Ea-Nāṣir | The ‘’Scammer’’ of Ancient Babylonia

Was Ea-Nāṣir really a scammer? Let's discover it today!

In 1750 BCE, Babylonian merchant Nanni got cheated on a copper deal and penned the first recorded complaint letter to swindler Ea-nāṣir. But when archaeologists unearthed more letters, a complex story surfaced. Ea-nāṣir wasn't just a scammer, but an important businessman navigating ancient trade challenges.

Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir, original here below:

Here's the original text of Nanni to Ea-Nāṣir, from:

Book: Foreign trade in the old Babylonian period by Leemans, W. F.
Link: [ Ссылка ]

Speak to Ea-nāṣir:

Thus says Nanni.

Now, when you had come, you spoke saying thus:’’I will give good ingots to Gimil-Sin’’; this you said to me when you had come, but you have not done it; you have offered bad ingots to my messenger, saying:’’If you will take it, take it, if you will not take it, go away’’. Who am I that you’re treating me in this manner to treat me with such contempt? And that between gentlemen such as we are!

I have written to you to receive my purse but you have neglected it. Repeatedly you have made them return empty handed, through foreign countries. Who is there amongst the Tilmun traders who has acted against me in this way? You have treated my messenger with contempt. And further with regard to the silver that you have taken with you from my house you make this discussion. And on your behalf I gave 18 talents (545 kg or 1202 lbs) to the palace, and Šumi-Abum gave likewise 18 talents of copper, apart from the fact that we issued the sealed document to the temple of Šamaš.

With regard to that copper, as you have treated me, you have held back my purse in a foreign territory although you are obliged to hand it over to me intact.

That here in Ur, I will not accept from you copper that is not good, you will learn in my court I will choose and take the ingots one by one. Because you have treated me with contempt I shall exercise my right against you selecting the copper.

Writer: Vlad Racovita
Editor: Mashudi
Voice-Over: Vlad Racovita
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#history
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#mesopotamia
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