 2014, 1–14.
-  Vidal, J., Sutean Warfare in the Amarna Letters, Vidal, J., (ed.) .: « Studies on War in the Ancient Near East. Collected Essays on Military History », AOAT 372; Münster, 2010, 95–103.
-  Von Dassow, E., State and Society in the Late Bronze Age. Alalah under the Mittani Empire, Bethesda, 2008.
- Watson, W. G. E., Lexical Studies in Ugaritic, Sabadell, Ausa, 2007.
- Westbrook, R., Old Babylonian Period. A Histor y of Ancient Near Eastern Law. 2 Vols, Handbuch der Orientalistik 72/1- 2, Leiden, 2003.
- Wilcke, C., Diebe, Räuber, Mörder, Haas, V. (ed.), Soziale Randgruppen im Alten Orient, Xenia 32, 1992, 53–78.
- Yalichev, S., Mercenaries of the Ancient World, London, 1997.
- Zadok, R.: «Suteans and Other West Semites During the Latter Half of the Second Millennium B.C. » OLP 16, 1985, 56–70.
- Ziegler, N., & Reculeau H.: «The Sutean Nomads in the Mari Period», Settlement Dynamics and Human-Landscape Interaction in the Dry Steppes of Syria." SCh 4, 2014, 209–226.
 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics