Here follow the names of sixteen witnesses--seven males and nine females, one of the former being the priest of the devotees of the Sun-god.
When there were two wives, a marriage contract was given to each, and by a fortunate chance, the British Museum possesses two documents connected in this way, which have come together, though acquired at different times.(27) The following is the document drawn up for the principal wife--
"Arad-Samas has taken in marriage Taram-Sagila and Iltani, daughter of Sin-abu-su. (If) Taram-Sagila and Iltani say to Arad-Samas, their husband, 'Thou art not (our) husband,' he may throw them down from the tower; and (if) Arad-Samas say to Taram-Sagila or Iltani, his wives, 'Thou art not my wife,' she shall depart from house and goods. And Iltani shall wash the feet of Taram-Sagila, shall carry her seat to the house of her god; Iltani shall put on Taram-Sagila's ornaments, shall be well inclined towards her, shall not destroy her (marriage) contract, shall grind (?) her meal (?), and shall obey (?) her."
The marriage contract drawn up for Iltani, the second wife, is as follows--
"Iltani is sister of Taram-Sagila. Arad-Samas, son of Ili-ennam, has taken them in marriage from Uttatum, their father. Iltani, her sister, shall prepare her food, shall be well inclined towards her, (and) shall carry her seat to the temple of Merodach. The children, as many as have been born, and they shall bear, are their children. (If) Taram-Sagila say to Iltani, her sister, 'Thou art not my sister,' (then) ... (If Iltani say to Arad-Samas, her husband), 'Thou (art not my husband),' he may shave (her head), and sell her for silver. And (if) Arad-Samas say to his wives, '(Ye) are not my wives,' he shall pay one mana of silver. And they, (if) they say to Arad-Samas, their husband, 'Thou art not our husband,' he may strangle (?) them, and throw them into the river."
This document is attested by eleven witnesses.
To all appearance there was a kind of adoption of Iltani as daughter of Uttatum (she is called daughter of Sin-abu-su in the first text), and having thus been raised in position so as to be somewhat the equal of Taram-Sagila in rank, she could become the second wife of Arad-Samas, to live with and wait upon her adopted sister.