Amarna letter EA 245

Amarna letter EA 245, (Reverse). Letter from Biridiya, King of Megiddo, to the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep III or his son Akhenaten. 14th century BCE. From Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. British Museum. ME 29855.

Amarna letter EA 245, titled: "Assignment of Guilt," ^[1] is a medium length clay tablet Amarna letter from Biridiya the governor-'mayor' of Magidda. It is letter number four of five from Biridiya.

The letter is in pristine condition except for a missing flake (lower-right, obverse) causing a lacuna at the end of a few lines. The cuneiform characters are finely inscribed, with some photos that can even show the individual strokes of the cuneiform characters (the stroke sequence). The letter is 47-lines long, and about 5-in tall. Letter EA 245 (see here-(Obverse): ), is numbered BM 29855, at the British Museum.

The Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are a mid 14th century BC, about 1350 BC and 20–25 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.

The letter

EA 245: "Assignment of Guilt"

EA 245, letter four of five. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation, and English from French.) ^[1]

(Obverse, see here )

(Lines 1-7)--Moreover,¹I urged my brothers,"If the god of the king, our lord, brings it about²that we overcome Lab'ayu, then we must bring him alive:–(gloss) ha-ia-ma to the king, our lord."

(8-14)--My mare, howeverhaving been put out of action :–-(gloss) tu-ra (having been shot), I took my place behind him :–(gloss) ah-ru-un-ú and rode with Yashdata.³But before my arrival they had struck him down :–(gloss) ma-ah-ṣú-ú.

(15-23)--Yašdata being truly your servant, he it was that entered with me into batt[le]. May [ ... ] [ ... ] thelife⁴of the king, my [lord], thathe may br[ing peace to ever]yone⁵in[the lands of]the king, [my] lord.

(Reverse, see here )

(24-35)--It had been Surata that took Labaya from Magidda. and said to me,"I will send him to the king by boat :–(gloss) a-na-yi"⁶Surata took him, but he sent him from Hinnatunu to his home, for it was Surata that had accepted from him :–(gloss) ba-di-ú his ransom.

(36-47)--Moreover, what have I done to the king, my lord, that he has treated me with contempt :–(gloss) ia₈-qí-ìl-li-ni and honored :–(gloss) ia₈-ka-bi-id myless importantbrothers?⁷It was Surata that let Lab'ayu go, and it was Surata that let Ba'l-mehir go, (both) to their homes. And may the king, my lord, know.--(complete Obverse & Reverse, EA 245, minor, restored lacunae, (and a small corner of clay tablet missing), total ines 1-47)

Akkadian text

The Akkadian language text: ^[2]

Akkadian:

Obverse (see here: )

(Line 1)--Ša-ni-tam d a bā bu--(..Furthermore,.. to expound upon (to talk))

(2)--UGU ŜEŠ-HI.A-ia--(upon Brothers-Mine,.. )

(3)--šumm a e pē š u--(..If .. to make happen)

(4)-- ^D MEŠ-nu ša LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) ^ENBēlu-nu--( "the God"-ours,.. 'which of' King-Lord-Ours.. )

(5)--ù k a š ā d u--(..and Defeat–!.. )

(6)--1. ^diš -La-aB-A-iYa ù til-la-nu-um-ma :-(gloss) ha-ia-ma--(1. ^diš -Labaya,.. and "bodily" : (– gl – ) "alive",.. )

(7)--nu-a b ā l u a na LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) ^ENBēlu-nu--(..Bring 'unto'(to) King-Lord-Ours–!... )

segue:

(8)--Ù tu-sà-ah-mi(=tazzimtu) : (– gl – ) tu-ra(tarû)--(..But "bad luck" :-(gloss) "returned"?('my horse was "shot"')..)

(9)--ANŠE.KUR.ra :-(gloss) MUNUS-ia ù uz uz z u--(Horse- :-(gloss) mine,..and "to be present",.. )

(10)--EGIR.ERIM-šu : (– gl – ) ha rā nn ú--(..BEHIND.ARMY-his :-(gloss) "expeditioning"(=road, journey) )

(11)--ù er ē b u--(..and "to encamp"(to set),.. )

(12)--it ti 1. ^diš -Ya((=pi))-aŠ-Da-Ta--(with Yashdata –!... )

segue:

(13)--Ù a di ka šā d u--(..But before "conquering"(reaching/vanquishing),.. )

(14)--ù dâ k u :-(gloss) ma hāṣ(ú)u--(and "killed" : (– gl – ) 'fighting'–!.. )

(15)--ù e l û-mì(+šamû(heaven)?) 1. ^diš -Ya(=pi)-aŠ-Da-Ta--(and "ascended-up" 1. ^diš -Yashdata,.. )

(16)--Ardu-ka ù š-û t--(Servant-yours,.. and "who of",.. )

(17)--e r ēb u it t i--(-(always)-"to enter" with,.. )

(18)--i na ^MÈ ERIM(=tāhāzu) tā hā zu--(..into ^BATTLE-War-Battle–!.. )

(19)--ù l ū n â[-d u a na šâ šu ]--(and "may it be" 'to (have)-praise' for him,.. )

(20)--til-la-aṭ(tillu) LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) ^ENBēlu-ia--(.."warriors"(workers)-(of),. King-Lord-Mine,.. )

(21)--[ ù ] e p ē[-š u ]--(..and "to treat"... [ .. ])-(lacuna)

(22)--gab bu i na [ ... ]--(..everyone in [ ..?.. ] )-(lacuna)

(23)--LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) ^ENBēlu-ia--(.., King-Lord-Mine–! .. )

segue:

Reverse (see here: )

(24)--Ù 1. ^diš -Sú-Ra-Ta--(But,.. 1.-Surata.. )

(25)--yi(=pi)-il₅-q û(leqû) 1. ^diš -La-aB-A-iYa--(..took Labaya.. )

(26)--iš tu ^URU Ma-GID₆-Da ^ki --(from Magidda,.. )

(27)--ú yi(=pi)-qa bû a na i ā-[ ši ](i ā ši)(--(and "said" to me:— )

(28)--e nū ma ša ^GIŠ MÁ : (– gl – ) a-na-yi--(.."Now 'that by' BOAT :-(gloss) 'ship'... )

(29)--u š š u r u-šu--(..Send (issue)!..(i.e. Labaya)..)

(30)--a na LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru),.. ù (pi)l e q û--(to (the) King,.." ..But 'taken'..)

(31)--1. ^diš -Sú-Ra-Ta ù (pi)t a r û--(..(by) 1.-Surata,.. and "returned"-him..)

Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), ^[3] and Akkadian, and English.

EA 245, (Reverse)
Obverse, (lines 1-23)
(See here; )

Obverse

Paragraph I (lines 1-7)

1.(P. I of IV) Ša-ni-tam du-ub-bu-ba-ku-mì
___Ša ni tam, — d a b āb u
___Furthermore, — I urged
2. _UGU-ŠEŠ ^hi-a _-ia
___ _UGU-ŠEŠ ^hi-a _-ia –!
___(with) Compatriots ^{p l.} -mine (my Brothers)–!

Sub-paragraph

3.Šum-ma-mi yi-pu-šu-mi
___Šum ma e pē š u ^[4]
___^QuoteIf (they)bring
4. _ ^dingir -meš_-nu ša (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu
___ilu ^pl. -nu, — ša (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu, —
___ gods ^pl. -our, — which(are-of) King-Lord-ours , —
5.ù ni-ik-šu-du-um-mi
___u ka šā du –!
___ and defeat–!
6.^1=diš La-ab-a-ia ù _til-la_nu-um-ma
Note: on Reverse", line 42.:– ma : (– gl – ) ha-ia-ma
___^1=diš La b a ya, — _til lu_-nu-um-ma
___^1=diš Labaya, — (equipment)-nu-um-ma : (– gl – ) ha-ia-ma (by boat)(land carriage?)
7.nu-ub-ba-lu-uš-šu a-na (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu
___a b ā l u a na (Šàrru)Šàr-ri EN-nu –!
___bring (him alive) to King Lord-ours –!
^EndQuote

Paragraph II (lines 8-23)

8.(P. II of IV) Ù tu-sà-ah-mì : (– gl – ) tu-ra
___U tu-sà-ah-mì(tazzimtu) : (– gl – ) tu-ra
___But "bad luck"(lamentation) : (– gl – )(the horse was disabled, "shot")
9.x?-pa? _ANŠE-KUR-RA:MUNUS_-ia ù iz-zi-iz-mì
___x?-pa? _ANŠE-KUR-RA:MUNUS_-ia,– u u zzu z u
___/+-x?-pa?-+/ horse-mine,– and (rode-behind)("stood-behind")
10. _EGIR_-šu : (– gl – ) uh-ru-un-ú
___ _EGIR_-šu : (– gl – ) ha rrā n u —!
___behind (troops)-His : (– gl – ) expedition-ing —!
11.Ù ir(wrong, =sa) sa-ka-ap-mi
___u sa kā pu ^[5] -mi
___and en-camped-Myself
12.it-ta ^1=diš -Ya-aš-da-ta
___it ti ^1=diš -Ya-aš-da-ta
___with ¹ Yashdata.

Segue

13.Ù a-di ka-ša-di-ia
___U a di ka šā d u
___But before "conquering"-(in-battle) (("arriving"-(into battle)-))
14.ù da-ku-šu : (– gl – ) ma-ah-ṣú-ú
___u dâ ku-šu, –: (– gl – ) ma hā ṣ u, —!
___and "death-us", –: (– gl – ) "struck-down", —!
15.ù al lu-ú-mì ^1=(diš) Ya-aš-da-ta
___u elû lū ^1=(diš) Ya-aš-da-ta
___and ascended, "let-it-be", ¹ Yashdata, –
16. _ÁRAD_-ka ù šu-ú-te(ut!-no)
___ _ÁRAD_-ka, – u šu-ú-te
___Servant-yours, – but ?straight-away?
17.yi-ru-ub-mi it-ti ^# [ x ]^##
___e rē bu-mi, – itti-[ x ]^##
___entered-Myself, – with [ them ? ]^##
18.i-na MÈ (me3=tāhāzu) ta-ha ^#-zi ^##
___i na (MÈ = tāhāzu) - tā hā ^# zu ^##
___into BATTLE, battle
19.ù lu-ú yi-na- -[ -di-nu a-na ša-šu ]
___u l ū nâ[ d u a na šâ šu ]
___and "may-it-be" pr[aise for Him ]
20. _til-la-aṭ _ŠÀRRU_-ri ^# [ _EN_ ]-ia
21.[ ù ] li-pa-aš ^#-[ ši-ih ]

Bottom

22.gáb-bá i-na [ .... ]
23. _Šàr_-ri _EN_-ia
24.ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta ^#

Paragraph III (lines 24-35)

EA 245, Reverse
Paragraph III, (lines 25-35)
Paragraph IV, (36-47)
Obverse,
(See here; )

24.( ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta ^#)
___u ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta ^#
___and ¹ Surata

Reverse

Paragraph III (lines 24-35)

25.(P. III of IV) yi-il₅-qé-mì 1-diš-La-[ ab-a-ia ]
___la q û 1-diš-La-[ ab-a-ia ]
___took... ¹ Labaya
26.iš-tu _IRI_ Ma-gid₆-da ^ki
___iš tu _URU_ Me-gid₆-da ^ki
___from _city_ Megiddo
27.ù yi-iq-bi a-na ia-a- [ ši ]
___u qa bû a na i ā ši —
___and said to me —
28.^Quote I na-mí ((No)) šà - geš -_MÁ_ giš-ru((yes)) : (– gl – ) a-na-yi
___^Quote i-na-mí _MÁ_ giš-ru : (– gl – ) a-na-yi
___^QuoteBy boat ....(?by land carriage)
29.ú-ta-aš-ša-ru-uš-šu
___u š š u r u
___(I will) send
30.a-na (_lugal_)_Šarru_-ri ù yi-ìl-qé-šu
___a na (_lugal_)_Šarru_-ri,— ù
___to King,—
30.5--------------ù yi-ìl-qé-šu
___-----------------u l e q û
___----------------- and take
31.^1=diš Sú-ra-ta ù yu-ta-šar-šu
___^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___ ¹ Surata
31.5-------------ù yu-ta-šar-šu
___----------------u u š šur u
___---------------- and send (Him)
32.iš-tu _IRI_ He-na-tu-na ^ki
___iš tu _URU_ He-na-tu-na ^ki
___from _city_ Hannathon
33.a-na _É_-šu ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___a na _É_-šu,^EndQuote— ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___To _house_his ^EndQuote— and ¹ Surata

Segue

33.5-------------ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___---------------u ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___---------------and ¹ Surata
34.la-qí-mi _kù-BABBAR ^hi-a _ ip-țì-ir-ri-šu
___le q û _kù-BABBAR ^hi-a _
___took silver, – returning
34.6-------------ip-țì-ir-ri-šu
___----------------t â r u
___----------------returning
35.i-na _ŠU_-ti-šu : (– gl – ) ba-di-ú
___i na _ŠU_-ti-šu : (– gl – ) ba-di-ù
___in "Hand"-his —: (– gl – ) ba-di-ù –! (the ransom—!) (the Silver—!)

Paragraph IV (lines 36-47)

36. (P. IV) Ša-ni-tam, – mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì
___Ša ni tam, — mīnu epē š u
___Furthermore, — what (have I) done
36.3----------mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì
___------------- — Mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì
___------------- —^QuoteWhat (have I) done
37.a-na (Šàrru)_Šàr-ri_ _EN_-ia
___a na (Šàrru)_Šàr-ri_ _EN_-ia —?
___to (Šàrru) _King(-ri)_ _Lord_-mine —?
38.i-na-mí _sig_-ia : (– gl – ) ya-qí-ìl-li-ni
___i nu ma-(enūma), — _sig_-ia : (– gl – ) ya-qí-ìl-li-ni —!
___Now, — (I am) contempted —!
39. — Ù _DUGUD_ : (– gl – ) yu-ka-bi-id
___ — U : (– gl – ) yu-ka-bi-id (kabta ^[6] )
___ — But are honored
40. _ŠEŠ_ ^HI-A -ia șé-eh-ru-ta₅
___ _ŠEŠ_ ^HI-A -ia,— șe hē ru, —!
___(compatriots)(Brothers) ^{p l.} -mine,— less important, —!^EndQuote

Segue

41.Ù ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___U ^1=diš Sú-ra-ta
___But ¹ Surata
42.yu-ta-šir9
Note: the rest, (majority), of line 42, is the up-side-down cuneiform from Obverse, Line 6
nu-um-ma : (– gl – ) ha-ia-ma

42.yu-ta-šir9
___aṣû
___brought
43.^1=diš La-ab-a-ia ù
___^1=diš La-ab-a-ia ù
___ ¹ Labaya
43.7--------------ù
___----------------u
___----------------and
44.yu-ta-šir₉-mì ^{1=diš, d} iškur-me-her
___aṣû ^{1=diš, d} iškur-me-her
___brought ¹ Ba'al-Mehir
45.a-na _É_-šu-ni
___a na _bītu_-šu, –!
___to _house_-his, –!

Sub paragraph

46.Ù lu-ú yi-de-mi
___U, — l ū i d û, ^[7] –
___And, — "may-it-be" proclaimed (& recognized), –
("may you know ")
47.(Šàrru)Šàr-ru EN-ia –!
___(Šàrru)Šàr-ru EN-ia –!
___King Lord-mine –!

See also

• Biridiya
• Labaya
• Tel Megiddo
• Glossenkeil (Amarna letters)
• Amarna letters–phrases and quotations

References

1. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 245, Assignment of Guilt, p. 299-300.
2. Akkadian language characters & Line Drawing, EA 245: Reverse & Obverse Archived 2015-05-31 at the Wayback Machine , CDLI no. P270957 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
3. CDLI page for EA 245
4. Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh , Glossary, pp. 119-145, epēsu, p. 124; English, "to do, place, treat".
5. Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh , Glossary, pp. 119-145, sakāpu, p. 138; English, "to lie down, rest".
6. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 107, "Charioteers but no horses", pp. 180-181; note 2 for DUGUD, read "kabta", related to English "important (person)", "honored".
7. Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh , Glossary, pp. 119-145, idû, p. 127; English, "to know". "to make known, recognize", "to inform, proclaim"

• 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

• Photo, EA 245: Obverse
• Photo, EA 245: Reverse
• Line Drawing, EA 245: Obverse & Reverse, CDLI no. P270957 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
• CDLI listing for all EA Amarna letters, 1-382