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Letter from Kidin to His Father Kubanni-Marduk

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Letter from Kidin to His Father Kubanni-Marduk

Place of OriginIraq
DateLate 6th century BCE
DimensionsH: 7.8 cm; W: 2.8 cm; Depth: 1.6 cm
MediumClay
ClassificationUtilitarian Objects
Credit LineGift of William A. Gosline, Jr.
Object number
1935.8A-B
Not on View
Collections
  • Sculpture
Published ReferencesVan De Mieroop, Marc, and Tremper Longman, “Cuneiform Tablets from the Toledo Museum of Art,” Revue d’Assyriologie et d’Archéologie Orientale, vol. 79, 1985, no. 35, pp. 37-39.

Label TextThis clay tablet and its sealed envelope contain a letter from Kidin to his father, Kurbanni-Marduk, discussing a large wool transaction. Written over 2,500 years ago, the letter reveals an organized economic system where scribes recorded business dealings and payments. The protective clay envelope ensured authenticity, much like a sealed letter today. A scribal error corrected on the reverse reminds us that even ancient record-keepers made mistakes. This document offers a rare glimpse into personal and commercial life in Babylonia, where trade networks connected people across vast distances—just as they do in our modern global economy.

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