#;;nasir

[a-s-fischer]

If you want a good object lesson about what we can and can't know about the past, we don't know Ea-Nasir was a dishonest merchant selling shoddy goods.

What we know is we have found a cache of complaint tablets about him selling low quality copper as high quality, in a site that was probably his own residence. We know multiple people complained he was a cheat. It's entirely possible they were right. It's also entirely possible that he kept these complaint letters as records of people he would no longer do business with, because they had made accusations and threats in order to bully him into giving them free copper. That is an equally valid interpretation of the evidence.

My point is not that we have maligned Ea-Nasir, my point is that thousands of years later, we do not and cannot know.

[peaceheather]

[totopopopo]

a good sumerian inexplicably donated five packs of 500 temporary tattoos to the classroom, each pack featuring identical pictures of a different invasive species of bug

[iamthepulta]

What's the first question that really pops into peoples' minds about Ea-Nasir? I'm trying to write this history down, but I'm struggling.

[archaeologysucks]

I saw this on Twitter, and do not know the source, but I think it belongs here.

[enddaysengine]

[[Image ID: a quoted tweet. Original tweet is by @catacalypt on Mar 28, 2024. It contains a picture of a copper bracelet with ancient writing on it. Tweet reads “in case anyone didn’t already know I DO own a “give me my money back Ea-Nasir” bracelet in Akkadian cuneiform.” Quote tweet is by @rob_heighton on Mar 29, 2024. It reads “I wish no ill upon the owner, but the person who supplied the metal for this had the opportunity to do the funniest thing. End of image ID]]

[todays-xkcd]

When an Ur guy / sells Nanni things / but the copper's bad, / He simply records his complaint for all time / "I got a bad deal / I'm maaaaad"

My Favorite Things [Explained]

[askzloyxp]

TUMBS, THIS ONE FOR YOU

[ekjohnston]

I messed up the hot glue a little bit but I'm sure my mistake will eventually be lost to time.

[trans-seraphim]

dj-nasir got the whole club complaining about his selection of metal

[lemonsharks]

HE'S BACK, BABY

EA-NASIR IS HERE FOR US, RIPPING OFF CAPITALISTS

AS PER MY LAST TABLET

[emporium]

Down a Rabbit Hole I Went

I screwed up. I didn't think that using an ancient language on a piece of tumblr merch was necessary but I forgot what site I was on :) . This is tumblr, of course it has to be in linguistically accurate cuneiform. I went and hired an expert on Ancient Semitic Languages and Cultures. There aren't as many as you'd think that are willing to translate text for an internet gag so I'm so happy I found Paul.

Notes on the translation from the translator:

I used the ventive suffix on the imperative "give (rib+am)" which is a special feature of Akkadian that indicates the motion of direction. It makes it a little bit more authentic. The longer version actually includes the words "to me (ana iasim)", but a typical Akkadian speaker probably wouldn't have needed to say that.

Also, for the word "money" I used the Sumerian (KUG.BABBAR) instead of spelling out the Akkadian, because that was a common feature in Akkadian scribal writing. For the font I was happily surprised that Google has a Cuneiform font, so not only is it correct but it looks pretty neat too. Right now you can buy both versions in the shop but cuneiform version won't ship for a week or so as I have to order new stock with the new design.

[roguetelepaths]

You know, I bet the Ferengi have someone like Ea-Nasir and he's like. a saint or something

[super-sootica]

[merinnan]

Okay, which Tumblr denizen is responsible for this? (and where can I get one?)

[jackdaw-kraai]