The “Princess, Do Your Homework!” Letter – Iris Kamil

28/12/2024

URL: The “Princess, Do Your Homework!” Letter – Iris Kamil

So, there was a trend on twitter where Assyriologists posted their favourite Akkadian letters, to reduce Ea-nasir’s dominance. This author, Iris Kamil, started it with the “Princess, Do Your Homework” letter.

Between Libbāli-šarrat, “the primary wife of Assurbanipal” and her syster in law, Šeruʾa-eṭirat. The queen is trying to learn literacy.

The letter itself is short, and consists of Šeruʾa-eṭirat scolding her sister in law and admonishing her that if she doesn’t then no-one will believe she is queen.

It seems that Šeruʾa-eṭirat outranked her sister in the law, and several of her brothers.

We have a likeness of Libbāli-šarrat from a relief in Ninveh. It’s a pretty cool likeness!