Surata was the Ruler of Akka (Akko; Acre, Israel) during the Amarna Period in the Late Bronze Age.

Reign

He ruled the city of Akko during the Amarna Period in the reigns of

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 ...

and Tutankhamen. In letters he refer to himself with the title LU (Man, Petty King) which is subordinate to LUGAL (Big Man, Great King).

Amarna Archive

Surata is mentioned in Amarna Letters from

Akko Acre ( ), known in Hebrew as Akko (, ) and in Arabic as Akka (, ), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel. The city occupies a strategic location, sitting in a natural harbour at the extremity of Haifa Bay on ...

(EA 232),

Byblos Byblos ( ; ), also known as Jebeil, Jbeil or Jubayl (, Lebanese Arabic, locally ), is an ancient city in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. The area is believed to have been first settled between 8800 and 7000BC and continuously inhabited ...

(EA 085), Gath (EA 366), and

Megiddo Megiddo may refer to: Places and sites in Israel * Tel Megiddo, site of an ancient city in Israel's Jezreel valley * Megiddo Airport, a domestic airport in Israel * Megiddo church (Israel) * Megiddo, Israel, a kibbutz in Israel * Megiddo Juncti ...

(EA 245). Amarna Letter EA 232 was written by Surata to the King of Egypt (unnamed). In this letter he is just trying to flatter the king.

The Labaya Affair

In Amarna Letter EA 245, he is known for letting the rebel

Labaya Labaya (Labayu or Lib'ayu) was the ruler of Shechem and warlord in the central hill country of southern Canaan during the Amarna Period (c. 1350 BC). He lived contemporaneously with Pharaoh Akhenaten. Labaya is mentioned in several of the Amarna L ...

of Shechem go in exchange for silver. Also mentioned is Yasdata (EA 245, EA 248).

Habiru

In Amarna Letter EA 366, Suwardata of Gath informs the King of Egypt (unnamed) of hostilities against the ''habiru''. Ir-Heba, Surata of Akko and Intaruta of Aksapa came with 50 chariots to aid.

Succession

Surata of Akko was succeeded by Satatna (EA 233, EA 234, EA 235+EA327).

Bibliography

*William L. Moran (1992) The Amarna Letters

References

{{reflist Year of birth missing Year of death missing Acre, Israel