Amarna letter EA 100

Amarna letter EA 100, titled: "The City of Irqata to the King" is a short to moderate-length clay tablet Amarna letter from the city-state of Irqata, (modern Arqa, Lebanon), written during the Middle Babylonian Period to the Pharaoh of Egypt. Only one other city sent a clay tablet Amarna letter to the Pharaoh, namely Tunip, letter EA 59, titled: "From the Citizens of Tunip".

The letter concerns the "watch-guarding" of Irqata, regional warfare (with the Habiru/'Apiru), and the city's continued protection, and loyalty to the Egyptian Pharaoh. The letter implies their loyalty, their constant vigilance, and need for assistance from the Pharaoh, either implied by troop needs, or at least awareness from the Pharaoh, of their needs.

EA 100 is located at the British Museum, no 29825. Tablet letter EA 100 can be viewed here: Obverse: , Reverse: .

The letter

EA 100: "The City of Irqata to the King"

EA 100, letter one of one from the elders of city-state Irqata. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation.)

Obverse:

(Lines 1-10)--This tablet is a tablet from Irqata (Arqa). To the king, our lord: Message from Irqata and its el(d)ers.1 We fall at the feet of the king, our lord, 7 times and 7 times. To our lord, the Sun: Message from Irqata. May the heart of the king, (our) lord, know2 that we guard Irqata for him.

Paragraph II

(11-18)--When the [ki]ng, our lord, sent D[UMU-Bi-Ha-A, he said to [u]s, "Message of the king: Guard Irqata!"3 The sons of the traitor to the king seek our harm;4 Irqata see[ks]5 loyalty to the king.

Paragraph III

(19-22)--As to [silver] having been given to S[u]baru (SÃÂº-ba-ru, ) al[ong with] 30 horses and cha[riots],

Reverse:

Paragraph III-B

(23)--May you know the mind of Irqata!

(24-32)--When a tablet from the king arrived (saying) to ra[id] the land that the 'A[piru] had taken [from] the king, they wa[ged] war with us against the enemy of our lord, the man whom you pla[ced] over us.6 Truly we are guarding the l[and].7 May the king, our lord, heed the words of his loyal servants.

Paragraph IV

(33-44)--May he grant a gift to his servant(s) so our enemies will see this and eat dirt.8 May the breath of the king not depart from us.9 We shall keep the city gate barred until the breath of the king reaches us. Severe is the war against us — terribly, terribly.--(complete, only very minor lacunas, lines 1-44)

The Habiru/Apiru

The mention of the Habiru relates to a major conflict of the time, the takeover of city-states or regions by the Habiru. The map shows various cities and regions, and their respective dealings with the Habiru. (There are only 3 letters from Labaya of ÃÂ akmu/Shechem.) The next closest mention of the Habiru is from the Jerusalem letters of Abdi-Heba, directly south at Jerusalem, letters EA 286, 287, 288, 289, and EA 290.

Spellings for Habiru in the Amarna letters

EA 100, l. 26—KUR,.. ÃÂ¡a ÃÂ¬l-qÃÂº LÃÂ.MEÃÂ GAZ,.. [ iÃÂ¡tu ]–.]–( LÃÂ-MEÃÂ GAZ )
EA 271, l. 16—..lÃÂº-meÃÂ¡ Sa-GaZ-meÃÂ¡ .. ( Men (pl), SA.GAZMEÃÂ(pl)
EA 290, l. 24—..Ha-PÃÂ-Ri .. ( Hapiru ( 'Apiru ))
EA 299, l. 18—..da-an-nu LÃÂ-SA-GAZ-meÃÂ¡ .. ( "Strengthening" - LÃÂ.SA.GAZ.MEÃÂ ..( "Strengthening Habiru" )
EA 366, l. 21—.. {LÃÂ} SA-GAZ .. ( LÃÂSA-GAZ (Habiru))

Akkadian text

Text: Akkadian language, sumerograms, Egyptianisms, etc.

Akkadian:

Obverse: Paragraph I (see here: )

(Line 1)—Ã¡Â¹Â¬up-pÃÂ an-nu-ÃÂº,.. Ã¡Â¹Âup-pÃÂ–.–.–.–.–.–.–(Tablet this,.. tablet (of)- )

(2)— _URU_-IR-Qa-Ta,.. a-na (lugal=ÃÂ ÃÂR-ru)_LUGAL_-ri–.–.–(-City-state-Irqata-(Arqa),.. to (the)-King—!.. )

(3)— _EN_-nu,.. um-ma,.. _URU_-IR-Qa-Ta–.–(Lord-Ours,.. "message thus",.. Quote-City-state-Irqata—!..-- )

(4)—ÃÂ¹ _LÃÂ.MEÃÂ_ ÃÂ¡i-bu(!)-ti-ÃÂ¡i,..–.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.–(--and MEN(pl) elders,..—! )

(5)—a na _GÃÂR.MEÃÂ_,.. -_LUGAL_-ri _EN_-nuUnquote,..–.–(at (the) Feet(pl),.. "King-Lord-Ours",.. )

(6)—7 ÃÂ¡u,.. 7 ta-an-ni,.. am-qÃÂº-ut!..–.–.–.–.–.–(7 times,.. (and) 7 'times again',.. we bow—!,.. )(?we address you?UnQuote)

(7)—a na EN(=BÃÂlu)-nu,.. An-UTU,.. um ma--–.(.. To Lord-Ours,.. God-"Sun-God",.. "message thus"-(of) -- )

(8)—URU-IR-Qa-Ta!.. "i-de ÃÂ ÃÂ(=lÃÂ¬b)-bi"–.–.–(..City-state-Irqata—!.. ..Quote"Know (in the)-HEART (of the)" -- )

(9)—LUGAL EN,.. i-nu-ma ni-na-Ã¡Â¹Â£a-ru–.–.–( --King-Lord—!.. .."Now (-at-this-time)" (we) 'Watch-Guard' -- )

(10)—URU-IR-Qa-Ta,.. a na ÃÂ¡a-ÃÂ¡u—!...–.–.–.–.–(City-state-Irqata,.. for Him—!"UnQuote ....(i.e. for the Pharaoh) )

(Line 1)--(Tablet this,.. tablet- )

(2)--(-City-state-Irqata-(Arqa),.. to (the)-QuoteKing—!.. )

(3)--(-BÃÂlu-nuUnquote,.. "umma",.. City-Irqata—!.. )

(4)--(ÃÂ¹ LÃÂ.MEÃÂ -(ÃÂ¡ÃÂ«bu)"the elders"—!.. )

(5)--(ana ÃÂ¡ÃÂªpu(meÃÂ¡),.. "LUGAL(=ÃÂ ÃÂR-ru)-BÃÂlu-nu",.. )

(6)--(7 ÃÂ¡u (ÃÂ¹) 7 ta-an-ni, maqÃÂtu!.. )

(7)--(ana BÃÂlu-nu,.. d-UTU,.. umma --)

(8)--(City-Irqata!.. .."IdÃÂ» (in the)-ÃÂ ÃÂ(=lÃÂ¬b)-bi (=libbu)" -- )

(9)--(LUGAL EN!.. ..InÃÂ«ma(=enÃÂ«ma) naÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂru -- )

(10)--(-City-Irqata,.. ana ÃÂ¡ÃÂ¢ÃÂ¡u!.... )

Paragraph I–Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

segue:

Paragraph II

(11)—I-nu-ma yu-wa-ÃÂ¡i-ra,.. LUGAL,..–.–.–.–("Now-(at-this-time)",.. sent,.. (the) King- )

(12)—EN-nu,.. 1.diÃÂ¡-DUMU-Bi-Ha-A,.. ÃÂ–.–.–(..-Lord-Ours,.. 1.-DUMU(son(=compatriot))-Bi-Ha-A,.. And,.. )

(13)—yi-iq-bi,.. a na ia-ÃÂ¡i-nu–.–.–.–.–.–(..He said,.. to us,.. )

(14)—QuoteUm ma LUGAL,.. ÃÂ-Ã¡Â¹Â£a-ru-mi–.–(Quote"Message thus" (the) King,.. Guard!.. )

(15)—URU-IR-Qa-Ta!..Unquote .. DUMU.MEÃÂ,.. )--(City-state-Irqata!Unquote.. "Sons"(Compatriots),.. )

(16)—LÃÂ-ÃÂ¡a-ri LUGAL-ri–.–.–.–.–.–(of the traitor,.. (of the)King,.. )

(17)—tu-ba-ÃÂº-na-nu!..–.–.–.–.–.–("seek harm"(attack/'to rise up')!.. )

(18)—URU-IR-Qa-Ta,.. tu-a-[-ÃÂº!.. ]–.–(City-Irqata,.. "seeks loyalty"!..(="to be good") )

(11)--(InÃÂ«ma aÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂ»/uÃÂ¡ÃÂ¡uru,.. LUGAL(=ÃÂ ÃÂR-ru)- )

(12)--(BÃÂlu-nu,.. 1. DUMU-Bi-Ha-A,.. ÃÂ,.. )

(13)--(..qabÃÂ»,.. ana iÃÂÃÂ¡i,.. )

(14)--(Quote"Umma" (the) LUGAL: NaÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂru!.. )

(15)--(City-Irqata!..Unquote .. DUMU.MEÃÂ (of),.. )

(16)--(LÃÂ-ÃÂ¡a-ri,.. (of the)-ÃÂ arru,.. )

(17)--(tebÃÂ»-("us")!.. )

(18)--(City-Irqata,.. tÃÂ¢bu!... )

Paragraph II–Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.

segue:

Paragraph-(lines 11-18)

Paragraph-(lines 19-32)

Paragraph III

(19)—Ki-ta a-na,.. LUGAL-ri,..–.–.–.–(As to(Whether),.. King,.. )

(20)—i-nu-ma,.. na-ad-nu [ x a-na,.. –.–.("Now-(at-this-time)",.. "having given"("to throw/cast"),.. (x="silver"),.. to,.. )

(21)—KUR (land Sumerogram)|KUR-SÃÂº-Ba-Ri,.. qa-du,..–.–.–.–.–.–(Land-Subaru,.. "handed over",.. )

(22)—(3x(u) ANÃÂ E.KUR.RA.MEÃÂ [ (ÃÂ¹) giÃÂ¡-GIGIR.MEÃÂ ]–.–(30 Horses [ (and) chariots ],.. )

(19)--(KÃÂ« ana,.. LUGAL-ri(ÃÂ ÃÂR-ri),.. )

(20)--(inÃÂ«ma,.. nadÃÂ» [ x ana ],.. )

(21)--(KUR-Su-Ba-Ri,.. qÃÂtu.. )

(22)--(30 ANÃÂ E.KUR.RA.MEÃÂ [ (ÃÂ¹) (GIÃÂ ).GIGIR.MEÃÂ ],.. )

(end Obverse)

Reverse: (see here: )

Paragraph III (cont.)

(23)—Ti-de,.. ÃÂ ÃÂ(=lÃÂ¬b)-bi URU-IR-Qa-Ta!..–.–.–(..Know,.. (the) mind(=heart) (of)-City-Irqata!.. )

segue:

(24)—I-nu-ma,.. ka-ÃÂ¡i-id –.–.–.–.–.–(.."Now-(when)",.. "arrived"("emplaced"),.. )

(25)—Ã¡Â¹Âup-pÃÂ,.. LUGAL QuoteA-na ÃÂ¡a-[ -ha-at ]--(..tablet (of the) King,.. Quote"To Raid"("to strip") -- )

(26)—KUR,.. ÃÂ¡a ÃÂ¬l-qÃÂº LÃÂ.MEÃÂ GAZ,.. [ iÃÂ¡tu ]–.–(LAND,.. which "taken" (by) LÃÂ.MEÃÂ -("Habiru")(gaz),.. [ from ])

(27)—LUGAL-ri,..Unquote i-te9-ep-pi-[ -ÃÂ¡u ]–.–( (the) King,..Unquote "waging war"("attack"-ing) -- )

(28)—nu-KÃÂR,.. it-ti-nu,.. a na KÃÂR–.–.–(..(in) War(fare),.. "with-us"(against-us),.. by (the)ENEMY,.. )

(29)—EN-nu,.. LÃÂ ti-ÃÂ¬ÃÂ¡-ta-[ -pÃÂ¡r-ÃÂ¡u ]–.–( (of) Lord-Ours,.. (The)-MAN,.. "emplaced",.. )

(30)—UGU-nu,.. a di ni-na-Ã¡Â¹Â£a-ru,.. ki–.–("OVER-us",.. "until" "guarding",.. "as if" )

segue:

(31)—yi-ÃÂ¬ÃÂ¡-mÃÂ©,.. LUGAL-ru EN-nu,.. –.–(Hear("Listen"),.. King-Lord-Ours,.. )

(32)—a-wa-te,.. ARAD.MEÃÂ ki-ti-ÃÂ¡u,.. –.–((the) 'words'("explanations") (of) SERVANT-S(pl)-yours!.. )

segue:

(23)--(..IdÃÂ»,.. (the) ÃÂ ÃÂ(=lÃÂ¬b)(=heart) (of)-City-Irqata!.. )

segue:

(24)--(InÃÂ«ma,.. kaÃÂ¡ÃÂdu -- )

(25)--(Ã¡Â¹Âuppu LUGAL(ÃÂ ÃÂRru),.. QuoteAna ÃÂ ahÃÂÃ¡Â¹Âu -- )

(26)--(KUR,.. ÃÂ¡a leqÃÂ» (by) LÃÂ.MEÃÂ "Habiru"(gaz),.. iÃÂ¡tu -- )

(27)--( ÃÂ ÃÂR-ri(ÃÂ arru),..Unquote tabÃÂ» -- )

(28)--(nukurtu,..itti-nu,.. ana nukurtu -- )

(29)--(BÃÂlu-nu,.. "emplaced" -- )

(30)--(--UGU-nu(eli/muhhi-nu),.. adi naÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂru,.. kÃÂ®,.. )

segue:

(31)--(Hear("Listen"),.. King-Lord-Ours,.. )

(32)--((the) amatu,.. ARAD.MEÃÂ -kÃÂ¢ti!.. )

Paragraph III–Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.

Paragraph-(lines 33-43)

Paragraph IV

(33)—ÃÂ,.. ia-di-na,.. NÃÂG-BA,.. –.–( ..And,.. (may) he ("grant"))"know",.. GIFTS,.. )

(34)—a na ARAD-ÃÂ¡u,.. ÃÂ¹,.. ti-da-ga-lu,.. –(to SERVANTS-his,.. and,.. (see)"to look",.. )

(35)—LÃÂ.MEÃÂ, a-ia-bu-nu ÃÂ¹,.. –.–.–.–(MEN(pl), "enemies"?,.. and,.. )

(36)—ti-ka-lu ep-ra!... ÃÂ¡a-ri–.–.–.–.–(..Eat Dirt!.. (May the)-Breath,.. )

(37)—LUGAL-ri,.. ÃÂº-ul ti-na-mu-uÃÂ¡--(..(of the) King,.. Not "depart"(leave),.. )

(38)—iÃÂ¡-tu mu-hi-nu,..–.–.–.–.–.–(from "upon us"!.. )

(39)—a-bu-la nu-ÃÂº-du-lu,.. a-di,..–((The)-"City-Gate" "is barred",.. until,.. )

(40)—ka-ÃÂ¡a-di,.. ÃÂ¡a-ri–.–.–.–.–(..("emplaced")"Returned,.. (the)-Breath,.. )

(41)—LUGAL,.. a na ia-ÃÂ¡i-nu –.–(..(of the) King,.. for Us!.. )

segue:

(42)—kal-ga,.. nu-KÃÂR,.. UGU-nu!.. –(..("All")Severe,.. Warfare,.. UPON-us!.. )

(43)—[ ma-]-GAL!.. ma-GAL!.. –.–("Strongly",.. "Strongly",.. (Terribly!.. Terribly!...) )

(33)--( ..ÃÂ,.. idÃÂ»?,.. NÃÂG-BA,.. )

(34)--(ana ARAD-ÃÂ¡u,.. ÃÂ,.. dagÃÂlu,.. )

(35)--(LÃÂ.MEÃÂ (pl), a-ia-bu-nu,.. ÃÂ¹,.. )

(36)--(akÃÂlu eperu!... ÃÂ ÃÂru,.. )

(37)--(LUGAL-ri(ÃÂ ÃÂR-ri),.. ul tamÃÂ»,.. )

(38)--(iÃÂ¡tu muhhu!... )

(39)--(Abullu xxx,.. adi )

(40)--(kaÃÂ¡ÃÂda,.. ÃÂ¡ÃÂru,.. )

(41)--(LUGAL,.. ana iÃÂÃÂ¡i-nu,.. )

segue:

(42)--(kalu,.. nukurtu,.. UGU-nu,.. )

(43)--(magal!.. magal!... )

Paragraph IV–Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.

References

Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, )
Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Parpola, Simo, Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I through Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119Ã¢ÂÂ145), 165 pages.

External links

Photo, EA 100: Obverse
Photo, EA 100: Reverse
Obverse (photo only)
Reverse (photo only)
Line Drawing, cuneiform, and Akkadian, EA 100: Obverse & Reverse, CDLI no. P270927 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
Link to all 382 EA Amarna letters, ( Chicago Digital Library Initiative )

Version history (cuneiform)

Artifacts Cuneiform, line-by-line, ( Chicago Digital Library Initiative )

Amarna letter EA 100

The letter

EA 100: "The City of Irqata to the King"

The Habiru/Apiru

Spellings for Habiru in the Amarna letters

Akkadian text

See also

References

External links

Version history (cuneiform)