The Employment Contract of Azariel in Kisura

In the sixth year of the reign of Šulgi, King of Ur, King of the Four Corners, in the town of Kisura on the western bank of the Idigna, in the month of Bára-zag-gar, let it be known:

The merchant Ea-nasir, son of Nanni, resident of Kisura, keeper of grain stores and administrator of the riverside warehouses, has entered into agreement with the scribe Azariel Tiberius Voshtar, formerly of Amar-Sin, for the performance of scribal duties.

Terms of Service:

The scribe Azariel shall maintain records of grain received into storage, documenting quantities, quality assessments, and merchants from whom grain is acquired. He shall record grain distributed from storage, noting recipients, purposes of distribution, and compensation received. He shall prepare monthly tallies for review by the merchant Ea-nasir and for submission to temple administrators in Ur as required by imperial decree.

The scribe Azariel shall attend daily at the warehouse compound from dawn until the sun reaches midday height, and again from mid-afternoon until final distribution is complete, for six days of each seven-day cycle. He shall maintain his own stylus and writing tools. Clay for tablets shall be provided by the merchant Ea-nasir.

Duration:

This agreement shall continue for three moons, commencing in the month of Bára-zag-gar and concluding at the end of the month of Ezen-gu₇. At the conclusion of this period, the agreement may be renewed by mutual consent, or either party may decline continuation without penalty.

Compensation:

The scribe Azariel shall receive grain sufficient for one person's sustenance for each moon of service, measured at two sìla per day. Additionally, he shall receive one shekel of silver at the conclusion of each moon's service. He shall receive shelter in the compound's scribal quarters for the duration of his employment.

Obligations:

The scribe Azariel pledges accurate record-keeping, prompt attendance, and discrete conduct regarding merchant activities observed during his service. The merchant Ea-nasir pledges timely compensation, adequate materials for record-keeping, and respectful treatment befitting a trained scribe.

Witnessed this day by:

Lugal-melam, priest of Nanna
Ur-Nungal, potter
Ninlil-zimu, weaver

Sealed by:

Ea-nasir, merchant
Azariel Tiberius Voshtar, scribe