Ugaritic Manumission and Marriage
(Translator: J.J. Finkelstein)
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Ugarit. Text. RS 8.208. F. Thureau-Dangin,
Syria, XVIII (l937); 246, transliteration and
translation, ibid., 253f.[a]
As of this day, before witnesses, Gilben, chamberlain
of the queen's palace, set free (5) Eliyawe his
maidservant, from among the women of the harem, and by
pouring oil on her head, made her free, (saying:) (10)
"Just as I am quit towards her, so is she quit towards me,
forever."
Further, Buriyanu, the namu,[1] has taken her as his wife, (I5), and
Buriyanu, her husband has rendered 20 (shekels) of silver
into the hands of Gilben. Four witnesses.
(Inscribed on seal:) Should Buriyanu, tomorrow or the
following day, refuse to consummate[3](his marriage) with Eliyawe--[3]
[1] Lit.: "man of the steppe," possibly
a migrant agricultural laborer.
[3] Lit.: "approach."
[3] The penalty is left unstated, and
was to be understood.
[a] ANET p.
{546}.
