Studies On Iltani's Letters: Translation And Analysis

Karana is a city-state of the ancient Mesopotamia during 19-18th century BC, which located present Telafar in the north of Iraq. In 1970s, some cuneiform tablets were excavated there. About two hundreds of them were the letters by Iltani the queen of Karana. On the translating and comprehending the letters, the article covered the queen Iltani's social role and status in the family, politics and economics.The article is divided into three parts.Chapter One: Analysis in the aspect of family. Iltani was the supporter of her sibs, and the appointer of the slaves. In the relationship of man and wife, she was as an obedient role for her husband, the king of Karana.Chapter Two: Analysis in the aspect of politie-religion. In the affairs of politics and religion, Iltani was a very active one.Chapter Three: Analysis in the aspect of economics. Iltani participated in management of the social economy. She was the organizer and executor of the social production.Conclusion: Iltani, the queen of Karana, was not only "the wife of a King" in royal family, but also an important part of administration of the city-state. She had certain power on the affairs of family, politics and economics.The status of the Babylonian women is an important field of Assyriology. Large numbers of contracts and legal texts in Old Babylonian period could reflect the social situation of ordinary women, but the texts about upper-class women are rare. Iltani's letters in this article will provide an important source for the study; as well Iltani, the queen of Karana, presents us a typical figure of the upper-class women during the Old Babylonian period.