The complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir is a clay tablet from ancient Babylon, written around 1750 BCE. It is a complaint from a customer named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-nāṣir regarding a delivery of copper of the wrong grade and issues with another delivery.
Nanni also complained that his servant, who handled the transaction, had been treated rudely. He stated that, at the time of writing, he had not accepted the copper, but had already paid for it. The translated text of the tablet is a fascinating glimpse into the world of ancient commerce:
"Tell Ea-nasir: Nanni sends the following message: When you came, you said to me as follows: 'I will give Gimil-Sin (when he comes) fine quality copper ingots.' You left then but you did not do what you promised me. You put ingots which were not good before my messenger (Sit-Sin) and said: 'If you want to take them, take them; if you do not want to take them, go away!'"
Other tablets have been found in the ruins believed to be Ea-nāṣir's dwelling. These include a letter from a man named Arbituram who complained he had not received his copper yet, while another said he was tired of receiving bad copper. It seems Nanni was not the only dissatisfied customer.
The tablet is more than just a historical curiosity; it's a testament to the timeless nature of human interaction. The frustration of a customer who feels they have been wronged, the dismissive attitude of a merchant, and the desire for a fair transaction are all themes that resonate with us today. The fact that this complaint was painstakingly inscribed on a clay tablet, and that it has survived for nearly four millennia, gives it a weight and significance that a modern-day one-star review could never achieve.