Amarna letter EA 147, titled A Hymn to the Pharaoh,
[1] is a moderate length
clay tablet
Amarna letter (mid 14th century BC) from
Abimilku of
Tyre-(called Ṣurru in the Abimilku letters, and an
island, until the time of
Alexander the Great, 330 BC). The letter is a twin letter to
EA 149, which is identical in length, and complexity, and EA 147 appears to precede EA 149.
General overview
The letter concerns the intrigues of neighboring
city-states and their rulers; however the letter is a missive on the religious setting of Tyre, and the personal explanation of the view of the Pharaoh of Egypt, in a religious, and righteous 'way of life' of the people of Tyre towards Egypt, and the Pharaoh, as the Sun God.
The
clay tablet letter is written on the Obverse, Bottom, Reverse, Top (which is bottom of Reverse), and Left Side, leaving no spaces, not inscribed. The
British Museum website for the EA 147 letter (with photo of Reverse), gives the approximated dimensions as: 3 1/4 X 2 1/4 in, ( 3.25 inches (83 mm) / 2.25 inches (57 mm), or 8.3 cm X 5.7 cm ).
EA 147 is located at the
British Museum, no 29812.
The
Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are mid-14th century BC, about
1360 BC and 35? 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.
Categorization and characteristics
Amarna letter EA 147 is a missive (a letter sent), but more accurately, a
treatise or
essay, on the Role of the Pharaoh as Sun-God, and "Protector", etc.
Letter 147 is in the category of Amarna letters, which has the following specifics:
- EA 147 is undamaged (with few minor surface scrapes).
- It is of moderate length, a single
clay tablet (not part of a series, ex 2-tablet letter, or a listing like
EA 13,
14 or
22).
- It has clarity of
cuneiform characters, probably for two reasons: A–The execution of the scribe; and B–The preparation of a
clay mixture (probably with added ingredients), which caused a hardened
clay tablet. (The
scribe's story, demanded a higher performing clay tablet.(?))
- The Letter 147 story contains: Obverse:—Introduction & Clause 1;
Bottom—An ending to the Obverse, and transition to Reverse;
Reverse-(Clause 2 & 3), which begins (line 30), with the
Akkadian word for "Help!" (and standing alone, with the next 2-words of line 30 beginning the start of Clause 2), and with the Reverse ending with two
glossenkeils (line 56, only 2 words), translated as '
:gl "I am at rest"; and
:gl "I am confident"
[2] (end of line). (Note: there are multiple
paragraphs and sub-paragraphs in EA 147, a 4-section letter, & see the
Akkadian cuneiform section.)
- The story of EA 147, is that it is a missive (or
treatise or
essay), on A Hymn to the Pharaoh (in 3 "duplicating clauses"). Clause 4 is the information to the Pharaoh, and the EA 147 ending. (Note: one would have to predict whether the layout of the letter was totally planned. The actual information in the letter (to the
Pharaoh, or his post office—
Bureau of Correspondence), only begins after the Reverse Side (beginning of the closing-(tablet ending) Clause 4 section), continuing from lines 57-60, and then continuing to the Left Side, for 8 lines, lines 64-71, (longer lines, due to the tallness of the
tablet). The very last line (71), the Scribe writes: Enūma idû, "Now (at this time), know!" ("Now, be informed!").
- The reverse (Clauses 2 – 3), is separated by an Exclamation, (an
Interjection), line 40: [line 39: "Upon front-mine, upon (
glossenkeil):back-mine!], "I carry (bring), the Causes (intentions) (Akkadian: amatu (word, matter)),
[3] King-Lord
Li-mine!" (Almost certainly, the
scribe—(or
Abimilku):–A, intended to get to the reverse side in the manner that he did; B, had to get through "Clause 3" to the ending of the Reverse, with its 2 closing
glossenkeils). How he continued to the end of the letter would have to be speculation. And,.. remembering whether
Abimilku played a part in the formation of this great story, letter 147.
(Another minor Exclamation occurs on line 24.6: "Look at this!" [the start of Paragraph 2-c])
- Because Letter 147 contains 3-duplicating clauses,
Akkadian language words, and some phrases, are repeated. For example 3 times for the phrase day-by-day ("day and day", in the letter). It is used twice in Clause 1, Obverse (paragraph I-b) & the Bottom transition to the Reverse (the ending of Clause 1). The third usage is in the letter's ending, (Clause 4).
Other repeated words are for example: "returns" (Akkadian sahāru, (3 times)), "breath" (hašû, (5)), "emerges/returns" (aṣû, (5)), and "now" (enūma, (numerous)).
- Letter 147 uses 7
glossenkeils (a high number usage).
Amarna letter EA 147
|
EA 147 Glossenkeil
|
EA 147
Akkadian language
|
translation
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeil #1 line 12 Obverse
|
ha-ap-si
|
arm "power of his arm"
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeil #2 line 28, Bottom
|
a-
ru-
u
|
"he is satisfied"
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeil #3 line 36, Reverse
|
ku-
na (exclamation) ku
|
"Prepare!"
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeil #4 line 38, Reverse
|
ia-
a-
ia-
ia (exclamation)
|
"yes, yes, yes!" (Yay!!)
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeil #5 line 39, Reverse
|
su-
ri-
ia
|
"my back"
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeils #6,7 line 56, Reverse
|
nu-uh-ti
|
"I am at rest"
|
Amarna letter EA 147
|
Glossenkeils #6,7 line 56, Reverse
|
ba-ti-i-ti
|
"I am confindent"
|
Text (minus obverse and reverse (hymn omitted))
- Reverse
- bottom to side:
- (57-60) I indeed said to the Sun, the father of the king, my lord, "When shall I see the face of the king my lord?"
- Side (left)
- (61-71) I am indeed guarding Tyre, the principal city,11 for the king, my lord, until the powerful arm of the king comes forth over me, to give me water to drink and wood to warm myself. Moreover, Zimredda, the king of Sidon, writes daily to the rebel
Aziru, the son of 'Abdi-Ašratu, about every word he has heard from Egypt. I herewith write to my lord, and it is good that he knows.12 (end of letter (few, or no lacunae))
Text: A Hymn to the Pharaoh
EA 147, letter two of ten from
Abimilku. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation.)
[4]
- Obverse
[5]
- (Lines 1-8) the king, my lord, my god, my Sun: Message of
Abi-Milku, your servant. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, 7 times and 7 times. I am the dirt under the sandals (and "shoes") of the king, my lord. My lord is the Sun who comes forth over all lands day by day,1 according to the way (of being) of the Sun, his gracious father.
- (9-15) who gives life by his sweet breath and returns with his north wind;2 who establishes the entire land in peace, by the power of his arm
:(gl–𒃵)
ha-
ap-
ši; who gives forth his cry in the sky like
Baal,3 and all the land is frightened4 at his cry.
- (16-21) The servant herewith writes to his lord that he heard the gracious messenger of the king who came to his servant, and the sweet breath that came forth from the mouth of the king, my lord, to his servant—his breath came back!
- (22-28) Before the arrival of the messenger of the king, my lord, breath had not come back; my nose was blocked.5
- (Obverse)-Bottom
- (25-29) Now that the breath of the king has come forth to me, I am very happy and
:(gl–𒃵) :
ha-
ru-
u (he is satisfied), day by day.6
- (29-38) Because I am happy, does the earth not pr[osp]er?7 (i.e. (minus 3 cuneiform characters for "Help!"), "Don't worry, just be happy")
- Reverse7-(minus 3 cuneiform characters)
[6]
- (30-30.4) Help—! (i.e: "Help—!, us now, please")
- (30.4-38) When I heard the gracious me[sse]nger from my lord, all the land was in fear of my lord, when I heard the sweet breath and the gracious messenger who came to me. When the king, my lord, said
:(gl–𒃵) ku-na "(Prepare)8 before the arrival of a large army," then the servant said to his lord
:(gl–𒃵) ia-a-i—ia ("Yes, yes, yes"__(( Yaaay ! )) )9
- (39-51) On my front and on sú-ri-ia (my back) I carry the word of the king, my lord. Whoever gives heed to the king, his lord, and serves him in his place, the Sun com(e)s forth over him, and the sweet breath comes back from the mouth of his lord. If he does not heed the word of the king, his lord, his
city is destroyed, his house is destroyed, never (again) does his name exist in all the land. (But) look at the servant who gives heed to ((to)) his lord. His city prospers, his house prospers, his name exists forever.
- (52-60) You are the Sun who comes forth over me, and a brazen wall set up for him,10 and because of the powerful arm :nu-uh—ti (I am at rest) : ha-ti-i-ti (I am confident).
Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English
Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),
[7] and
Akkadian, and
English.
Obverse
[8]
Introduction and start of Obverse
1.
A-
na _lugal_
lí-
ia _
dingir-
meš_-
ia _
dingir
utu_-
ia
___
A
na
Šarru
lí-
ia,
dingir-
meš-
ia,
dingir
utu-
ia
___To
King-
mine, (of) gods
pl.-
mine,
dSun-god-
mine
2.
um-
ma
A-
Bi-_lugal ARAD2_-
ka
___
um
ma
A-
Bi-_lugal ARAD2_-
ka
___message (of)
Abimilki-(servant)-
yours
3. (
7)
u (
7)
a-
na _giri3
meš
Šarru
EN_
lí-
ia
___(
7)
u (
7)
a
na GIRI3
meš,
Šarru
EN
lí-
ia, —
ma
qātu – !
___7-and-7 (times) at feet
pl., —
King
Lord-mine, — I bow – !
4.
A-
na-
ku
ip-
ru
iš-
tu
šu-
pa-
li
___
A
nā
ku (
Abimilki),
ep
eru
[9]
iš
tu
šu
pa
lû
[10]
___I (
Abimilki), the dirt(dust) from "the feet"-((two))
5.
ši-
ní
EN-
lí-
ia
be-
li
___
ši
na, —
EN-
ia,
bē
lu, –
___(two), —
Lord-
mine, Lord, –
6. _
dingir
utu_
ša
it-
ta-
ṣí
i-
na _
UGU_-
hi
___
d-
utu
ša
a
ṣ
û
i
na
UGU-
hi
___(the)
(god)Sun-God, Who Emerges ("returns") "Upon"
7. _
KUR_
ma-
ta-
ti
i-
na _u4_-
mi
ù _u4_-
mi-
ma
___mātu immatima?
i
na _u4_-
mi
ù _u4_-
mi-
ma
___(the) Land (+Matching?), for Day-by-Day-(daily,-!)(day-and-day)
8.
ki-
ma
ši-
ma-
at _
d
utu_
a-
bu-
šu _SAGA_
___
kī
ma
Šī
m
tu
d
utu
a
bu-
šu SAGA
___"As-Like",-- "Way of Being"(Fate, Destiny),-- (the)
dSun-God,- Father-
His, "Gracious" !
9.
ša
i-
ba-
li-
it
i-
na
še-
hi-
šu _du10-
ga_
___
ša
a
bā
l
u
i
na
še-
hi-
šu du10-
ga –!
___who brings(arrives), by Breath-His-Sweet –!
10.
ù
i-
sà-
hír
i-
na
ṣa-
pa-
ni-
šu
___
u
s
a
hāru
i
na
ṣa-
pa-
ni-
šu – !
___
and "Returns" by "North-wind"-
His – !
segue
11.
ša
it-
ta
ṣa-
ab
___
ša
it
ti
ṣā
bu –
___who with troops –
11.5------------------
gáb-
bi _
kur_-
ti
___---------------------
gab
bu
mā
ti
___---------------------all land
12.
i-
na
pa-
ša-
hi
i-
na
du-
ni-
zà
: (gl)–𒃵) :
ha-
ap-
ši
___
i
na
pa
šā
hu
i
na
da
nn
u(=danānu)
: (gl)–𒃵) :
ha-
ap-
ši
___into "Submission"("relenting"),.. By "Strength"(power)
: (gl)–𒃵) :(of his) "arm" !!
13.
ša
id-
din
ri-
ig-
ma-
šu
i-
na
ša10-
me
___
ša
id
û,
r
ig
mu-
šu
i
na
ša10-
me
___who "makes known", Voice-his, in "the Sky"
14.
ki-
ma
diškur
ù
tar-gu5-
ub
gáb-
bi
___
kī
ma
diškur
u
tar-gu5-
ub(eṭēru)
gab
bu – !
___Like
god
Baal –
and (eṭēru) "Finds and saves"' All – !
Bottom: (lines 26-30.3)
26.
še-
hu _
Ŝarru_
a-
na _
ugu_-
hi#-
ia#
___
še-
hu
Ŝarru
a
na _
ugu_-
hi#-
ia#
___"breath" (of)
King "upon us"
27.
ù
ha-
ad-
ia-
ti
ma-
gal
___
u, –
h
a
d
û —
ma-
gal—!
___
and-("then"), – "to be Happy"(to be glad=hadû) — great—!
28.
ù
: (gl)–𒃵) :
a-
ru-
ú
i-
na _u4_-
mi
u _u4_-[
mi ]-
ma
___
u, —
: (gl)–𒃵)
a-
ru-
ú, —
i
na _u4_-
mi
u _u4_-[
mi ]-
ma
___
And, —
: (gl)–𒃵) "He-is-satisfied, — for "Day-by-Day" —! (day-and-day)
29.
aš-
šum
ha-
dì-
ia-
ti
la-
a
ti-[
ši ]-
ir#
___
aš
šum
h
a
d
û, — '
l
ā
___"because of" "to-be-happy", — NOT sad
segue
Reverse
[11]
30.3
er-
ṣé-
tum
___
rē
ṣū
tu
[12]
___Help — ! (rēṣūtu)
See also
Notes
-
^
Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 147, "A Hymn to the Pharaoh", pp. 233-35.
-
^ Moran, p. 233.
-
^ Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, amatu, p. 120.
-
^
Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 147, "A Hymn to the Pharaoh", pp. 233-35.
-
^ Image:
[1]
-
^ Image:
[2]
-
^
CDLI page for EA 147
-
^ See here for EA 147 (size and shape, (condition) of Reverse):
[3]
-
^ Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, eperu, p. 124;
English, "dust".
-
^
Rainey, 1970. El Amarna Tablets, 359-379, Glossary:Vocabulary, šupalû,
English, "footstool" pp. 55-87, p. 83.
-
^ See here:
[4])
-
^ Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, rēṣūtu, p. 138;
English, "help".
References
-
Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover,
ISBN
0-8018-6715-0)
- Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh,
Parpola, Simo,
Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I thru Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119–145), 165 pages.
External links
- British Museum
- CDLI