Amarna letter EA 34

Amarna letter EA 34, titled: "The Pharaoh's Reproach Answered",^[1] is a moderately tall clay tablet Amarna letter from the King of Alashiya. ((Obverse)-See here: [1])

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.

Obverse (See here: [2])

Paragraph Ia

(Line 1)—Um-ma lugal kur A-La-ši-ia–.–(..Message (of)King Land Alashiya (ALaShia) )

(2)—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)—Li-ma-ad i-nu-ma šal-ma-ku ù–.–( Know (that)Now ("at this time") --///-- Peace -/- ..And )

(4)—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)—ù šu-lum-ka4 šu-lum É-kat dumu-meš-ka4–.–( .. and Peace --//-- Peaceful: House; Son(s)-yours; .. )

(6)—DAM-meš ANŠE-kur-ra-meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš–.–.–.–(.. Wive(s); Horse(s)(cavalry); Chariot(s)-yours )

(7)—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 () is not used for "yours"— "sons–yours; chariots–yours; land–yours." Instead qa (ka4) () is used. In this letter EA 34 "ka4" is more like 2 vertical strokes: . Syllabic "ka" is not used until line 10, and "qa" until lines 12, & 17, Obverse. )

Paragraph II

(8)—I-nu-ma ! ta-aš-tap-ra a-na ia-ā-ši–.–.–(Now sent for Me .. )

(9)—a-na mi-nim-mi --//-- la-a tu-pe-ši RA–.–.–( for "everyone" "daily" --//-- Never(Not) "Wavering" (to part, hold-back) .. RA ! .. )

(10)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ip-ri-ka a-na mah-ri-ia–(.. Messenger-(Yours) for Counterpart-mine(-Ours) (my Equal) ! )

(11)—ša-ni-ud -/- ù la-ā iš-mi --///-- i-nu-ma–.–( .. Worthy(Illustrious) --//-- And Not Obey("Listen to") --////-- .. Now ..)

(12)—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)—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)—šemû --///-- ù anuma utu-XX-"^dIM"–.–(.. Obeyed(Listened-to) ---////--- And Now The Sun(Pharaoh) (is) "as-like" Baal ! ..)

(15)—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.

Obverse (See here: [3])

Paragraph Ia

(Line 1)—Umma lugal kur ALaShia (Alashiya))

(2)—ana lugal kur MișRi ŠEŠ-ia-ma !

Paragraph Ib

(3)—Lamādu inuma šal-ām-u ù

(4)—šalāmu kur-ia ù ištu "1/2 7." "maqātu ! "

(5)—ù šu-lum-ka4 (šalāmu) šu-lum(šalāmu) É-kat dumu-meš-ka4

(6)—DAM-meš ANŠE-kur-ra-meš geš-GIGIR-ka4-meš

(7)—kur-ki-ka4 ma-gal lu-ú šal-mu a-mur at-ŠEŠ-ia !

(Note here Para II: ka () is not used for "yours"— "sons, yours; chariots, yours; land, yours." Instead qa (ka4) () is used. In this letter EA 34 "ka4" is more like 2 vertical strokes: . Syllabic "ka" is not used until line 10, and "qa" until lines 12, 17 Obverse. )

Paragraph II

(8)—Inuma ! šapāru ana iāši ..

(9)—ana mi-nim-mi --//-- lā bêšu RA ! ..

(10)—Lu2-DUMU-ši-ipri-ka ana mah-ri-ia !

(11)—šanu' 'udu ù lā šemû --//-- .. inuma

(12)—ti-na-ku // raMĀmu ù lā ti-ša-?kah2?

(13)—mimma ina lib3bu-ka4 ù 1.(diš)--šāru

(14)—šemû ù anuma utu-XX-"^dIM"

(15)—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.

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),^[2] and Akkadian, and English.

Introduction and Treatise

Introduction to Pharaoh (Para Ia)

(lines 1-7)

(segue to Para 1b)

Treatise on RÁ as Sun-god Pharaoh (Para Ib)

(lines 8-15)

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),^[2] 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)

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative),^[2] and Akkadian, and English.

• Alashiya
• Amarna letters–phrases and quotations

• Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)

• "drawing of EA 34, Obverse & Reverse" Line :(14)—šemû ù anuma utu-XX-"^dIM]
• Line Drawing, cuneiform, and Akkadian, EA 34: Obverse & Reverse, CDLI no. P274290 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
• CDLI listing of all EA Amarna letters, 1-382