FALSE IMPRESSIONS Part 3

Upon the death of his father, the slave Nabisin must leave the kitchens of his master, where his father had been embellisher, or cook. His master apprentices Nabi-sin to Zarriqum, slave and royal seal cutter to the household of King Hammurabi of Babylon. Kirum, Zarriqum’s adopted daughter, escorts Nabi-sin to his new home and gives him an amber stone with a fire-bug trapped inside. Nabi-sin is delighted to learn that his master’s son, Mar-eshtar, works with Zarriqum. As boys, Nabi-sin and Mareshtar pretended they were the hero Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu looking for adventure. One day they swore a blood oath to remain friends forever, but Mar-eshtar gouged himself severely with the knife, and Nabi-sin’s father came to their rescue. Now Mar-eshtar is a royal scribe in King Hammurabi’s service.

One day the ambassador of Mari gives Zarriqum, the seal cutter, an expensive bowl as a gift. Although the ambassador has been sent as an envoy of peace to King Hammurabi’s court, he seems to enjoy ridiculing the people of Babylon, and Nabi-sin does not like him. Late one night Nabi-sin overhears the ambassador plotting with Zarriqum and Kirum to forge the seal of King Hammurabi. The ambassador will use the seal to make an official impression on a clay tablet that looks like a decree from Hammurabi, ordering his armies against Mari. The king of Mari, thinking that Hammurabi has broken the peace, will attack Babylon. Caught unawares, the city of Babylon will fall.

Alarmed, Nabi-sin creeps back to his sleeping mat and prays to Sin the moon