Enlil-bani

Enlil-bani was an Assyrian businessman active in the period of the great trading ventures between Assyria and Asia Minor in the 19th century BC. He carried on the family business that was apparently founded by his father Ashur-malik, a contemporary of Pushu-kenu, and his own sons continued the tradition. After he spent 16 years in Anatolia, he returned to Assur as his father did before him.

Enlil-bani ran his business from Kültepe (ancient Kanesh) in Anatolia. From around 1900 BC, many merchants had come to Kanesh from the city of Ashur in Assyria and established a karum (trading centre). The karum at Kanesh is the best known but a number of other colonies were established across Anatolia. From the accounts of Enlil-bani we can see how the most of these merchants ran their businesses.

Enlil-bani had his agents in Ashur to whom he sent silver from Anatolia. The agents would buy goods with his silver, mostly textiles and tin, and sent it to Enlil-bani on a donkey caravan. Enil-bani would than trade it for silver and gold.