Amarna letter EA 34
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Amarna_letter_fragment%2C_from_King_Tushratta_of_Mitanni_to_Queen_Tiy_%28Teye%29_of_Egypt%2C_matching_fragment_in_British_Museum_-_Oriental_Institute_Museum%2C_University_of_Chicago_-_DSC07018.JPG/340px-thumbnail.jpg)
(Similar in color to EA 34.)
(high-resolution expandable photo)
Amarna letter EA 34, titled: "The Pharaoh's Reproach Answered"[1] is a moderately tall clay tablet Amarna letter from the King of Alashiya. ((Obverse)-See here: [1])
Besides a complicated story line to EA 34, the letter is shown to be in Very Good condition. It is a bright color, and the cuneiform is finely inscribed. The scribe has some distinct techniques: clarity of the cuneiform; because of a listing, use of non-common cuneiform; a technique with "7 and 7 times" that is non-standard; and some specific signs that are also artful (i.e. the simple multiple use of "tug2" ()), which is used for types of clothing.
Besides the interesting use of two verticals for ka4 (), see as: (
), "tug2" (túg)) is distinctive, in the Gift Listing, because in a grouping of more uncommon-use cuneiform, "tug2" is dramaltically simple. It is similar to this (
), when the added second horizontal up-stroke is added (like an open "pair of scissors"). "Tug2" (túg) is found on the Obverse, lines: 22, 23, and 25; six times. It is found once on the tablet Reverse, line 47.
EA 34 is numbered 29789 in the British Museum.
The Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are a mid 14th century BC, about 1360 BC and 20–30 years later, correspondence. The initial corpus of letters were found at Akhenaten's city Akhetaten, in the floor of the Bureau of Correspondence of Pharaoh; others were later found, adding to the body of letters.
Cuneiform and Akkadian text, EA 34[]
Obverse (See here: [2])
Paragraph Ia
- (Line 1)—Um-ma lugal kur A-La-ši-ia–.–(..Message (of)King Land Alashiya (ALaShia) )
- (2)—a-na lugal kur Mi-iș-Ri (Egypt) ŠEŠ-ia-ma–.–( to (the)King Land Miṣri(Egypt) (Mi-iṣ-Ri), -//- Brother-mine ! )
Paragraph Ib
- (3)—-ma-ad i-nu-ma -ma- ù–.–( Know (that)Now ("at this time") --///-- Peace -/- ..And )
- (4)—ša-lim kur-ia ù iš-tu "1/2 7." mu-ka4–.–( peace Land-mine --//-- And From "7 & 7 times"( 1/2 7.) --//-- I bow ! (I address you) )
- (5)—ù šu--ka4 šu- É- dumu-meš-ka4–.–( .. and Peace --//-- Peaceful: House; Son(s)-yours; .. )
- (6)—DAM-meš ANŠE-kur--meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš–.–.–.–(.. Wive(s); Horse(s)(cavalry); Chariot(s)-yours )
- (7)—kur-ki-ka4 ma-gal lu-ú -mu a-mur at-ŠEŠ-ia–.–(..All lands-yours, Great --/-- May (there) be Peace "To See" .. Brother-Mine ! )
Paragraph II
- (8)—I-nu-ma ! ta-aš-tap- a-na ia-ā-ši–.–.–(Now sent for Me .. )
- (9)—a-na mi--mi --//-- la-a tu--ši –.–.–( for "everyone" "daily" --//-- Never(Not) "Wavering" (to part, hold-back) .. RA ! .. )
- (10)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ka a-na -ri-ia–(.. Messenger-(Yours) for Counterpart-mine(-Ours) (my Equal) ! )
- (11)—ša-ni-ud -/- ù la-ā iš-mi --///-- i-nu-ma–.–( .. Worthy(Illustrious) --//-- And Not Obey("Listen to") --////-- .. Now ..)
- (12)—ti-na- // ni-qa-am(?ir-nim-am?) -//- ù la-ā ti-ša-??–(.. Powerful, / "Roaring" --//-- ..And Never(Not) "Having guile"(Doing evil) .. )
- (13)—mi-ma i-na -bi-ka4 -//- ù 1.(diš)-šu- ú–.–(..Anyone "in Heart-Theirs" --//-- ..And 1.(The Pharaoh's) (Speech)-(šāru)-"Callings"(Voice) ..)
- (14)—šemû --///-- ù anuma utu-XX-"dIM"–.–(.. Obeyed(Listened-to) ---////--- And Now The Sun(Pharaoh) (is) "as-like" Baal ! ..)
- (15)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ia a-na -ri-ka4–(.. Messenger-Ours for Counterpart-our (my Equal) ! )
- Note for Paragraph II
- It can be seen that lines 10 and 15 are identical. Lines 8 - 15 is a treatise on the role of the pharaoh in society; the scribe is in the employ of the mayor/governor of towns, regions, and city-states. So the ideas (a treatise on the Role of Pharaoh), put forward in a clay tablet letter are either the scribe's, or the governor's, or a combination of both people; or even a small group of people consorting upon the topic of the letter.
- The King of Alashiya is not a typical Governor. The kingdom of Alashiya is seafaring, thus probably more independent, and with a shipping mercantile has advantages over city-states that are land-locked. Also, Alashiya has access to forested land, besides its marine (ocean) industries.
- Note for Paragraph II
Akkadian[]
Obverse (See here: [3])
Paragraph Ia
Paragraph Ib
- (3)—mādu inuma -ām- ù
- (4)—šalāmu kur-ia ù ištu "1/2 7." "maqātu ! "
- (5)—ù šu--ka4 (šalāmu) šu-(šalāmu) É- dumu-meš-ka4
- (6)—DAM-meš ANŠE-kur--meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš
- (7)—kur-ki-ka4 ma-gal lu-ú -mu a-mur at-ŠEŠ-ia !
Paragraph II
- (8)—Inuma ! šapā ana iāši ..
- (9)—ana mi--mi --//-- lā bšu ! ..
- (10)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ipri-ka ana -ri-ia !
- (11)—šanu' 'udu ù lā šemû --//-- .. inuma
- (12)—ti-na- // ramu ù lā ti-ša-??
- (13)—mimma ina bu-ka4 ù 1.(diš)--šāru
- (14)—šemû ù anuma utu-XX-"dIM"
- (15)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ipri-ia ana -ri-ka4 !
- Note for Paragraph II
- It can be seen that lines 10 and 15 are identical. Lines 8 - 15 is a treatise on the role of the pharaoh in society; the scribe is in the employ of the mayor/governor of towns, regions, and city-states. So the ideas (a treatise on the Role of Pharaoh), put forward in a clay tablet letter are either the scribe's, or the governor's, or a combination of both people; or even a small group of people consorting upon the topic of the letter.
- The King of Alashiya is not a typical Governor. The kingdom of Alashiya is seafaring, thus probably more independent, and with a shipping mercantile has advantages over city-states that are land-locked. Also, Alashiya has access to forested land, besides its marine (ocean) industries.
- Note for Paragraph II
Introduction to Pharaoh & Treatise to RÁ (the Pharaoh)[]
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),[2] and Akkadian, and English.
- Introduction and Treatise
- Introduction to Pharaoh (Para Ia)
- (lines 1-7)
1.um-ma _Šarru kur_ A-la-ši-ia
___Umma, – Šarru Land Alashiya
___Message, – King, Land Alashiya
2.a-na _Šarru kur_ Mi-iṣ-ri, ŠEŠ-ia-ma (CDLI-(not a-hi-ia-ma))
___ana Šarru Land Mi-iṣ-ri(Miṣri), – ŠEŠ-ia-ma
___To King, Land Egypt(Miṣri), – Brother(compatriot)-Mine
3.-ma-ad i-nu-ma -ma- ù
___idû(lamādu) inūma, – šalāmu, – u
___Know now, – "I-have-peace", – and
4.ša-lim kur-ia
___šalāmu mātu-ia
___peace land-mine
4.4--------ù iš-tu () 7(diš) mu-qut? (ka4=qa)?
___----------u ištu (1/2 7)-(diš)(7 & 7), maqātu — !
___----------and from (1/2 7)(7 & 7 times), I bow — !
5.ù šu--()(ka4 šu---_É_-(
)(ka4 dumu-meš-(
)(ka4
___u ša-()(ka4, ša-_É_-(
)(ka4, dumu-meš-(
)(ka4
___ And Prosperity(Peace)-Yours, Prosperity household-Yours, sons(pl.)—Yours
6. _dam-meš -kur--meš geš_ ka4 () _meš_
___ dam-meš, -kur--meš, geš_ ka4 () _meš_
___ wives(pl.), (stable)-horses(pl.), chariot-(forces)- () Yours (pl.)
7. _kurki_-()(ka4
____kurki_-()(ka4
___ (country-Land)-Yours(()(ka4))
7.2--------ma-gal lu-ú -mu a-mur at-<ta> ŠEŠ-ia
___----------ma-gal lu-ú mu amāru at-<ta> ŠEŠ-ia — !
___---------- Greatly “may-there-be” peace “to be seen”, Brother(Compatriot)-Mine — !
(segue to Para 1b)
- Treatise on RÁ as Sun-god Pharaoh (Para Ib)
- (lines 8-15)
8.I-nu-ma ta-aš-tap- a-na ia-a-ši
___Inūma šapā ana iāši
___Now sent for me
9.a-na mi--mi la-a tu-(wu)-ši
___ana ?mi--mi? lā tu--ši, —
___for ?mi--mi?(Everybody(mimmû)), not wavering, — RÁ
10. _Lú-dumu_-ši-ip-ri-ka a-na -ri-ia
___Lú-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ka, – ana ru[3]-ia — !
___Messenger-Yours, – for Counterpart-Mine — !
((Note: ~(identical) lines 10 and 15 anchor the treatise.))
11.ša-ni-ud ù la-a iš-mi
___ šanu ′′ udu[4] – u lā šemû — !
___ (illustrious, praised–Sun-god-King), – and not listen — !
11.7--------I-nu-ma
___----------Inūma
___----------Now
12.ti-na- ni-qa-()-am ù la-a ti-ša#-#
___dannu-, – ni-qa(=KA, ()=pû="voice, utterances")-am u lā ša
___powerful-Yours, – roarings(ramāmu, in other Amarna letters), and not emplace
13.mi-ma i-na -bi-ka4 ù aš-šu-ú
___mimmu ina -bi-ka4-()
___anything in Heart-Yours()
13.6--------ú aš-šu-ú
___------------u aššu
___------------and because
14.eš15-ma-am
___šemû, —
___(you/we) Hear(listen), —
14.3--------ù a-nu-ma utu-XX-"dIM"
___------------u anūma utu-XX-"dIM", — !
___------------And Now (the Sun-god)(Pharaoh) is (as like) Baal, — !
15. _Lú-dumu_-ši-ip-ri-ia a-na -ri-ka4()
___Lú-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ia, – ana ru-ka4
___Messenger-Mine, – for Counterpart-Yours () — !
((Note: ~(identical) lines 10 and 15 anchor the treatise.))
(segue to Paragraph II, Gifts from the Pharaoh)
100 talents of copper, for a list of Pharaonic gifts[]
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),[2] and Akkadian, and English.
For 100 talents of copper sent by the Man (King/Governor) of Alashiya, (EA 34, Obverse, line 18), a long list of items are requested from the Egyptian Pharaoh (King) (line 20, following to break in clay tablet).
- (segue to Paragraph II, Gifts from the Pharaoh)
- Gifts from the Pharaoh (Para II)
segue
16.ù -lu-ú ut-ta-šir9-ka
___u lû ut-ta-šir9-yours
___And(therefor), the pinnacle (as) Sun-god RA, as like Baal-(Yours)
17.i-na qa-(())-ti _lú-dumu_ ši-ip-<ri>-ia a-na ka-ta5
___ina qātu _lú-dumu_ ši-ip-<ri>-ia
___in (the) hand (of) messenger-Mine, — ((lúdumu ši-ip-<ri>-(Mine) ))
18.diš-me _gun uruda-meš_
___diš=1me _gun uruda-meš_
___diš=1One Hundred talents of copperpl.
18.5----------Ša-ni-tam ù a-nu-ma
___-------------Šanitam, – u enūma, —
___-------------Furthermore, – and now, —
19.ú-nu-ti- _meš_ -ba- lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4
___anūtu//unūtu- _meš_ abālu lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4
___"Heavenly-utensilsmeš, — Send messenger-Yours (lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4)
20.1=diš-en _geš_ ir-šu _geš -sig17_ šu-[ u ]-a
___1=dišen _geš_, – _geš -sig17_ šu-[ u ]-a
___((with)) 1=dišone ebony bedgiš, – gešgold-trimmed
21.ù _geš_-tu4 šu-hi-tu i-na -sig17
___u _geš_-tu4 šukītu,[5] – ina -sig17
___and (one) (type-of)gešchariot(šukītu), – in gold
22.ù (2 diš)anše-kur- ù 4u(40) 2 (diš) _-meš_ ù
___u 2(diš)anše-kur-, – u 4u(40) 2(diš) _-meš_, – u
___and 2 horses, – and 42 linen robes, – and
23.5u(50) _gú--meš_ ù (2 (diš)) -ši-ti __ ù
___5u(50) _gú--meš_, – ù (2 (diš)) -ši-ti, __ – u
___50 linen-shawlspl.,[6] – and (2 (diš)) linen robes, – and
24. 1(u)+4(diš geš--meš ù 1(u)+7(diš _za-_ a-ba-na-tu _ du10-_
___1(u)+4(diš geš--meš u 1(u)+7(diš _za-_ a-ba-na-tu _ du10-_
___10+4(14) geš--meš and 10+7(17) _za-_ a-ba-na-tu _ du10-_
25. [ ù ] iš-tu _-_ 4(diš) __ ù 4(diš) _-_
___ [ u ] ištu _-_, — 4(diš) __ ù 4(diš) _-_
___[ and ] from Linen()-(of the)-King, — 4(diš) __ and 4(diš) _-_
26. [ ù iš- ] -tu ú-nu-te ša i-ia-nu
___ [ u iš- ] -tu (ištu) únūtu, – ša i-ia-nu — !
___ [ and fr]om "Utensils", – which "there-is-none" — !
Paragraph III (EA 34, Reverse)[]
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),[2] and Akkadian, and English.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 34, "The Pharaoh's Reproach Answered", pp. 105-107.
- ^ a b c CDLI page for EA 34
- ^ Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, mihru, p. 132; English, "equal, counterpart; weir".
- ^ Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, šanu′′udu, p. 141; English, "illustrious, praised".
- ^ Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 34, "The Pharaoh's reproach answered", pp. 105-107, p. 106; footnote 5, Akkadian language "šukītu", for "chariot".
- ^ Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 34, "The Pharaoh's reproach answered", pp. 105-107, p. 106; footnote 6, GÚ.GADA, (also line 25), Akkadian language "kišādu", for "scarf worn around the neck".
- Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)
External links[]
- "drawing of EA 34, Obverse & Reverse" Line :(14)—šemû ù anuma utu-XX-"dIM]
- Line Drawing, cuneiform, and Akkadian, EA 34: Obverse & Reverse, CDLI no. P274290 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
- CDLI listing of all EA Amarna letters, 1-382
- Amarna letters
- Alashiya (Cypress) Amarna letters
- Kingdoms (Great Kings), countries, & regions Amarna letters