Amarna letter EA 15 explained

Created:	1350 BC
Material:	Clay
Location:	New York City, New York, United States

Amarna letter EA 15, titled Assyria Joins the International Scene,^[1] is a shorter-length clay tablet Amarna letter from Ashur-uballit I of the Land of Assyria, (line 3 of EA 15). He addresses the Pharaoh in line 1, the "King (of) Land Miṣri-(Egypt)", thus the use of "Land (of) Assyria".

This short letter is synoptic with much information. It discusses the Assyrian messenger's reason for going to Egypt, "to see" the land, and report back to the Assyrian king. The letter speaks of a short history of not sending a messenger, or the two kingdoms talking, for some recent times. Besides the duties of the messenger to see, and report back, a list of "greeting gifts", shulmani, or "peace-gifts" are sent by Ashur-uballit I to the Pharaoh.

The letter

EA 15: Assyria Joins the International Scene

EA 15, letter one of two from Assyria. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation.)^[2]

(Lines 1-6)--Say to the king of the land of E[gypt]: Thus Aššur-ubal[lit], the king of the land of (the god) A]ššur. For you, your household, for your land, your chariot-forces, your armies, may all be well.

(7-15)--I have sent my messenger to you to visit you and to visit your land. Up to now, my predecessors have not written; today, I have written to you. [I] send you a splendid chariot, 2 horses, and 1 date-stone of genuine lapis lazuli as your greeting gift (shulmani).

(16-22)--Do [no]t delay the messenger whom I have sent to you for a visit. He should visit and then leave for here. He should see what you are like and what your land is like, and then leave for here.--(complete, with minor lacunas, lines 1-22)

Akkadian text

The Akkadian language text:^[3]

Akkadian:

Obverse:

(Line 1): A-na 1.^diš-LUGAL KUR Mi-iṣ-ri-

(2): qi-bi-[[[ma (cuneiform)|ma]] ]

(3): umma ^1.d-A-šur-TI-L[A] LUGAL KUR ^dA-šur-ma]]

(4): ana ka-ša É-ka ana KUR-ka

(5): ana ^giš-GIGIR-MEŠ-ka ù ERIM-MEŠ-ka

(6): lu-ú šul-mu

segue

(7): DUMU ši-ip-ri-ia al-tap-ra-ak-ku

(8): ana a-ma-ri-ka ù KUR-ka ana a-ma-ri

(9): adi an-ni-ša ab-ba-ú-ia

(10): lā iš-pu-ru

segue

(11): u₄-ma a-na-ku al-tap-ra-ak-ku

(12): 1.-^giš-GIGIR SIG₅-ta 2.-ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ

(13): [[[ù (cuneiform)|ù]] ] ^NA₄-ú-hi-na ša ^NA₄-ZA.GÌN KUR-e

(14): [[[a (cuneiform)|a]]-na]] šul-ma-ni-ka

(15): [[[ú (cuneiform)|ú]] ]-še-bi-la-[[[ku (cuneiform)|ku]] ]

Lower Edge:

(16): [[[DUMU (son Sumerogram)|DUMU]] ši- ]-ip-ri ša aš-pu-ra-ku-ni

(17): ana a-ma-ri

Reverse:

(18): [l]ā tu₄-ka-[[[as (cuneiform)|as]] ]-sú

(19): [l]i-mu-ur ù li-it-tal-ka

(20): [ṭ]e-em-ka ù ṭe-em

(21): ma-ti-ka li-mur

(22): ù li-it-ta-al-ka

See also

• Ashur-uballit I
• Ashur-uballit II
• Amarna letters–phrases and quotations
• List of Amarna letters by size
  • • • Amarna letter EA 5, EA 9, EA 15, EA 19, EA 26, EA 27, EA 35, EA 38 EA 153, EA 161, EA 288, EA 364, EA 365, EA 367

References

• Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover,)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cuneiform Texts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Tablets, Cones, and Bricks of the Third and Second Millennia B.C., vol. 1 (New York, 1988). The final section (Bricks) of the book concerns cylinder Seals, with a foreword describing the purpose of the section as to instigate Research into cylinder Seals. The 'cylinder sealing' on the bricks, was done multiple times per brick. Some are of high quality, and some are not. (Also contains the only 2 el Amarna letters, in the USA, with Analysis.)

External links

• Photo, EA 15: Obverse
• Metropolitan Museum of Art entry for EA 15, Photo, Specifications, etc.
• CDLI entry of EA 15 (Chicago Digital Library Initiative)
• CDLI listing of all EA Amarna letters, 1-382

Notes and References

1. [William L. Moran|Moran, William L.]
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cuneiform Texts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Tablets, Cones, and Bricks of the Third and Second Millennia B.C., vol. 1 (New York, 1988), pp. 149-150.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, pp. 149-150.