Category
page 1Copper industry
complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir
clay tablet from ancient Babylon considered to be the oldest known written complaint
Ea-nāṣir
Ea-nāṣir ( ) was a Mesopotamian copper merchant from Ur during the Bronze Age. He was a member of a guild of traders based in Dilmun and was active during the 11th and 19th regnal years of Rim-Sîn I, who ruled Larsa in Sumer. As a vendor of copper ingots originating in Magan, Ea-nāṣir is most recognized for being the addressee of the oldest known written complaint, which was authored around 1750 BC by a customer named Nanni, who expresses dissatisfaction with the quality of the ingots and takes offense at how his servant was treated by Ea-nāṣir during the transaction.