The Ancients

The World's Oldest Letters

November 27, 2025

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  • The widespread correspondence in Mesopotamia between 2000 and 1600 BCE, written primarily in Akkadian on clay tablets, offers an unusually rich, first-person perspective into the day-to-day concerns of non-elite individuals. 
  • The famous copper merchant Eya-Nasir is internet-famous due to a surviving letter from an angry investor named Nani complaining about poor quality copper, though Eya-Nasir's archive suggests he was part of a complex, family-based trading network. 
  • Letters reveal relatable human interactions, such as a young man complaining to his mother about the quality of his clothes and royal correspondence detailing diplomatic concerns like the safe transport of an unweaned infant during winter. 
  • The discussion concluded with the host thanking Dr. Amanda Podany for sharing the amazing story of the world's first letters from approximately 4,000 years ago. 
  • The episode highlighted the story of a specific individual named Ayin-Nasir (referenced as 'Ayanatsia' in the closing remarks), whose career or correspondence was memorable enough to warrant future humorous references. 
  • Listeners are encouraged to follow 'The Ancients' on podcast platforms, leave a rating, and sign up for History Hit for additional documentary content. 

Segments

Introduction to Oldest Letters
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The earliest widespread written correspondence in Mesopotamia, dating from 2000 to 1600 BCE, utilized clay tablets delivered via a proto-postal system.
  • Summary: Writing became widespread in Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE, allowing messages to travel across vast distances on hardened clay tablets. This correspondence included royal, merchant, and personal notes, offering a relatable window into Bronze Age life. The letters are written in the first person, making them feel immediate and direct to modern readers.
Context of Old Babylonian Period
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(00:07:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The period between 2000 and 1600 BCE in Mesopotamia transitioned from small, warring kingdoms to unification under Hammurabi of Babylon, with major cities like Ur and Uruk remaining significant.
  • Summary: The time frame discussed is the Old Babylonian period, initially marked by competing small kingdoms before Hammurabi united most of modern-day Iraq. The spoken language was Akkadian, a Semitic language, which was used for letters, even though Sumerian remained a language for contracts and literature. Letters were written on small clay tablets, some as small as a postage stamp, which were held in the palm of the hand.
The Legend of Eya-Nasir
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(00:12:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Eya-Nasir, a sea trader from Ur involved in the copper trade with Dilmun, is famous today not for his business but for having one of the earliest recorded angry customer complaints.
  • Summary: Eya-Nasir’s archive, found in his house, contains 26 tablets, including six complaint letters, leading to his modern notoriety as the first widely known disgruntled merchant. The famous complaint was from Nani, an investor, who berated Eya-Nasir for sending substandard copper and treating his messengers with contempt. Despite the complaints, Eya-Nasir kept the letters, suggesting he may have been conscientious about addressing the issues.
Relatable Complaints and Family Dynamics
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(00:36:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Letters reveal deeply personal and relatable human concerns, such as a young man manipulating his mother for better clothes and a king’s secretary advising against moving an unweaned infant in winter.
  • Summary: A letter from a young man, likely the son of a high official, complained bitterly to his mother, Zinu, that his clothes were poor compared to others, even accusing her of not loving him. Another letter shows a secretary advising King Zimri Lim against moving his two-month-old, unweaned infant, Yarim Lim, during the harsh winter conditions.
Diplomatic Marriages and Royal Correspondence
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(00:44:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Royal daughters sent as diplomatic pawns in marriage alliances often became vital intelligence sources for their fathers, reporting frankly on their husbands’ courts.
  • Summary: Zimri Lim’s daughter, Kirim, wrote increasingly desperate letters detailing threats from her erratic vassal husband, Hayasumu, leading her father to attempt a rescue. These letters show that while princesses were powerless in marriage choice, they became crucial foreign policy assets by secretly reporting on their new courts. Furthermore, Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten was known for sending promised gifts, like gold, in substandard forms, such as gold-plated wooden statues, prompting polite but firm complaints from recipient kings.
Concluding Remarks and Thanks
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(00:59:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The host expressed gratitude to Dr. Amanda Podany for discussing the history of the world’s oldest letters.
  • Summary: The segment marks the conclusion of the interview portion of ‘The World’s Oldest Letters’ episode of The Ancients. Dr. Amanda Podany was thanked for her contribution to the discussion about ancient written communication. The host expressed enjoyment in covering the story of Ayin-Nasir.
Listener Engagement and Promotion
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(00:59:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners are actively encouraged to follow the podcast on streaming platforms and leave positive ratings to support the show.
  • Summary: Listeners are instructed to follow ‘The Ancients’ on Spotify or other podcast providers, as this action significantly aids the show’s reach. Providing a positive rating is requested as a favor to the production team. The segment also promotes signing up for History Hit to access hundreds of hours of original documentaries.
Sponsor Advertisement: Age of Mythology
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(00:59:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The game ‘Age of Mythology Retold’ is available now, featuring reimagined classic real-time strategy gameplay with divine powers and modern visuals.
  • Summary: The advertisement promotes ‘Age of Mythology Retold,’ which reimagines the classic real-time strategy game for a new era, allowing players to command ancient civilizations and unleash divine powers. The Premium Edition bundles all current game content, and existing standard edition owners can upgrade. The game is available on Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox, and PlayStation 5, with a specific URL provided for podcast listeners to purchase.