Ahaha
Ahaha was an Assyrian investor and one of the earliest documented businesswomen in history. She is known for falling victim to financial fraud and begging for her silver back.[1] It is unknown if her pleas were answered.
History
[edit]Ahaha lived during the Old Assyrian period and grew up in Assur. Her mother, Lamassī, raised Ahaha while her father was primarily stationed in Kanesh engaging in business affairs.[2] During this time, it was customary for women to head the household and make financial decisions while their husbands traveled extensively as merchants.[3][4] Women operated joint-stock companies and dealt with loans, real estate, and market trends.[5] Assyrians made money facilitating trades between Babylon (and other foreign lands) and Kanesh, traveling in long-distance caravans funded by investors, who earned profits such as gold and silver when trades were successful.[1] Following the death of her mother, Ahaha took control of the paternal estate.[2]
Investments
[edit]As a businesswoman, Ahaha made investments in various joint-stock companies, including one managed by her father's partner, Pazzur-Aššur. One of Ahaha's brothers, Buzāzu, also invested in the same joint-stock company and was tasked with managing his sister's share. However, Buzāzu exploited this responsibility by withdrawing her funds for his own business.[2] In a financial venture common in the Old Assyrian period, Ahaha invested in a donkey caravan that was set to carry out a long-distance trade between Assur and Kanesh. When the caravan returned, Ahaha was promised a share of the profits in silver. However, Ahaha concluded that she had been defrauded when no silver was actually returned to her.[1]
Fraud recovery letter
[edit]Cuneiform tablets excavated at Kanesh reveal that Ahaha suspected the fraudster was her own brother, Buzāzu.[1] In a clay tablet written to her other brother, Ahaha begged for help:
"I have nothing else apart from these funds... Take care to act so that I will not be ruined!... Let a detailed letter from you come to me by the very next caravan, saying if they do pay the silver... Now is the time to do me a favour and to save me from financial stress!"
The letter highlights the urgency of the retrieval of her stolen silver and her request for a notice upon retrieval.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Hardach, Sophie (January 13, 2021). "The secret letters of history's first-known businesswomen". BBC. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Michael, Cécile (2020). Women of Assur and Kanesh. pp. 411–414. ISBN 9780884144557.
- ^ Michel, C. (2020). Women of Assur and Kanesh: texts from the archives of Assyrian merchants (Vol. 42). SBL Press.
- ^ Thus speaks Tarām-Kūbi, Assyrian Correspondence Documentary. (2020). Video
- ^ Hamburg, U. (2022, June 20). Thus Speaks Tarām-Kūbi University of Hamburg