Amarna letter EA 75

Amarna letter EA 75, titled: "Political Chaos"[1] is a short to moderate length letter from Rib-Hadda, who wrote the largest number of Amarna letters in a sub-corpus, from the city-state of Byblos; Byblos contained an Ancient Egyptian colony, and was aligned with a few neighboring townsites.

EA 161, Obverse
(slightly out-of-focus)

EA 75 is damaged with a few lines missing on the Bottom, Obverse, and parts of line endings, and beginnings, but the topic of the letter is extensive — explaining the conflict with 'Apiru/Habiru and also major Great King states of the region (Hatti(Hattusa) and Mitanni).

After a short Introduction to the Pharaoh, the dire straits of the city-state are related. Possessions are sold in Yarimuta to stay alive, and the Habiru warfare has reduced the town's people to conduct daily life: "...My field is "a wife without a husband", lacking in cultivation."[2]

The Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are a mid 14th century BC, about 1360 BC and 30–35 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.

Note: there are two missing lines at the letter's Bottom, Obverse. Also at the letter's end, but final sentences are made at the tablet's left edge, partially damaged. (see here: )

Letter EA 75 (also see here-(Obverse & Reverse, etc.): ), is numbered C 4757 (12191), from the Cairo Museum.


Cuneiform & Akkadian

The cuneiform[3] of EA 75, and the Akkadian[4] text.

Obverse (see here: )

Paragraph Ia

(Line 1)—[ Diš ]-Ri-iB-aD-Da [ iq-bi ]–.–.–.–(.. (m)(Male)Rib-Hadda .. Speaking ! )
(2)—[ a ]-na EN-šu lugal -/- ["kur-kur lugal gal" ]–.–( to Lord-his .. King (of) Lands ! )
(3)—dnin ša iri [ GUB-La ]–.–.–.–.–.–( --///-- Mistress "which of" City-stateByblos (Gubla) --//-- )
(4)—ti-din kal-ga a-[-na lugal EN-ia ]–.–( ... "Proclaim"(Know) Strength(Power) For(To) Lord-mine !,... )
(5)—a-na GÌRI-MEŠ -//- EN-ia dutu-ia–.–(.. at Feet(S) -//- Lord-mine GodSun-mine,.. )
(6)—7(diš)-šu 7diš-a-an am-qú-ut {{ [?? lu-ú ??] }}—.—( 7 (times and) 7 times,.. -/- "I bow" ! ("I address you"?) )

Paragraph Ib

(7)—[ i-]-de lugal EN-li -//- i-nu-[ ma .. ]—/—( .. Know,.. King Lord-(li) --//-- Now(Now, at this time)... )
(8)—šal-ma-at iriGUB-LA géme-ka–.–.–.–(.. "is Peaceful" CityGubla .. "Handmaid"-yours )
(9)—ìš-tu da-ri-it u4-kàm-meš–.–.–.–( .. From Forever - "Time" ! )

Paragraph Ic

(10)—ša-ni-tam ga-kal nu-kúr ša erìn-GAZ-MEŠ–.–.–( However, (the) "warfare" "which of" ARMY'Apiru (Habiru) ... )

Akkadian

Obverse (see here: )

Paragraph Ia

(Line 1)—[ Diš ]-Rib-Hadda [ qabû ]
(2)—[ a ]-na Bēlu-šu lugal [kur-kur(mâtâti) lugal gal ]
(3)—dnin ša iri [ GUB-LA ]
(4)—idû[5] kal-ga(=dannu) a[na lugal EN-ia ]
(5)—ana GÌRI-MEŠ(šêpê) -//- Beli-ia dutu-ia
(6)—7(diš)-šu 7diš-a-an maqātu [?? lu-ú ??]

Paragraph Ib

(7)—[ i ]-dû[6] lugal EN-li -//- inü[ ma .. ]
(8)—šalāmu iriGUBLa géme-ka
(9)—ìštu dār u4-kàm-meš

Paragraph Ic

(10)—šanitam ga-kal nukurtu ša erìn-GAZ-MEŠ


The Habiru/'Apiru

The mention of the Habiru shows the conflict of the time, as 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 Šakmu/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

See also

Hanson Letter 75

References
  1. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 75, "Political Chaos", pp. 145-146.
  2. EA 75, Hanson home page
  3. CDLI page
  4. EA 75, Hanson home page
  5. Parpola, 197l. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, idû, p. 127.
  6. Parpola, 197l, idû, many meanings: to know; to make known; recognize; to inform, proclaim; Frequently used to address Pharaoh, (or Administrator)
  • Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)
  • Parpola, 197l. 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.


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