Amarna letter EA 100

Amarna letter EA 100, titled: "The City of Irqata to the King"[1] is a short-, to moderate-length clay tablet Amarna letter from the city-state of Irqata, (modern Arqa), written 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".

EA 100
EA 100, has 22 lines Obverse, lines 23-44 Reverse
(high-resolution expandable photo)

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.)[2]

Obverse: (see here )

(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 (Sú-ba-ru, ) al[ong with] 30 horses and cha[riots],

Reverse: (see here: )

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 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

• EA 100, l. 26—KUR,.. ša ìl-qú LÚ.MEŠ GAZ,.. [ ištu ]–.]–( LÚ-MEŠ GAZ )
• EA 271, l. 16—..lú-meš Sa-GaZ-meš .. ( Men (pl), SA.GAZ^MEŠ(pl)
• EA 290, l. 24—..Ha-Pí-Ri .. ( Hapiru ( 'Apiru ))
• EA 299, l. 18—..da-an-nu LÚ-SA-GAZ-meš .. ( "Strengthening" - LÚ.SA.GAZ.MEŠ ..( "Strengthening Habiru" )
• EA 366, l. 21—.. {LÚ} SA-GAZ .. ( ^LÚSA-GAZ (Habiru))

Akkadian text

Text: Akkadian language, sumerograms, Egyptianisms, etc.[3]

Akkadian:

Obverse:
Paragraph I (see here: )

(Line 1)—Ṭup-pí an-nu-ú,.. ṭup-pí–.–.–.–.–.–.–(Tablet this,.. tablet- )

(2)—^URU-IR-Qa-Ta,.. a-na ^QuoteLUGAL-ri–.–.–(-^City-state-Irqata-(Arqa),.. to (the)-^QuoteKing!.. )

(3)—EN-nu^Unquote,.. um-ma,.. ^URU-IR-Qa-Ta–.–(Lord-Ours^Unquote,.. "message thus",.. ^City-state-Irqata!..-- )

(4)—ù LÚ.MEŠ ši-bu(!)-ti-ši,..–.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.–(--and MEN(pl) elders,.. )

(5)—ana GÌR.MEŠ,.. ^Quote-LUGAL-ri EN-nu^Unquote,..–.–(at (the) Feet(pl),.. "King-Lord-Ours",.. )

(6)—7 šu,.. 7 ta-an-ni,.. am-qú-ut!..–.–.–.–.–.–(7 times,.. (and) 7 'times again',.. we bow!,.. )(?we address you?)

(7)—ana EN(=Bēlu)-nu,.. An-UTU,.. umma--–.(.. To Lord-Ours,.. ^God-"Sun-God",.. "message thus"-(of) -- )

(8)—^URU-IR-Qa-Ta!.. "i-de ŠÀ(=lìb)-bi"–.–.–(..^City-state-Irqata!.. .."Know (in the)-HEART (of the)" -- )

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

(10)—^URU-IR-Qa-Ta,.. ana ša-šu!...–.–.–.–.–(^City-state-Irqata,.. for Him!" ....(i.e. for the Pharaoh) )

(Line 1)--(Ṭuppu annû,.. ṭuppu- )

(2)--(-^City-Irqata,.. to ^QuoteLUGAL(=ŠÀR-ru)- )

(3)--(-Bēlu-nu^Unquote,.. "umma",.. ^City-Irqata!.. )

(4)--(ù LÚ.MEŠ-(šību)"the elders"!.. )

(5)--(ana šêpu(meš),.. "LUGAL(=ŠÀR-ru)-Bēlu-nu",.. )

(6)--(7 šu (ù) 7 ta-an-ni, maqātu!.. )

(7)--(ana Bēlu-nu,.. ^d-UTU,.. umma --)

(8)--(^City-Irqata!.. .."Idû (in the)-ŠÀ(=lìb)-bi (=libbu)" -- )

(9)--(LUGAL EN!.. ..Inūma(=enūma) naṣāru -- )

(10)--(-^City-Irqata,.. ana šâšu!.... )

segue:

Paragraph II

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

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

(13)—yi-iq-bi,.. ana ia-ši-nu–.–.–.–.–.–(..He said,.. to us,.. )

(14)—^QuoteUmma LUGAL,.. Ú-ṣa-ru-mi–.–(^Quote"Message thus" (the) King,.. Guard!.. )

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

(16)—LÚ-ša-ri LUGAL-ri–.–.–.–.–.–(of the traitor,.. (of the)King,.. )

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

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

(11)--(Inūma aṣû/uššuru,.. LUGAL(=ŠÀR-ru)- )

(12)--(Bēlu-nu,.. 1. DUMU-Bi-Ha-A,.. Ù,.. )

(13)--(..qabû,.. ana iāši,.. )

(14)--(^Quote"Umma" (the) LUGAL: Naṣāru!.. )

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

(16)--(LÚ-ša-ri,.. (of the)-Šarru,.. )

(17)--(tebû-("us")!.. )

(18)--(^City-Irqata,.. tâbu!... )

segue:

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-Sú-Ba-Ri,.. qa-du,..–.–.–.–.–.–(^Land-Subaru,.. "handed over",.. )

(22)—(3x(u) ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ [ (ù) ^giš-GIGIR.MEŠ ]–.–(30 Horses [ (and) chariots ],.. )

(19)--(Kī ana,.. LUGAL-ri(ŠÀR-ri),.. )

(20)--(inūma,.. nadû [ x ana ],.. )

(21)--(^KUR-Su-Ba-Ri,.. qātu.. )

(22)--(30 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ [ (ù) (GIŠ).GIGIR.MEŠ ],.. )

(end Obverse)

Reverse: (see here: )

Paragraph III (cont.)

(23)—Ti-de,.. ŠÀ(=lìb)-bi ^URU-IR-Qa-Ta!..–.–.–(..Know,.. (the) mind(=heart) (of)-^City-Irqata!.. )

segue:

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

(25)—ṭup-pí,.. LUGAL ^QuoteA-na ša-[ -ha-at ]--(..tablet (of the) King,.. ^Quote"To Raid"("to strip") -- )

(26)—KUR,.. ša ìl-qú LÚ.MEŠ GAZ,.. [ ištu ]–.–(LAND,.. which "taken" (by) LÚ.MEŠ-("Habiru")(gaz),.. [ from ])

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

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

(29)—EN-nu,.. LÚ ti-ìš-ta-[ -pár-šu ]–.–( (of) Lord-Ours,.. (The)-MAN,.. "emplaced",.. )

(30)—UGU-nu,.. adi ni-na-ṣa-ru,.. ki–.–("OVER-us",.. "until" "guarding",.. "as if" )

segue:

(31)—yi-ìš-mé,.. LUGAL-ru EN-nu,.. –.–(Hear("Listen"),.. King-Lord-Ours,.. )

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

(23)--(..Idû,.. (the) ŠÀ(=lìb)(=heart) (of)-^City-Irqata!.. )

segue:

(24)--(Inūma,.. kašādu -- )

(25)--(ṭuppu LUGAL(ŠÀRru),.. ^QuoteAna Šahāṭu -- )

(26)--(KUR,.. ša leqû (by) LÚ.MEŠ "Habiru"(gaz),.. ištu -- )

(27)--( ŠÀR-ri(Šarru),..^Unquote tabû -- )

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

(29)--(Bēlu-nu,.. "emplaced" -- )

(30)--(--UGU-nu(eli/muhhi-nu),.. adi naṣāru,.. kî,.. )

segue:

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

(32)--((the) amatu,.. ARAD.MEŠ-kâti!.. )

Paragraph IV

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

(34)—ana ARAD-šu,.. ù,.. ti-da-ga-lu,.. –(to SERVANTS-his,.. and,.. (see)"to look",.. )

(35)—LÚ.MEŠ, a-ia-bu-nu ù,.. –.–.–.–(MEN(pl), "enemies"?,.. and,.. )

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

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

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

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

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

(41)—LUGAL,.. ana ia-ši-nu –.–(..(of the) King,.. for Us!.. )

segue:

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

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

(33)--( ..Ù,.. idû?,.. NÍG-BA,.. )

(34)--(ana ARAD-šu,.. ǜ,.. dagālu,.. )

(35)--(LÚ.MEŠ(pl), a-ia-bu-nu,.. ù,.. )

(36)--(akālu eperu!... Šāru,.. )

(37)--(LUGAL-ri(ŠÀR-ri),.. ul tamû,.. )

(38)--(ištu muhhu!... )

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

(40)--(kašāda,.. šāru,.. )

(41)--(LUGAL,.. ana iāši-nu,.. )

segue:

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

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

See also

• Arqa (city-state Irqata)
• Amarna letter EA 59 (city-state Tunip)
• Amarna letters–phrases and quotations

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)

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

References

1. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 100, "The City of Irqata to the King", pp. 172-173.
2. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 100, "The City of Irqata to the King", pp. 172-173.
3. Archived 2015-05-04 at the Wayback Machine Line Drawing, cuneiform, and Akkadian, Sumerograms, etc, EA 100: Obverse & Reverse, CDLI no. P270927 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)

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