Amarna letter EA 34, titled: ''"The Pharaoh's Reproach Answered"'', is a moderately tall

clay tablet In the Ancient Near East, clay tablets (Akkadian language, Akkadian ) were used as a writing medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age and well into the Iron Age. Cuneiform characters were imprinted on a wet clay t ...

Amarna letter from the King of

Alashiya Alashiya ( ''Alašiya'' -la-ši-ia ''ẢLṮY''; Linear B: 𐀀𐀨𐀯𐀍 ''Alasios'' -ra-si-jo Hieratic "'irs3"), also spelled Alasiya, also known as the Kingdom of Alashiya, was a state which existed in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, a ...

. ((Obverse)-See here

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 Cuneiform is a Logogram, logo-Syllabary, syllabic writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. Cuneiform script ...

is finely inscribed. The

scribe A scribe is a person who serves as a professional copyist, especially one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of Printing press, automatic printing. The work of scribes can involve copying manuscripts and other texts as well as ...

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 British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...

. 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 Corpus (plural ''corpora'') is Latin for "body". It may refer to: Linguistics * Text corpus, in linguistics, a large and structured set of texts * Speech corpus, in linguistics, a large set of speech audio files * Corpus linguistics, a branch of ...

of letters were found at

Akhenaten Akhenaten (pronounced ), also spelled Akhenaton or Echnaton ( ''ʾŪḫə-nə-yātəy'', , meaning 'Effective for the Aten'), was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh reigning or 1351–1334 BC, the tenth ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, Eig ...

's city Akhetaten, in the floor of the Bureau of Correspondence of Pharaoh; others were later found, adding to the body of letters.

Cuneiform Cuneiform is a Logogram, logo-Syllabary, syllabic writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. Cuneiform script ...
and Akkadian text, EA 34

''Obverse'' (See here

''Paragraph Ia'' :(Line 1)— um (cuneiform), Um- ma lugal kur A- La- ši- ia–.–(..Message (of)King Land

( A La Sh ia) ) :(2)— a- na lugal kur Mi-iș- Ri (

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

) ŠEŠ- ia- ma–.–( to (the)King Land Miṣri(

) ( 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 a nu ma utu-XX-"^dIM"–.–(.. Obeyed(Listened-to) ---////--- And Now The Sun(Pharaoh) (is) "as-like"

Baal Baal (), or Baʻal, was a title and honorific meaning 'owner' or 'lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The ...

! ..) :(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 A treatise is a Formality, formal and systematic written discourse on some subject concerned with investigating or exposing the main principles of the subject and its conclusions."mwod:treatise, Treatise." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Acc ...

on the role of the

pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian language, Egyptian: ''wikt:pr ꜥꜣ, pr ꜥꜣ''; Meroitic language, Meroitic: 𐦲𐦤𐦧, ; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') was the title of the monarch of ancient Egypt from the First Dynasty of Egypt, First Dynasty ( ...

in society; the

is in the employ of the mayor/governor of towns, regions, and

city-state A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world throughout history, including cities such as Rome, ...

s. So the ideas (a treatise on the ''Role of Pharaoh''), put forward in a

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

'' 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.

Akkadian

''Obverse'' (See here

''Paragraph Ia'' :(Line 1)— um (cuneiform), Um ma lugal kur (cuneiform), kur A La Sh ia (

)) :(2)— a na lugal kur (cuneiform), kur Mi ș Ri ŠEŠ- ia- ma ! ''Paragraph Ib'' :(3)— La mā du i nu ma šal- ām- u ù :(4)— ša lāmu kur (cuneiform), kur- ia ù iš tu "1/2 7." " ma qātu ! " :(5)— ù šu- lum- ka4 ( ša lāmu) šu- lum( ša lāmu) É- kat dumu- meš- ka4 :(6)—DAM- meš ANŠE- kur (cuneiform), kur- ra- meš geš-GIGIR- ka4- meš :(7)— kur (cuneiform), 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)— I nu ma ! š a

pā The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori people, Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive :wikt:terrace, terraces – and also to fo ...

ru a na i ā ši .. :(9)— a na mi- nim- mi --//-- l ā b ê šu RA ! .. :(10)—Lu2- DUMU- ši- ip ri- ka a na mah- ri- ia ! :(11)— ša nu' 'udu ù l ā še mû --//-- .. i nu ma :(12)— ti- na- ku // ra MĀ mu ù l ā ti- ša-? kah2? :(13)— mi

mma Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

i na lib3 bu- ka4 ù 1.(diš)-- šā ru :(14)—šemû ù a nu ma utu-XX-"^dIM" :(15)—Lu2- DUMU- ši- ip ri- ia a na mah- ri- ka4 ! ::''Note for Paragraph II'' :::It can be seen that lines 10 and 15 are identical. Lines 8 - 15 is a

on the role of the

in society; the

is in the employ of the mayor/governor of towns, regions, and

s. So the ideas (a treatise on the ''Role of Pharaoh''), put forward in a

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

Introduction to Pharaoh & Treatise to RÁ (the Pharaoh)

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, ''Chicago Digital Library Initiative''), and Akkadian, and English. :Introduction and Treatise :Introduction to

Pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian language, Egyptian: ''wikt:pr ꜥꜣ, pr ꜥꜣ''; Meroitic language, Meroitic: 𐦲𐦤𐦧, ; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') was the title of the monarch of ancient Egypt from the First Dynasty of Egypt, First Dynasty ( ...

(Para Ia) :(lines 1-7) 1. um- ma _ Šarru kur (cuneiform), kur_ A- la- ši- ia ___ um (cuneiform), Um ma, – Šarru

Land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...

___Message, –

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

2. a- na _ Šarru kur (cuneiform), kur_ Mi- iṣ- ri, ŠEŠ- ia- ma (CDLI-(not a-hi-ia-ma)) ___ a na Šarru

Mi- iṣ- ri( Miṣri), – ŠEŠ- ia- ma ___To

(Miṣri), – Brother(compatriot)-Mine 3. li- ma- ad i- nu- ma šal- ma- ku ù ___idû(lamādu) inūma, – šalāmu, – u ___Know now, – "I-have-peace", – and 4. ša- lim kur (cuneiform), kur- ia ___ ša lāmu mātu- ia ___peace land- mine 4.4-------- ù iš- tu ( ~~šul~~) šú 7( diš) mu- qut? (ka4=qa)? ___---------- u iš tu (1/2 7)-( diš)(7 & 7), maqātu — ! ___---------- and from (1/2 7)(7 & 7 times), I bow — ! 5. ù šu- lum-()(ka₄ šu- lum--_ É_-()(ka₄ dumu- meš-()(ka₄ ___ u ša lãmu-()(ka₄, ša lãmu-_ É_-()(ka₄, dumu- meš-()(ka₄ ___ And Prosperity(Peace)-Yours, Prosperity household-Yours, sons(pl.)—Yours 6. _dam- meš anše- kur (cuneiform), kur- ra- meš ^geš gigir_ ka₄ () _ meš_ ___ dam- meš, anše- kur (cuneiform), kur- ra- meš, ^geš gigir_ ka₄ () _ meš_ ___ wives(pl.), (stable)-horses(pl.), chariot-(forces)- () Yours (pl.) 7. _ kur (cuneiform), kur^ki_-()(ka₄ ____ kur (cuneiform), kur^ki_-()(ka₄ ___ (country-Land)-Yours(()(ka₄)) 7.2-------- ma- gal lu- ú šal- mu a- mur at-< ta> ŠEŠ- ia ___---------- ma- gal lu- ú šalã mu a māru at-< ta> ŠEŠ- ia — ! ___---------- ''Greatly “may-there-be” peace “to be seen”,

Brother A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used ende ...

(Compatriot)- Mine — !'' (

segue A segue ( , ; ) is a transition from one topic or section to the next. In music In music, ''segue'' is a direction to the performer. It means ''continue (the next section) without a pause''. The term ''attacca'' is used synonymously. For writ ...

to Para 1b) :Treatise on RÁ as Sun-god Pharaoh (Para Ib) :(lines 8-15) 8. I- nu- ma ta- aš- tap- ra a- na ia- a- ši ___ I nū ma š a

ru a na i ā ši ___Now sent for me 9. a- na mi- nim- mi la- a tu- pe(wu)- ši RÁ ___ a na ? mi- nim- mi? l ā tu- pe- ši, — RA ___for ? mi- nim- mi?(Everybody(mimmû)), not wavering, — RÁ 10. _ Lú-dumu_- ši- ip- ri- ka a- na mah- ri- ia ___ Lú- DUMU- ši- ip- ri- ka, – a na mih ru- ia — ! ___Messenger- Yours, – for Counterpart- Mine — ! ((Note: ~(identical) lines 10 and 15 anchor the treatise.)) 11. ša- ni- ud ù la- a iš- mi ___ '' šan u'' ′′ '' udu'' – u l ā še mû — ! ___ (''illustrious, praised–Sun-god-King''), – and not listen — ! 11.7-------- I- nu- ma ___---------- I nū ma ___----------Now 12. ti- na- ku ni- qa-()- am ù la- a ti- ša^#- kán^# ___ da nnu- ku, – ni- qa(=KA, ()=pû="voice, utterances")- am u l ā š a kānu ___powerful-Yours, – roarings(ramāmu, in other Amarna letters), and not emplace 13. mi- ma i- na lib3- bi- ka4 ù aš- šu- ú ___ mim mu i na lib3- bi- ka4-() ___anything in Heart-Yours() 13.6-------- ú aš- šu- ú ___------------ u aš š u ___------------ and because 14.eš₁₅- ma- am ___šemû, — ___(you/we) Hear(listen), — 14.3-------- ù a- nu- ma utu-XX-"^dIM" ___------------ u a nū ma utu-XX-"^dIM", — ! ___------------ And Now (the Sun-god)(

) is (as like)

, — ! 15. _ Lú-dumu_- ši- ip- ri- ia a- na mah- ri-ka₄() ___ Lú- DUMU- ši- ip- ri- ia, – a na mih ru-ka₄ ___Messenger- Mine, – for Counterpart-Yours () — ! ((Note: ~(identical) lines 10 and 15 anchor the treatise.)) :(

to Paragraph II, Gifts from the Pharaoh)

100 talents of copper, for a list of Pharaonic gifts

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, ''Chicago Digital Library Initiative''),''CDLI page for EA 34''
/ref> and Akkadian, and English. For 100 talents of copper sent by the Man (King/Governor) of

, (EA 34, Obverse, line 18), a long list of items are requested from the Egyptian Pharaoh (King) (line 20, following to break in

). :(

to Paragraph II, Gifts from the Pharaoh) :Gifts from the Pharaoh (Para II)

16. ù al- lu- ú ut- ta-šir₉- ka ___ u e l û ut- ta-šir₉- yours ___ And(therefor), the pinnacle (as) Sun-god RA, as like

-(Yours) 17. i- na qa-(())- ti _ lú- dumu_ ši- ip-- ia a- na ka-ta₅ ___ i na qā tu _ lú- dumu_ ši- ip-- ia ___in (the) hand (of) messenger-Mine, — ((^lú dumu ši- ip--( Mine) )) 18. diš- me _gun uruda- meš_ ___^diš=1 me _gun uruda- meš_ ___^diš=1One Hundred talents of copper^pl. 18.5---------- Ša- ni- tam ù a- nu- ma ___-------------Šanitam, – u e nū ma, — ___-------------Furthermore, – and now, — 19. ú- nu- ti- _ meš_ yu- ba- al ^lú dumu ši- ip- ri-ka₄ ___ a nū tu// u nū tu- _ meš_ abālu ^lú dumu ši- ip- ri-ka₄ ___"Heavenly-utensils^meš, — Send messenger-Yours (^lú dumu ši- ip- ri-ka₄) 20.1= diš-en _ geš_ ir- šu _^geš esi kù-sig₁₇_ šu- u ">u_(cuneiform).html" ;"title="u (cuneiform)">u a ___^{1= diš}en _ geš_, – _^geš esi kù-sig₁₇_ šu- u ">u_(cuneiform).html" ;"title="u (cuneiform)">u a ___((with)) ^{1= diš}one ebony bed^giš, – ^gešgold-trimmed 21. ù _^geš gigir_-tu₄ šu- hi- tu i- na kù-sig₁₇ ___ u _^geš gigir_-tu₄ šukītu, – i na kù-sig₁₇ ___ and (one) (type-of)^geš

chariot A chariot is a type of vehicle similar to a cart, driven by a charioteer, usually using horses to provide rapid Propulsion, motive power. The oldest known chariots have been found in burials of the Sintashta culture in modern-day Chelyabinsk O ...

(šukītu), – in gold 22. ù (2 diš)anše- kur (cuneiform), kur- ra ù 4 u(40) 2 ( diš) _ túg- meš_ ù ___ u ^{2( diš)}anše- kur (cuneiform), kur- ra, – u 4 u(40) 2( diš) _ túg- meš_, – u ___ and 2 horses, – and 42 linen robes, – and 23.5 u(50) _gú- túg- meš_ ù (2 ( diš)) ku- ši- ti _ túg_ ù ___5 u(50) _gú- túg- meš_, – ù (2 ( diš)) ku- ši- ti, _ túg_ – u ___50 linen-shawls^pl., – and (2 ( diš)) linen robes, – and 24. 1( u)+4( diš geš- esi- meš ù 1( u)+7( diš _ za-

gin Gin () is a distilled alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe. The modern gin was modified in Flanders and the Netherlands ...

_ a- ba- na- tu _ Ì du₁₀- ga_ ___1( u)+4( diš geš- esi- meš u 1( u)+7( diš _ za-

_ a- ba- na- tu _ Ì du₁₀- ga_ ___10+4(14) geš- esi- meš and 10+7(17) _ za-

_ a- ba- na- tu _ Ì du₁₀- ga_ 25. ù "> ù iš- tu _ túg- šàr_ 4( diš) _ túg_ ù 4( diš) _ gú- túg_ ___ u "> u iš tu _ túg- šàr_, — 4( diš) _ túg_ ù 4( diš) _ gú- túg_ ___ and "> and from Linen( túg)-(of the)-King, — 4( diš) _ túg_ and 4( diš) _ gú- túg_ 26. ù iš- "> ù iš- - tu ú- nu- te ša i- ia- nu ___ u iš- "> u iš- - tu ( iš tu) ú nū tu, – ša i- ia- nu — ! ___ and fr"> and frm "Utensils", –

which Which may refer to: * a relative pronoun * an English interrogative word * which (command), an operating system command * Which?, a UK charity and its magazine See also * English relative clauses Relative clauses in the English language are ...

"there-is-none" — !

Paragraph III (EA 34, Reverse)

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, ''Chicago Digital Library Initiative''), and Akkadian, and English. 44. _ Lú-dumu_- ši- ip- ri- ia a- na mah- ri-ka₄

References

* Moran, William L. ''The Amarna Letters.'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, )

External links

"drawing of EA 34, Obverse & Reverse"
Line :(14)—šemû ù a nu ma 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
Alashiya Amarna letters

Cuneiform Cuneiform is a Logogram, logo-Syllabary, syllabic writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. Cuneiform script ... and Akkadian text, EA 34