Amarna letters
The designation Amarna letters (sometimes "Amarna correspondence") denotes an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru. The letters were found in Upper Egypt at Amarna, the modern name for the capital of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom, primarily from the reign of pharaoh Amenhotep IV, better known as Akhenaten (1350s - 1330s B.C.E.). The Amarna letters are unusual in Egyptological research, being mostly written in Akkadian cuneiform, the language not of Ancient Egypt, but of ancient Mesopotamia. The known tablets currently total 382 in number, 24 further tablets having been recovered since the Norwegian Assyriologist Jørgen Alexander Knudtzon's landmark edition of the Amarna correspondence, Die El-Amarna-Tafeln in two volumes (1907 and 1915).[1]
The Letters
These letters, consisting of cuneiform tablets mostly written in Akkadian — the international language of diplomacy for this period — were first discovered by local Egyptians around 1887, who secretly dug most of them from the ruined city (they were originally stored in an ancient building archaeologists have since called the Bureau of Correspondence of Pharaoh) and then sold them on the antiquities market. Once the location where they were found was determined, the ruins were explored for more. The first archaeologist who successfully recovered more tablets was William Flinders Petrie in 1891-92, who found 21 fragments. Émile Chassinat, then director of the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, acquired two more tablets in 1903. Since Knudtzon's edition, some 24 more tablets, or fragments of tablets, have been found, either in Egypt, or identified in the collections of various museums.[2]
The tablets originally recovered by local Egyptians have been scattered among museums in Cairo, Europe and the United States: 202 or 203 are at the Vorderasiatischen Museum in Berlin; 49 or 50 at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; seven at the Louvre; three at the Moscow Museum; and one is currently in the collection of the Oriental Institute in Chicago.[3]
The full archive, which includes correspondence from the preceding reign of Amenhotep III as well, contained over three hundred diplomatic letters; the remainder are a miscellany of literary or educational materials. These tablets shed much light on Egyptian relations with Babylonia, Assyria, the Mitanni, the Hittites, Syria, Canaan, and Alashiya (Cyprus). They are important for establishing both the history and chronology of the period. Letters from the Babylonian king Kadashman-Enlil I anchor the timeframe of Akhenaten's reign to the mid-14th century B.C.E. Here was also found the first mention of a Near Eastern group known as the Habiru, whose possible connection with the Hebrews remains debated. Other rulers include Tushratta of Mittani, Lib'ayu of Shehchem, Abdi-Heba of Jerusalem and the quarrelous king Rib-Hadda of Byblos, who in over 58 letters continuously pleads for Egyptian military help.
Letter Summary
Amarna Letters are arranged politically roughly counterclockwise:
|
Amarna Letters from Syria/Lebanon/Canaan are distributed roughly:
|
Amarna Letters List
Note: Many assignments are tentative; spellings vary widely. This is just a guide.
EA# | letter author to recipient | summary | notes |
---|---|---|---|
EA# 1 | Amenhotep III to Babylon king KadashmanEnlil | ||
EA# 2 | Babylon king KadashmanEnlil to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 3 | Babylon king KadashmanEnlil to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 4 | Babylon king KadashmanEnlil to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 5 | Amenhotep 3 to Babylon king KadashmanEnlil | ||
EA# 6 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 7 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 8 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 9 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 10 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 11 | Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 12 | princess to her lord | ||
EA# 13 | Babylon | ||
EA# 14 | Amenhotep 4 to Babylon king BurnaBuriash 2 | ||
EA# 15 | Assyria king AshurUballit 1 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 16 | Assyria king AshurUballit 1 to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 17 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 18 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 19 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 20 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 21 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 22 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 23 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 24 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 3 | ||
EA# 25 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 26 | Mitanni king Tushratta to widow Tiy | ||
EA# 27 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 28 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 29 | Mitanni king Tushratta to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA# 30 | Mitanni king to Palestine kings | ||
EA# 31 | Amenhotep 3 to Arzawa king Tarhundaraba | ||
EA# 32 | Arzawa king Tarhundaraba to Amenhotep 3(?) | ||
EA# 33 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA# 34 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA# 35 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA# 36 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA# 37 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA# 38 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA# 39 | Alashiya king to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA# 40 | Alashiya minister to Egypt minister | ||
EA# 41 | Hittite king Suppiluliuma to Huri[a] | ||
EA# 42 | Hittite king to pharaoh | ||
EA# 43 | Hittite king to pharaoh | ||
EA# 44 | Hittite prince Zi[k]ar to pharaoh | ||
EA# 45 | Ugarit king [M]istu ... to pharaoh | ||
EA# 46 | Ugarit king ... to king | ||
EA# 47 | Ugarit king ... to king | ||
EA# 48 | Ugarit queen ..[h]epa to pharaohs queen | ||
EA# 49 | Ugarit king NiqmAdda 2 to pharaoh | ||
EA# 50 | woman to her mistress B[i]... | ||
EA#051 | Nuhasse king Addunirari to pharaoh | ||
EA#052 | Qatna king Akizzi to Amenhotep 3 #1 | ||
EA#053 | Qatna king Akizzi to Amenhotep 3 #2 | ||
EA#054 | Qatna king Akizzi to Amenhotep 3 #3 | ||
EA#055 | Qatna king Akizzi to Amenhotep 3 #4 | ||
EA#056 | ... to king | ||
EA#057 | ... | ||
EA#058 | |||
EA#058 | [Qat]ihutisupa to king(?) obverse | ||
EA#059 | Tunip peoples to pharaoh | ||
EA#060 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#061 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#062 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to Pahanate | ||
EA#063 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#064 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#065 | Amurru king AbdiAsirta to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#066 | --- to king | ||
EA#067 | --- to king | ||
EA#068 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#069 | Gubal king RibAddi to Egypt official | ||
EA#070 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#071 | Gubal king RibAddi to Haia(?) | ||
EA#072 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#073 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #1 | ||
EA#074 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#075 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#076 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA#077 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #2 | ||
EA#078 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA#079 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #8 | ||
EA#080 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #9 | ||
EA#081 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #10 | ||
EA#082 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #3 | ||
EA#083 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #11 | ||
EA#084 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #12 | ||
EA#085 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #13 | ||
EA#086 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #4 | ||
EA#087 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #5 | ||
EA#088 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #14 | ||
EA#089 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #15 | ||
EA#090 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #16 | ||
EA#091 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #17 | ||
EA#092 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #18 | ||
EA#093 | Gubal king RibAddi to Amanappa #6 | ||
EA#094 | Gubla man to pharaoh | ||
EA#095 | Gubal king RibAddi to chief | ||
EA#096 | chief to RibAddi | ||
EA#097 | IapahAddi to SumuHadi | ||
EA#098 | IapahAddi to Ianhamu | ||
EA#099 | pharaoh to Ammia prince(?) | ||
EA#100 | Irqata peoples | ||
EA#1001 | Tagi to LabAya | ||
EA#101 | Gubla man to Egypt official | ||
EA#102 | Gubal king RibAddi to [Ianha]m[u] | ||
EA#103 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #19 | ||
EA#104 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #20 | ||
EA#105 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #21 | ||
EA#106 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #22 | ||
EA#107 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #23 | ||
EA#108 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #24 | ||
EA#109 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #25 | ||
EA#110 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #26 | ||
EA#111 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #27 | ||
EA#112 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #28 | ||
EA#113 | Gubal king RibAddi to Egypt official | ||
EA#114 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #29 | ||
EA#115 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #30 | ||
EA#116 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #31 | ||
EA#117 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #32 | ||
EA#118 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #33 | ||
EA#119 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #34 | ||
EA#120 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #35 | ||
EA#121 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #36 | ||
EA#122 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #37 | ||
EA#123 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #38 | ||
EA#124 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #39 | ||
EA#125 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #40 | ||
EA#126 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #41 | ||
EA#127 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #42 | ||
EA#128 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #43 | ||
EA#129 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #44 | ||
EA#129 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #45 | ||
EA#130 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #46 | ||
EA#131 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #47 | ||
EA#132 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #48 | ||
EA#133 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #49 | ||
EA#134 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #50 | ||
EA#135 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #51 | ||
EA#136 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #52 | ||
EA#137 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #53 | ||
EA#138 | Gubal king RibAddi to pharaoh #54 | ||
EA#139 | Ilirabih & Gubla to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#140 | Ilirabih & Gubla to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#141 | Beruta king Ammunira to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#142 | Beruta king Ammunira to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#143 | Beruta king Ammunira to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#144 | Zidon king Zimriddi to pharaoh | ||
EA#145 | [Z]imrid[a] to a official | ||
EA#146 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#147 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#148 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#149 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#150 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#151 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA#152 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA#153 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #8 | ||
EA#154 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #9 | ||
EA#155 | Tyre king AbiMilki to pharaoh #10 | ||
EA#156 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#157 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#158 | Amurru king Aziri to Dudu #1 | ||
EA#159 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#160 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#161 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#162 | pharaoh to Amurra prince | ||
EA#163 | pharaoh to ... | ||
EA#164 | Amurru king Aziri to Dudu #2 | ||
EA#165 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA#166 | Amurru king Aziri to Hai | ||
EA#167 | Amurru king Aziri to (Hai #2?) | ||
EA#168 | Amurru king Aziri to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA#169 | Amurru son of Aziri to a Egypt official | ||
EA#170 | BaAluia & Battiilu | ||
EA#171 | Amurru son of Aziri to pharaoh | ||
EA#172 | --- | ||
EA#173 | ... to king | ||
EA#174 | Bieri of Hasabu | ||
EA#175 | Ildaja of Hazi to king | ||
EA#176 | AbdiRisa | ||
EA#177 | Guddasuna king Jamiuta | ||
EA#178 | Hibija to a chief | ||
EA#179 | ... to king | ||
EA#180 | ... to king | ||
EA#181 | ... to king | ||
EA#182 | Mittani king Shuttarna to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#183 | Mittani king Shuttarna to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#184 | Mittani king Shuttarna to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#185 | Hazi king Majarzana to king | ||
EA#186 | [Majarzana] of Hazi to king #2 | ||
EA#187 | Satija of ... to king | ||
EA#188 | ... to king | ||
EA#189 | Qadesh mayor Etakkama | ||
EA#190 | pharaoh to Qadesh mayor Etakkama(?) | ||
EA#191 | Ruhiza king Arzawaija to king | ||
EA#192 | Ruhiza king Arzawaija to king #2 | ||
EA#193 | Dijate to king | ||
EA#194 | Damascus mayor Namiawaza to king #1 | ||
EA#195 | Damascus mayor Namiawaza to king #2 | ||
EA#196 | Damascus mayor Namiawaza to king #3 | ||
EA#197 | Damascus mayor Namiawaza to king #4 | ||
EA#198 | Ara[ha]ttu of Kumidi to king | ||
EA#199 | ... the king | ||
EA#200 | servant to king | ||
EA#2001 | Sealants | ||
EA#2002 | Sealants | ||
EA#201 | Artemanja of Ziribasani to king | ||
EA#202 | Amajase to king | ||
EA#203 | AbdiMilki of Sashimi | ||
EA#204 | prince of Qanu to king | ||
EA#205 | Gubbu prince to king | ||
EA#206 | prince of Naziba to king | ||
EA#207 | Ipteh ... to king | ||
EA#208 | ... to Egypt official or king | ||
EA#209 | Zisamimi to king | ||
EA#210 | Zisami[mi] to Amenhotep 4 | ||
EA#2100 | Carchemish king to Ugarit king Asukwari | ||
EA#211 | Zitrijara to king #1 | ||
EA#2110 | EwiriShar to Plsy | ||
EA#212 | Zitrijara to king #2 | ||
EA#213 | Zitrijara to king #3 | ||
EA#214 | ... to king | ||
EA#215 | Baiawa to king #1 | ||
EA#216 | Baiawa to king #2 | ||
EA#217 | A[h]... to king | ||
EA#218 | ... to king | ||
EA#219 | ... to king | ||
EA#220 | Nukurtuwa of (?) [Z]unu to king | ||
EA#221 | Wiktazu to king #1 | ||
EA#222 | pharaoh to Intaruda | ||
EA#222 | Wik[tazu] to king #2 | ||
EA#223 | En[g]u[t]a to king | ||
EA#224 | SumAdd[a] to king | ||
EA#225 | SumAdda of Samhuna to king | ||
EA#226 | Sipturi_ to king | ||
EA#227 | Hazor king | ||
EA#228 | Hazor king AbdiTirsi | ||
EA#229 | Abdi-na-... to king | ||
EA#230 | Iama to king | ||
EA#231 | ... to king | ||
EA#232 | Acco king Zurata to pharaoh | ||
EA#233 | Acco king Zatatna to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#234 | Acco king Zatatna to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#235 | Zitatna/(Zatatna) to king | ||
EA#236 | ... to king | ||
EA#237 | Bajadi to king | ||
EA#238 | Bajadi | ||
EA#239 | Baduzana | ||
EA#240 | ... to king | ||
EA#241 | Rusmania to king | ||
EA#242 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#243 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#244 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#245 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#246 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#247 | Megiddo king Biridija or Jasdata | ||
EA#248 | Ja[sd]ata to king | ||
EA#248 | Megiddo king Biridija to pharaoh | ||
EA#249 | |||
EA#249 | AdduUr.sag to king | ||
EA#250 | AdduUr.sag to king | ||
EA#2500 | Shechem | ||
EA#251 | ... to Egypt official | ||
EA#252 | Labaja to king | ||
EA#253 | Labaja to king | ||
EA#254 | Labaja to king | ||
EA#255 | MutBalu or MutBahlum to king | ||
EA#256 | Aiab to king | ||
EA#256 | MutBalu to Ianhamu | ||
EA#257 | BaluMihir to king #1 | ||
EA#258 | BaluMihir to king #2 | ||
EA#259 | BaluMihir to king #3 | ||
EA#260 | BaluMihir to king #4 | ||
EA#261 | Dasru to king #1 | ||
EA#262 | Dasru to king #2 | ||
EA#263 | ... to lord | ||
EA#264 | Gezer leader Tagi to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#265 | Gezer leader Tagi to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#266 | Gezer leader Tagi to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#267 | Gezer mayor Milkili to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#268 | Gezer mayor Milkili to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#269 | Gezer mayor Milkili to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#270 | Gezer mayor Milkili to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#271 | Gezer mayor Milkili to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#272 | Sum... to king | ||
EA#273 | BaLatNese to king | ||
EA#274 | BaLatNese to king #2 | ||
EA#275 | Iahazibada to king #1 | ||
EA#276 | Iahazibada to king #2 | ||
EA#277 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#278 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#279 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#280 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#281 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#282 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#283 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA#284 | Qiltu king Suwardata to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA#285 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#286 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#287 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#288 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#289 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#290 | Jerusalem king AbdiHiba to pharaoh | ||
EA#290 | Qiltu king Suwardata to king | ||
EA#291 | ... to ... | ||
EA#292 | Gezer mayor Addudani to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#293 | Gezer mayor Addudani to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#294 | Gezer mayor Addudani to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#295 | |||
EA#295 | Gezer mayor Addudani to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#296 | Gaza king Iahtiri | ||
EA#297 | Gezer mayor Iapah[i] to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#298 | Gezer mayor Iapahi to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#299 | Gezer mayor Iapahi to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#300 | Gezer mayor Iapahi to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#301 | Subandu to king #1 | ||
EA#302 | Subandu to king #2 | ||
EA#303 | Subandu to king #3 | ||
EA#304 | Subandu to king #4 | ||
EA#305 | Subandu to king #5 | ||
EA#306 | Subandu to king #6 | ||
EA#307 | ... to king | ||
EA#308 | ... to king | ||
EA#309 | ... to king | ||
EA#310 | ... to king | ||
EA#311 | ... to king | ||
EA#312 | ... to king | ||
EA#313 | ... to king | ||
EA#314 | Jursa king PuBaLu to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#315 | Jursa king PuBaLu to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#316 | Jursa king PuBaLu to pharaoh | ||
EA#317 | Dagantakala to king #1 | ||
EA#318 | Dagantakala to king #2 | ||
EA#319 | A[h]tirumna king Zurasar to king | ||
EA#320 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#321 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#322 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#323 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #4 | ||
EA#324 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #5 | ||
EA#325 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #6 | ||
EA#326 | Asqalon king Widia to pharaoh #7 | ||
EA#327 | ... the king | ||
EA#328 | Lakis mayor Iabniilu to pharaoh | ||
EA#329 | Lakis king Zimridi to pharaoh | ||
EA#330 | Lakis mayor SiptiBaLu to pharaoh #1 | ||
EA#331 | Lakis mayor SiptiBaLu to pharaoh #2 | ||
EA#332 | Lakis mayor SiptiBaLu to pharaoh #3 | ||
EA#333 | Ebi to a prince | ||
EA#334 | ---dih of Zuhra [-?] to king | ||
EA#335 | --- [of Z]uhr[u] to king | ||
EA#336 | Hiziri to king #1 | ||
EA#337 | Hiziri to king #2 | ||
EA#338 | Zi... to king | ||
EA#339 | ... to king | ||
EA#340 | ... | ||
EA#341 | ... | ||
EA#342 | ... | ||
EA#356 | myth Adapa & South Wind | ||
EA#357 | myth Ereskigal & Nergal | ||
EA#358 | myth fragments | ||
EA#359 | myth Epic of king of Battle | ||
EA#360 | ... | ||
EA#361 | ... | ||
EA#365 | Megiddo king Biridiya to pharaoh | ||
EA#367 | pharaoh to Endaruta of Akshapa | ||
EA#xxx | Amenhotep 3 to Milkili | ||
H#3100 | Tell elHesi | ||
P#3200 | Pella prince MutBalu to Yanhamu | ||
P#3210 | Lion Woman to king | ||
T#3002 | Amenhotep to Taanach king Rewassa | ||
T#3005 | Amenhotep to Taanach king Rewassa | ||
T#3006 | Amenhotep to Taanach king Rewassa | ||
U#4001 | Ugarit king Niqmaddu |
Chronology
William L. Moran summarizes the state of the chronology of these tablets as follows:
Despite a long history of inquiry, the chronology of the Amarna letters, both relative and absolute, presents many problems, some of bewildering complexity, that still elude definitive solution. Consensus obtains only about what is obvious, certain established facts, and these provide only a broad framework within which many and often quite different reconstructions of the course of events reflected in the Amarna letters are possible and have been defended....The Amarna archive, it is now generally agreed, spans at most about thirty years, perhaps only fifteen or so.[4]
From the internal evidence, the earliest possible date for this correspondence is the final decade of the reign of Amenhotep III, who ruled from 1388 (or 1391) BC to 1351 (or 1353) BC, possibly as early as this king's 30th regnal year; the latest date any of these letters were written is the desertion of the city of Amarna, commonly believed to have happened in the second year of the reign of Tutankhamun later in the same century in 1332 B.C.E. Moran notes that some scholars believe one tablet, EA 16, may have been addressed to Tutankhamun's successor Ay[5] However, this speculation appears improbable because the Amarna archives were closed by Year 2 of Tutankhamun when this king transfered Egypt's capital from Amarna To Thebes.
See also
- Abdi-Heba
- Labaya
- Ashur-uballit I
- See the town of "Lakiša", Lachish, for "find" of one tablet, EA 333.
Bibliography
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Research and Analysis
- Goren, Y., Finkelstein, I. & Na’aman, N., Inscribed in Clay - Provenance Study of the Amarna Tablets and Other Ancient Near Eastern Texts, Tel Aviv: Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, 2004. ISBN 965-266-020-5
External links
- Encyclopedia of el-Amarna Contains summaries of the letters.
- Mineralogical and Chemical Study of the Amarna Tablets - Provenance Study of the Amarna Tablets - University of Tel Aviv web page
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