THE BABYLONIAN EXPEDITION

PREFACE
ABOUT the same time when the children of Israel were invading the land of
Canaan preparatory to their final conquest these letters were inscribed on
clay. They form part of the "Temple Archives" (DUB MUm"") of the Cassite
period, situated on the west side of the Shatt-en-Ntl. In all probability these Archives
were found in one or several buildings (connected with each other), known as the
A DUB sh6 O.GAL and including the Temple Library and the Temple School. The
Cassite Kings at this time were the chief administrators of the affairs of the Temple of
Enlil at Nippur; for they are known by the title shakkanakku Enlil, characterizing
them as the representatives of Enlil on earth, who had "to put the seal" (kanhku)
of 'the god to each and 'every transaction made by and for the Temple. Nothing
could be done without their consent, approval, or authority (seal). While the
"Temple Archives" proper give us a picture of the business methods of the Temple
administration, under the chief supervision of the King, these letters represent the
correspondence about those met hods.
Among them we find complaints from governors about non-delivery or delay in
the delivery of goods by the chief bursar of the Temple, medical reports about the
sickness of certain ladies connected with the sanctuary, complaints about goods
asked for, but not received, accounts of the disposition of taxes gathered, requests for
wages, building material, food, clothing, and the like.
The Temple of Enlil being a richly endowed institution, royal officers kept watch
over its proper administration and welfare and reported about the various affairs of
Enlil's property to his earthly representative, the King. Thus we find reports about
the deplorable condition of canals, about the prospects of the harvests on the fields be-
longing to the Temple, about building operations with suggestions as to desirable im-
provements, about certain expeditions undertaken in defence of Enlil's earthly
possessions, etc.
Though most of these letters are addressed to the "Lord," i.e., the "King" who
had his residence at least temporarily in Nippur, some of them may be classified as
part of an "official correspondence between Temple or State officers." There are
even letters in these archives written by the kings themselves (comp. Nos. 75 and 93).
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