Amarna letter EA 147

Amarna letter EA 147, titled: "A Hymn to the Pharaoh"[1] is a moderate length clay tablet Amarna letter (mid 14th century BC) from Abimilku of Tyre-(called Ṣurru in the Abimilku letters, and an island, until the time of Alexander the Great, 330 BC). The letter is a twin letter to EA 149, which is identical in length, and complexity, and EA 147 appears to precede EA 149.

EA 364, (Obverse), a much smaller Amarna letter.

Amarna letter EA 147 is a missive (a letter sent), but more accurately, a treatise or essay, on the Role of the Pharaoh as Sun-God, and "Protector", etc.

Letter 147 is in the category of Amarna letters, which has the following specifics:

  1. –EA 147 is undamaged (with few minor surface scrapes).
  2. –It is of moderate length, a single clay tablet (not part of a series, ex 2-tablet letter, or a listing like EA 13, 14 or 22).
  3. –It has clarity of cuneiform characters, probably for two reasons: A–The execution of the scribe; and B–The preparation of a clay mixture (probably with added ingredients), which caused a hardened clay tablet. (The scribe's story, demanded a higher performing clay tablet.)
  4. –The Letter 147 story contains: Obverse:—Introduction & Clause 1; Bottom—An ending to the Obverse, and transition to Reverse; Reverse-(Clause 2 & 3), which begins (line 30), with the Akkadian word for "Help !" (and standing alone, with the next 2-words of line 30 beginning the start of Clause 2), and with the Reverse ending with two glossenkeils (line 56, only 2 words), translated as :gl "I am at rest"; and :gl "I am confident"[2] (end of line). (Note: there are multiple paragraphs and sub-paragraphs in EA 147, a 4-section letter, & see the Akkadian cuneiform section.)
  5. –The story of EA 147, is that it is a missive (or treatise or essay), on A Hymn to the Pharaoh (in 3 "duplicating clauses"). Clause 4 is the information to the Pharaoh, and the EA 147 ending. (Note: one would have to predict whether the layout of the letter was totally planned. The actual information in the letter (to the Pharaoh, or his post office—Bureau of Correspondence), only begins after the Reverse Side (beginning of the closing Clause 4 section), continuing from lines 57-60, and then continuing to the Left Side, for 8 lines, lines 64-71, (longer lines, due to the tallness of the tablet). The very last line (71), the Scribe writes: Enūma idû, "Now (at this time), Know !" (Now, be informed !).
  6. –The Reverse (Clauses 2 & 3), is separated by an "Exclamation", (an Interjection), line 40: [line 39: "Upon Front-mine, Upon (glossenkeil):Back-mine ! ], "I carry (bring), the Causes (intentions) (Akkadian: amatu (word, matter)),[3] King-LordLi-mine!" (Almost certainly, the scribe—(or Abimilku):–A, intended to get to the Reverse side in the manner that he did; B, had to get through "Clause 3" to the ending of the Reverse, with its 2 closing glossenkeils). How he continued to the end of the letter would have to be speculation. And,.. remembering whether Abimilku played a part in the formation of this great story, letter 147.
    (Another minor Exclamation occurs on line 24.6: Look "At" This ! [the start of Paragraph 2-c]
  7. –Because Letter 147 contains 3-duplicating clauses, Akkadian language words, and some phrases, are repeated. For example 3 times for the phrase day-by-day ("day and day", in the letter). It is used twice in Clause 1, Obverse (paragraph I-b) & the Bottom transition to the Reverse (the ending of Clause 1). The third usage is in the letter's ending, (Clause 4).
    Other repeated words are for example: "returns" (Akkadian sahāru, (3 times)), "breath" (hašû, (5)), "emerges/returns" (aṣû, (5)), and "now" (enūma, (numerous)).
  8. –Letter 147 uses 6 glossenkeils (a high number usage).

Summary of Glossenkeils used in Letter 147:

Amarna letter
EA 147		 EA 147
Glossenkeil		 EA 147
Akkadian language		 translation
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeil #1
line 12 Obverse		 ha-ap-si arm
"power of his arm"
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeil #2
line 28, Bottom		 a-ru-u

"he is satisfied"
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeil #3
line 36, Reverse		 ku-na
Exclamation
ku 		"Prepare!"
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeil #4
line 38, Reverse		 ia-a-ia-ia
Exclamation
"yes, yes, yes!"
(Yay!!)
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeil #5
line 39, Reverse		 su-ri-ia
"my back"
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeils #6,7
line 56, Reverse		 nu-uh-ti "I am at rest"
Amarna letter
EA 147		 Glossenkeils #6,7
line 56, Reverse		 ba-ti-i-ti "I am confindent"

General overview of Letter 147

The letter concerns the intrigues of neighboring city-states and their rulers; however the letter is a missive on the religious setting of Tyre, and the personal explanation of the view of the Pharaoh of Egypt, in a religious, and righteous 'way of life' of the people of Tyre towards Egypt, and the Pharaoh, as the Sun God.

The clay tablet letter is written on the Obverse, Bottom, Reverse, Top(which is bottom of Reverse), and Left Side, leaving no spaces, not inscribed. The British Museum website for the EA 147 letter (with photo of Reverse), gives the approximated dimensions as: 3 1/4 X 2 1/4 in, ( 3.25 inches (83 mm) / 2.25 inches (57 mm), or 8.3 cm X 5.7 cm ). See photo and write-up of EA 147 here .

EA 147 is located at the British Museum, no 29812. Tablet letter EA 147 can be viewed here: . (With cuneiform text, and a line drawing.)

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

The letter

EA 147: "A Hymn to the Pharaoh"

EA 147, letter two of ten from Abimilku. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation.)[4]

Obverse (Image: )

(Lines 1-8)—To the king, my lord, my god, my Sun: Message of Abi-Milku, your servant. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, 7 times and 7 times. I am the dirt under the sandals (& "shoes") of the king, my lord. My lord is the Sun who comes forth over all lands day by day,1 according to the way (of being) of the Sun, his gracious father.
(9-15)—who gives life by his sweet breath and returns with his north wind;2 who establishes the entire land in peace, by the power of his arm :(gl–𒃵) ha-ap-ši; who gives forth his cry in the sky like Baal,3 and all the land is frightened4 at his cry.
(16-21)—The servant herewith writes to his lord that he heard the gracious messenger of the king who came to his servant, and the sweet breath that came forth from the mouth of the king, my lord, to his servant—his breath came back!
(22-28)—Before the arrival of the messenger of the king, my lord, breath had not come back; my nose was blocked.5 Now that the breath of the king has come forth to me, I am very happy and: (gl–𒃵) :ha-ru-u (he is satisfied), day by day.6

Akkadian text

Cuneiform & Akkadian:

Obverse (See here: [5] )

Paragraph I-a

(Line 1)—A-na lugal-lí-ia dingir-meš-ia d-utu-ia–(To.. Kinglí-mine, God(S)-mine,.. Sun-God-mine, )
(2)—um-ma A-Bi-lugal,.. ARAD2-ka–.–.–.–.–.–("message (thus)",.. Abimilku,.. Servant-Yours,.. )
(3)—( 7 (times) and 7 (times) at Feet(S),.. King, Lordlí, Mine,.. I bow ! .. (I address you?) -//- )
(3)—("Over, and Over (again)"("again and again"), -//- at Feet(S),.. King, Lordlí, Mine,.. I address you !! -//- )
(4)—A-na-ku ip-ru iš-tu šu-pa-li–.–.–( -//- I,-(Abimilku),.. (the Dirt/(Earth)) "From"(beneath),.. (the)-Sandals// )
(5)—ši-ní EN-lí-ia be-li–.–.–.–.–.–(//Shoe,.. Lordlí-Mine -///- ..Lord,...)

Paragraph I-b

(5.8)—.....be-li–.–.–.–.–.–(.. Lord ..)
(6)—{d}utu ša it-ta-ṣí i-na ugu-hi–.–.–.–(.. (God)-"Sun-God", Who Emerges ("returns") "Upon",.. )
(7)—kur-ma-ta-ti i-na u4-mi-u-u4-mi–.–(.. (the) Land (+Matching?), For Day-by-Day-(daily),.. )
(8)—ki-ma ši-ma-at {d}utu a-bu-šu saga–.–(.. "As-Like" "Way of Being"(Fate, Destiny), (the) Sun-God, Father-His, "Gracious" ! ... )

Paragraph I-c

(9)—ša i-ba-li-it i-na še-hi-šu du10-ga–.–(..Who Arrives(brings), By Breath-His-Sweet,..)
(10)—ù i-sà-hír i-na ṣa-pa-ni-šu–.–(..And "Returns" by "North-wind"-His,.. -//- )
(11)—ša it-ta ṣa-ab gáb-bi kur-ti–.–(..Who With Troops:...."All Land(s)",.. )
(12)—i-na pa-ša-hi i-na du-ni-zà : (gl–𒃵) :ha-ap-ši–.–(..Into "Submission"("relenting"),.. By "Strength"(power) : (gl–𒃵) :(of his) "arm" !! )
(Note: In Egyptian hieroglyphs, 2 horizontal upturned arms & palm:
can be roughly translated for the Pharaoh, (at beginning of (some) texts): ..By his "two hands"...)

Paragraph I-d

(13)—ša id-din ri-ig-ma-šu i-na ša10-me–.–.–( Who "makes known",.. Voice-his, in "the Sky",.. )
(14)—ki-ma d iškur ù tar-gu5-ub gáb-bi–.–( Like god-Baal,.. -//- AND (eṭēru)"Finds and saves",.. All,.. )
(15)—kur-ti iš-tu,.. ri-ig-mi-šu–.–( "Land/(Lands)", From,.. (rigmu) "uprisings-His" (clamorings) ! (End of Para I) )

Paragraph 2

(16)—An-nu-ú ù iš-pu-ur ARAD2-du a-na be-li-šu–.–( -///- ..This/ "(Now)-This" Sent,.. Servant("Messenger"), To Lord-his (i.e. "message"-sent to Pharaoh) ! -//- )
(17)—e-nu-ma iš-me dumu-kin-ri saga–.–( (Now)("(And)-Now-(at this time)"),.. Heard, (the)Messenger-Gracious
(18)—ša lugal ša i-kà-ša-ad a-na ARAD2-šu–.–( ..Which King(Pharaoh) Who "Emplaced"(kašādu),.. Servant-Yours ! -//- )
(19)—ù še-hu du10-ga ša it-ta-ṣí–.–( AND (And-NOW) Breath-Sweet,.. Which Returns,.. )
(20)—iš-tu uzu pí-meš lugal be-li-ia–.–( From (the) Voice(s) (of) King Lordli-Mine. )
(21)—A-na ARAD2-šu ù i-sà-hír še-hu-šu–.–( To Servant-His,.. -//- And "Returned", Breath-His !!.. )

Paragraph 2-b

(22)—la-am kà-ša-ad lú-((dumu))-kin-ri lugal be-li-ia–.–(.. Before (the)Arrival,.. Messenger, King-Lord-Mine.. )
(23)—la-a i-sà-hur še-hu ! -//- i-za-kar4–.–.–.–(..Not, Returned, Breath ! -///- ..Speaking.. )
(24-24.5)—KA-meš ((KA= pû(utterance/Voice) )) ap-pí-ia[6]–.–(.. Utterances, .."was Dimmed". -//- Look at This ! ....)-(i.e. My nose was Blocked !; -/- Look at This ! )

Paragraph 2-c-(Exclamation, Interjection)

(24.6)—A-mur i- na an-na–.–.–.–.–(.. Look (now) At("upon") This !... )

Paragraph 2-c

(((24.6)—A-mur i- na an-na–.–.–.–.–(.. Look (now) At("upon") This !... ) ))
(25)—E-nu-ma it-ta-ṣí–.–.–.–(.. "Now (at this time)",.. Returned ! .. )

Bottom:

(26)—še-hu lugal a-na ugu-hi-a–.–(.. Breath, King, .... "Upon (us (all)?)" (a-na Ugu-HI.A(plural?) )
(27)—ù ha-ad-ia-ti ma-gal–.–.–( .. -//- And(then) "to be Happy",-Great !.. )
(28)—ù : (gl–𒃵) :a-ru-ú i-na u4-mi-u-u4-mi–.–(.. And,.. : (gl–𒃵) :"He is Satisfied" !!, ..For Day-by-Day !(i.e. "daily') )
(29)—aš-šum ha-dì-ia-ti la-a ti-ši-ir–.–(.. "Therefor"("because-of"),.. (we are?) "to be Happy"(glad),.. -///- Not, ("to ponder")-"To-Be-SAD !!" (End of OBVERSE & Bottom) )


Reverse (see here: )

Paragraph 3-a

(30-30.33)—er-ṣé-tum–( Help ! (rēsūtu) -//- ..... )
(30.33)—...(Help !)...E-nu-ma iš-me–.–( (Help !) … (Now)-When I Heard,.. )
(31)—dumu-kin-ri saga ša iš-tu be-li-ia–.–( Messenger-gracious, Who From Lord-Mine,.. )
(32)—ù gáb-bi kur-ti pal-ha-at–.–.–.–(..(And)-Then All Land((s)) .. Fearful !,.. )
(33)—iš-tu pa-ni be-li-ia !.. E-nu-ma–.–( .."Before"(in the face of) Lord-Mine ! -//- ..(Now)-When,.. )

Paragraph 3-b

(33.66)—E-nu-ma–.–.–.–.–( ..(Now)-When,.. )
(34)—iš-me še-hu du10-ga ù dumu-kin-ri saga–.–(.. I heard,.. Breath- Sweet,.. -//- And Messenger-Gracious, )
(35)—ša i-kà-ša-ta-ni E-nu-ma–.–.–.–(..Who Arrived (came) !.. "(then)-Now",.. )
(36)—iq-bi lugal be-li-ia : (gl–𒃵) :ku-na !–.–.–(.. (he) Spoke !.. King-Lord-Mine, : (gl–𒃵) :.."Prepare !!" )
(37)—a-na pa-ni erin2-meš gal, .. ù iq-bi–.–(..Before", Army(s) Large, .. And, Said.. )
(38)—ARAD2-du a-na be-li-šu,.. : (gl–𒃵) :ia-a-ia-ia–.–(..(the)-Servant, To, Lord-His,..: (gl–𒃵) :..Yay, Ay, Yaaay !! )
(39)—

Paragraph IV

Akkadian language
(Line 1)—Ana lugallí-ia dingirmeš-ia d-utu-ia
(2)—umma A-Bi-lugal(A-Bi-KING),.. ARAD2-ka
(3)—(7) u (7) ana giri3meš lugal ENlí-ia maqātu
(4)—anāku eperu ištu šu-pa-li
(5)—ši-ní ENlí-ia beli
gollark: Why not?
gollark: We unimploded them, of course.
gollark: People have been known to implode before the glory of ABR's source.
gollark: I know, its codebase is so much worse than ABR's optimal one.
gollark: Yes.

See also

British Museum

CDLI

References
  1. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 147, "A Hymn to the Pharaoh", pp. 233-35.
  2. Moran, p. 233.
  3. Parpola, 197l. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, amatu, p. 120.
  4. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 147, "A Hymn to the Pharaoh", pp. 233-35.
  5. CDLI, EA 1-382, Letter 147
  6. Moran, EA 147, note 5(p.234): ap-pí-ia; CDLI uses ab-bi-ia-(father not being referenced)
  • 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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