A New Aramaic Text from the seventh Century B.C.

Abstract

The study of this text came out to focus the position of the Aramaic language in the New-Assyrian era, and to enhance the preceded studies which proved the importance of the Aramaic language in the daily life of Mesopotamia.

      The text comprises eleven lines inscribed on a triangular clay lamp measured 5x4.4 x 2.9 cm. There were seven lines of inscription on the obverse and four lines on the reverse. On its corners there were connected holes from the inside. On the upper edge of the tablet there was a stamp seal. The tablet was found in Ashur in 1979. It represents a loan contract: the quantity of borrowed silver, the interest, pay back date, and the names of the witnesses, were mentioned.