The letter was found in archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Nuzi, located in the north of what we know today as Iraq. This ancient message is written in Akkadian, a Semitic language that was widely spoken in the Mesopotamian region during ancient times.
Throughout history, many archaeological treasures have been discovered that have helped historians better understand historical events of the past. Among the findings, there is one that is particularly curious, it is the Babylonian letter written by a student to his mother.
This writing, which dates back to the 18th century BC. C. in Mesopotamia, It was written by a student named Iddin-Sin and addressed to his mother Zinû. At a time when communication was quite limited and travel was difficult, letters became a crucial means of maintaining connection between family members who were separated by different circumstances.
“The clothes of the young gentlemen here get better, but you let my clothes get worse year by year”
It should be noted that the content of this letter is what has generated so much astonishment on social networks, especially on TikTok. Instead of expressing affection, care or concern for his mother, Iddin-Sin chooses to scold his mother for the state of her clothes..
The beginning of the letter is curious, since it begins with a formal greeting, mainly mentioning the gods Šamaš, Marduk and Ilabrat to wish Zinû good health: “May the gods Šamaš, Marduk and Ilabrat keep you forever in good health for my good”, but quickly the tone changes completely.
The student complains that while the clothes of the young gentlemen around him improve year after year, his mother seems determined to make their clothes increasingly poorer and scarcer. At a time when wool was a valuable resource, Iddin-Sin regrets that his mother contributed to making his clothing poor.
“From year to year, the clothes of the young gentlemen here get better, but you let my clothes get worse from year to year. In fact, you persisted in making my clothes poorer and scarcer. At a time when in our house “Wool is used like bread, you have made me poor clothes.”
The letter takes a somewhat comical turn when the student compares the situation to that of another young man who has two new sets of clothes, emphasizing the disparity between the two. But the most interesting thing comes when, in an act of drama, he declares that his mother raised him, but he feels that she does not love him.
“The son of Adad-iddinam, whose father is only an attendant of my father, has two new sets of clothes, while you worry about even a single set of clothes for me. Despite the fact that you took me and his “My mother only adopted him, his mother loves him, while you don’t love me.”
Definitely, This event is a curious and fascinating example that gives us an insight into daily life in ancient Mesopotamia.. He shows that even thousands of years ago, children complained about clothes and other situations, as if they were a modern-day teenager.