Рескрипт царя Ини-Тешшуба Emar 18: исторический контекст и правовое содержание

Индоевропейское языкознание и классическая филология. 2025. Т. 29. № 1. С. 24–50.

Alexandrov B.

The article offers a Russian translation and commentary of Emar 18. This text from the Emar archives contains a decision by the king of Carchemish of the 13th century B.C. Ini-Teššub concerning the status of an Emarite called Kitta and his family. Kitta is recognized as a slave of Ini-Teššub’s brother, the prince Ḫešmi-Teššub, while the children of Kitta remain free and are supposed to inherit the house of Kitta’s father whose freedom was equally restored and to perform the royal service. This decision cancelled a previous ruling of Ini-Teššun according to which all of the Kitta’s family, including his father, had been enslaved by Ḫešmi-Teššub. Two aspects connected to Emar 18 were underlined in the scholarly literature. Kitta was regarded as the central figure in the described controversy, and the essence of the document was first of all seen as confirmation of his slave status and the free status of his children. These aspects are beyond all doubt very important, but no less significant is the settlement of property relations that arose from the new status of Kitta. First, the document implies that the assets acquired by Kitta at Ḫešmi-Teššub’s service will remain in the latter’s ownership. At the same time Kitta is excluded as a potential heir to his father’s household which is to be taken only by Kitta’s children, i.e. grandsons of Kitta’s father. The final paragraph of Emar 18 guarantees the immunity of their property. Thus, the main goal of the document seems to be to secure the property rights of Kitta’s children. Finally, the exact definition of Kitta’s status caused different opinions (debt slave, vassal etc.). It is suggested in the article that according to the decision of the Hittite authorities (ll. 4–6) Kitta was to become a foreign member of Ḫešmi-Teššub’s entourage outside of Emar.

Keywords: Сирия, Syria, рабство, slavery, Эмар, Late Bronze Age, позднебронзовый век, Каркемиш, Carchemish