Amarna letter EA 34



Amarna letter EA 34, titled: "The Pharaoh's Reproach Answered", is a moderately tall clay tablet Amarna letter from the King of Alashiya. ((Obverse)-See here: )

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" (túg)), 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 dramatically 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: )

Paragraph Ia


 * (Line 1)&mdash;Um-ma lugal kur A-La-ši-ia–.–(..Message (of)King Land Alashiya (ALaShia) )
 * (2)&mdash;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)&mdash;Li-ma-ad i-nu-ma šal-ma-ku ù–.–( Know (that)Now ("at this time") --///-- Peace -/- ..And )
 * (4)&mdash;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)&mdash;ù šu-lum-ka4 šu-lum É-kat dumu-meš-ka4–.–( .. and Peace --//-- Peaceful: House; Son(s)-yours; .. )
 * (6)&mdash;DAM-meš ANŠE-kur-ra-meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš–.–.–.–(.. Wive(s); Horse(s)(cavalry); Chariot(s)-yours )
 * (7)&mdash;kur-ki-ka4 ma-gal lu-ú šal-mu a-mur at-ŠEŠ-ia–.–(..All lands-yours, Great --/-- May (there) be Peace "To See" .. Brother-Mine ! )


 * (Note here Para Ib: ka ([[Image:B024 Hittite ka.jpg|100x24px]]) is not used for "yours"&mdash; "sons–yours; chariots–yours; land–yours." Instead qa (ka4) ([[Image:B099ellst.png|100x24px]]) is used. In this letter EA 34 "ka4" is more like 2 vertical strokes: [[Image:C+B-Persia-Cuneiform1.PNG|100x24px]][[Image:C+B-Persia-Cuneiform1.PNG|100x24px]]. Syllabic "ka" is not used until line 10, and "qa" until lines 12, & 17, Obverse. )

Paragraph II
 * (8)&mdash;I-nu-ma ! ta-aš-tap-ra a-na ia-ā-ši–.–.–(Now sent for Me .. )
 * (9)&mdash;a-na mi-nim-mi --//-- la-a tu-pe-ši RA–.–.–( for "everyone" "daily" --//-- Never(Not) "Wavering" (to part, hold-back) .. RA ! .. )
 * (10)&mdash;Lu2-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ka a-na mah-ri-ia–(.. Messenger-(Yours) for Counterpart-mine(-Ours) (my Equal) ! )
 * (11)&mdash;ša-ni-ud -/- ù la-ā iš-mi --///-- i-nu-ma–.–( .. Worthy(Illustrious) --//-- And Not Obey("Listen to") --////-- .. Now ..)
 * (12)&mdash;ti-na-ku // ni-qa-am(?ir-nim-am?) -//- ù la-ā ti-ša-?kah2?–(.. Powerful, / "Roaring" --//-- ..And Never(Not) "Having guile"(Doing evil) .. )
 * (13)&mdash;mi-ma i-na lib3-bi-ka4 -//- ù 1.(diš)-šu- ú–.–(..Anyone "in Heart-Theirs" --//-- ..And 1.(The Pharaoh's) (Speech)-(šāru)-"Callings"(Voice) ..)
 * (14)&mdash;šemû --///-- ù anuma utu-XX-"dIM"–.–(.. Obeyed(Listened-to) ---////--- And Now The Sun(Pharaoh) (is) "as-like" Baal ! ..)
 * (15)&mdash;Lu2-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ia a-na mah-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.

Akkadian
Obverse (See here: )

Paragraph Ia


 * (Line 1)&mdash;Umma lugal kur ALaShia (Alashiya))
 * (2)&mdash;ana lugal kur MișRi ŠEŠ-ia-ma ! 

Paragraph Ib
 * (3)&mdash;Lamādu inuma šal-ām-u ù
 * (4)&mdash;šalāmu kur-ia ù ištu "1/2 7." "maqātu ! "
 * (5)&mdash;ù šu-lum-ka4 (šalāmu) šu-lum(šalāmu) É-kat dumu-meš-ka4
 * (6)&mdash;DAM-meš ANŠE-kur-ra-meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš
 * (7)&mdash;kur-ki-ka4 ma-gal lu-ú šal-mu a-mur at-ŠEŠ-ia ! 


 * (Note here Para II: ka ([[Image:B024 Hittite ka.jpg|100x24px]]) is not used for "yours"&mdash; "sons, yours; chariots, yours; land, yours." Instead qa (ka4) ([[Image:B099ellst.png|100x24px]]) is used. In this letter EA 34 "ka4" is more like 2 vertical strokes: [[Image:C+B-Persia-Cuneiform1.PNG|100x24px]][[Image:C+B-Persia-Cuneiform1.PNG|100x24px]]. Syllabic "ka" is not used until line 10, and "qa" until lines 12, 17 Obverse. )

Paragraph II
 * (8)&mdash;Inuma ! šapāru ana iāši ..
 * (9)&mdash;ana mi-nim-mi --//-- lā bêšu RA ! ..
 * (10)&mdash;Lu2-DUMU-ši-ipri-ka ana mah-ri-ia !
 * (11)&mdash;šanu' 'udu ù lā šemû --//-- .. inuma
 * (12)&mdash;ti-na-ku // raMĀmu ù lā ti-ša-?kah2?
 * (13)&mdash;mimma ina lib3bu-ka4 ù 1.(diš)--šāru
 * (14)&mdash;šemû ù anuma utu-XX-"dIM"
 * (15)&mdash;Lu2-DUMU-ši-ipri-ia ana mah-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.

Introduction to Pharaoh & Treatise to RÁ (the Pharaoh)
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), 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.li-ma-ad i-nu-ma šal-ma-ku ù ___idû(lamādu) inūma, – šalāmu, – u ___Know now, – "I-have-peace", – and 4.ša-lim kur-ia ___šalāmu mātu-ia ___peace land-mine 4.4ù iš-tu ( šul )šú 7(diš) mu-qut? (ka4=qa)? ___--u ištu (1/2 7)-(diš)(7 & 7), maqātu &mdash; ! ___--and from (1/2 7)(7 & 7 times), I bow &mdash; ! 5.ù šu-lum-'(ka4 šu-lum--_É_-'(ka4 dumu-meš-'(ka4 ___u šalãmu-'(ka4, šalãmu-_É_-'(ka4, dumu-meš-'(ka4 ___ And Prosperity(Peace)-Yours, Prosperity household-Yours, sons(pl.)—Yours 6. _dam-meš anše-kur-ra-meš gešgigir_ ka4  _meš_ ___ dam-meš, anše-kur-ra-meš, gešgigir_ ka4  _meš_ ___ wives(pl.), (stable)-horses(pl.), chariot-(forces)-  Yours (pl.) 7. _kurki_-'(ka4 ____kurki_-'(ka4 ___ (country-Land)-Yours((ka4)) 7.2ma-gal lu-ú šal-mu a-mur at- ŠEŠ-ia ___--ma-gal lu-ú šalãmu amāru at- ŠEŠ-ia &mdash; ! ___-- Greatly “may-there-be” peace “to be seen”, Brother(Compatriot)-Mine &mdash; !

(segue to Para 1b)


 * Treatise on RÁ as Sun-god Pharaoh (Para Ib)
 * (lines 8-15)

8.I-nu-ma ta-aš-tap-ra a-na ia-a-ši ___Inūma šapāru ana iāši ___Now sent for me 9.a-na mi-nim-mi la-a tu-pe(wu)-ši RÁ ___ana ?mi-nim-mi? lā tu-pe-ši, &mdash; RA ___for ?mi-nim-mi?(Everybody(mimmû)), not wavering, &mdash; RÁ 10. _Lú-dumu_-ši-ip-ri-ka a-na mah-ri-ia ___Lú-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ka, – ana mihru -ia &mdash; ! ___Messenger-Yours, – for Counterpart-Mine &mdash; ! ((Note: ~(identical) lines 10 and 15 anchor the treatise.)) 11.ša-ni-ud ù la-a iš-mi ___ šanu ′′ udu – u lā šemû &mdash; ! ___ (illustrious, praised–Sun-god-King), – and not listen &mdash; ! 11.7I-nu-ma ___--Inūma ___--Now 12.ti-na-ku ni-qa--am ù la-a ti-ša#-kán# ___dannu-ku, – ni-qa(=KA, =pû="voice, utterances")-am u lā šakānu ___powerful-Yours, – roarings(ramāmu, in other Amarna letters), and not emplace 13.mi-ma i-na lib3-bi-ka4 ù aš-šu-ú ___mimmu ina lib3-bi-ka4- ___anything in Heart-Yours 13.6ú aš-šu-ú ___u aššu ___and because 14.eš15-ma-am ___šemû, &mdash; ___(you/we) Hear(listen), &mdash; 14.3ù a-nu-ma utu-XX-"dIM" ___u anūma utu-XX-"dIM", &mdash; ! ___And Now (the Sun-god)(Pharaoh) is (as like) Baal, &mdash; ! 15. _Lú-dumu_-ši-ip-ri-ia a-na mah-ri-ka4 ___Lú-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ia, – ana mihru-ka4 ___Messenger-Mine, – for Counterpart-Yours  &mdash; ! ((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), 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 al-lu-ú ut-ta-šir9-ka ___u elû 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--ia a-na ka-ta5 ___ina qātu _lú-dumu_ ši-ip--ia ___in (the) hand (of) messenger-Mine, &mdash; ((lúdumu ši-ip--(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, &mdash; ___-Furthermore, – and now, &mdash; 19.ú-nu-ti- _meš_ yu-ba-al lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4 ___anūtu//unūtu- _meš_ abālu lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4 ___"Heavenly-utensilsmeš, &mdash; Send messenger-Yours (lúdumu ši-ip-ri-ka4) 20.1=diš-en _geš_ ir-šu _gešesi kù-sig17_ šu-[ u ]-a ___dišen _geš_, – _gešesi kù-sig17_ šu-[ u ]-a ___((with)) dišone ebony bedgiš, – gešgold-trimmed 21.ù _gešgigir_-tu4 šu-hi-tu i-na kù-sig17 ___u _gešgigir_-tu4 šukītu, – ina kù-sig17 ___and (one) (type-of)gešchariot(šukītu), – in gold 22.ù (2 diš)anše-kur-ra ù 4u(40) 2 (diš) _túg-meš_ ù ___u 2(diš)anše-kur-ra, – u 4u(40) 2(diš) _túg-meš_, – u ___and 2 horses, – and 42 linen robes, – and 23.5u(50) _gú-túg-meš_ ù (2 (diš)) ku-ši-ti _túg_ ù ___5u(50) _gú-túg-meš_, – ù (2 (diš)) ku-ši-ti, _túg_ – u ___50 linen-shawlspl., – and (2 (diš)) linen robes, – and 24. 1(u)+4(diš geš-esi-meš ù 1(u)+7(diš _za-gin_ a-ba-na-tu _Ì du10-ga_ ___1(u)+4(diš geš-esi-meš u 1(u)+7(diš _za-gin_ a-ba-na-tu _Ì du10-ga_ ___10+4(14) geš-esi-meš and 10+7(17) _za-gin_ a-ba-na-tu _Ì du10-ga_ 25. [ ù ] iš-tu _túg-šàr_ 4(diš) _túg_ ù 4(diš) _gú-túg_ ___ [ u ] ištu _túg-šàr_, &mdash; 4(diš) _túg_ ù 4(diš) _gú-túg_ ___[ and ] from Linen(túg)-(of the)-King, &mdash; 4(diš) _túg_ and 4(diš) _gú-túg_ 26. [ ù iš- ] -tu ú-nu-te ša i-ia-nu ___ [ u iš- ] -tu (ištu) únūtu, – ša i-ia-nu &mdash; ! ___ [ and fr]om "Utensils", – which "there-is-none" &mdash; !

Paragraph III (EA 34, Reverse)
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.

44. _Lú-dumu_-ši-ip-ri-ia a-na mah-ri-ka4