Registros del pasado, 2.ª serie, Vol. III

The people of Mitanni, however, did not speak a Semitic language, and it is probable that they did not belong to the Semitic race. But they had adopted the Semitic adoration of the winged solar disk, and along with it, in all probability, some portion of the Semitic worship of Baal. It was this worship and adoration which Amenôphis IV attempted to force upon his subjects. The Semitic tendencies of the court and the dominance of Semitic strangers from Canaan and Syria were due not so much to the intermarriages with the royal family of Mitanni as to the Egyptian conquest of Palestine.

I.—Letter of Assur-yuballidh, King of Assyria, to Amenophis IV, King Of Egypt 1

[figure]

p. 61

I.—Letter of Assur-yuballidh, King of Assyria, to Amenophis IV, King Of Egypt 1

1. To Napkhurîya (Neferu-kheper-Ra) [the great king]
2. the king of Egypt, 2 my brother, [I write]
3. thus, (even I) Assur-yuballidh king of the country of Assyria,
4. the great king, thy brother.

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5. To thyself, to thy house and thy country may there be peace!

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6. That I have seen thy ambassadors
7. has pleased (me) greatly; thy ambassadors
8. I have sent for to appear in my presence.

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9. A chariot [the choicest?] in the kingdom with (its) harness
10. and two white horses, [together with]
11. one chariot without harness and a seal of white alabaster
12. I have despatched as a present for thee.

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13. For the great king is produced perpetually
14. the gold (which) in thy country (is like) the dust

p. 62

15. (that) they collect: why in thy presence
16. is it brought and kept back, is it withheld and not sent?
17. All the gold that is my property,
18. as well as what is lacking to it, send.

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19. When Asur-nadin-akhi my father
20. sent (an embassy) to the country of Egypt (Mitsri),
21. 20 talents of gold did they despatch to him.

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22. When the king of the country of Khani-rabbatû 1
23. to thy father and the land of Egypt
24. sent (an embassy), 20 talents of gold
25. did they despatch to him.

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26. [As] to the king of Khani-[rab]bati
27. [so] also to myself
28. despatch the gold.
29. [The road both in] going and returning
30. for the hands of my ambassadors
31. I have made secure. 2

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32. If thou inclinest thy face 3 favourably
33. despatch much gold, and thy letter in return
34. write (to me) and what thou desirest let them take.

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35. Behold, distant 4 lands
36. have the ambassadors visited 5 and they have journeyed to (many) cities.

p. 63

37. As for thy ambassadors
38. they have delayed on the way because the ’Suti 1
39. threatened 2 them with death, until I sent and
40. the ’Suti took fright (?) 3.
41. My ambassadors … them
42. [and] they did not delay.

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43. When the ambassadors (reached) the frontier (of Assyria)
44. why do they not wait? 4 and
45. at the frontier they are in a hurry (?) 5
46. It is fitting (?) at the frontier they should wait
47. for the king; everything is there
48. and he has established (it) and at the frontier
49 he has arranged (it). Against the king who fulfils everything
50. there is no charge (?): why
51. at the frontier are they in a hurry (?),
52. even the ambassadors who …

The last three lines are too obliterated for translation.

Footnotes

61:1 Winckler and Abel: Mittheilungen, i. p. 8.

61:2 Written Mitstsari as in the letters of the king of Mitanni. The Babylonian form of the name is Mitsri, corresponding to the Hebrew Matsor and Mitsraim. In the later Assyrian inscriptions the name appears as Mutsur or Mutsri, probably through confusion with the name of Mutsri, a district to the north of Assyria.

62:1 "Khani the great," or Eastern Kappadokia, the capital of which was Malatiyeh.

62:2 Ultammatstsi.

62:3 Literally, "If thou art good as to thy face."

62:4 Ruqatum.

62:5 Ilika.

63:1 Nomads, who ranged through the desert on either side of the Tigris, in Mesopotamia and the south-east of Assyria.

63:2 Ura‘u, the Heb. yârê.

63:3 Probably to be read khardê, "fear."

63:4 Ultannazazu.

63:5 Imattu; the verb imati occurs in K 1282, Rev. 18.

II.—LETTER OF BURNA-BURYAS, KING OF BABYLONIA, TO AMENOPHIS IV OF EGYPT 6

[figure]

OBVERSE

1. To Nipkhurri-riya king of the country of [Egypt]
2. by letter
3. I speak (even I) Burra-buriyas king of the country of Kara-duniyas 7

p. 64

4. thy brother: unto myself (is) peace;
5. to thyself, thy house, thy wives, thy children, thy country,
6. thy officers, thy horses (and) thy chariots, may there ever be peace!
7. Ever since my father and thy father with one another

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8. conferred in amity,
9. they sent beautiful present[s] to one another,
10. but they did not address one another in fair (and) beautiful letter[s].
11. Again, O my brother, 2 manehs of gold I have sent as my present.
12. In return send (me) abundance of gold as much as thy father (sent),
13. or if that is displeasing send half of what thy father (sent).
14. Wherefore shouldst thou send two manehs of gold (only)?
15. For the sake of 1 the folding doors in the temple 2 of Mât and the palace
16. (which) I have undertaken 3 to build send much gold,
17. and whatsoever thou desirest in my country
18. write for and let them take it to thee.

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19. In the time of Kuri-galzu my father the Kuna(?)khians, all of them,
20. sent unto him saying: Against the government of the country (?) 4
21. let us sin and rebel.
22. [With] thee will we make (a league). My father

p. 65

23. sent this (answer) to them
24. saying:

REVERSE

1. Cease (to ask) to ally thyself with me:
2. if thou art estranged from the king of Egypt my brother, and
3. alliest thyself with another,
4. I will not go and assist 1 you.
5. Thus my father was like-minded with me,
6. because of thy father he did not listen to them:
7. Again, by an Assyrian who regards [my face 2]
8. have I not sent to thee after the news (I have) of them, asking
9. why they have gone to thy country.
10. If thou lovest me, no success
11. will they obtain; dismiss them to their distant land.
12. For a present to thee 3 manehs of alabaster,
13. (and) 14 spans of horses with 5 chariots of wood
14. I have despatched to thee.

Footnotes

63:6 Budge, Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archæology, June 1888, Pl. v, vi.

63:7 Babylonia.

64:1 Literally, "in favour of."

64:2 Literally, "house of God," bit-ili, the Heb. beth-el. The following word mât seems to be a proper name, though whether it denotes the name of a deity or of a place I cannot say. We may, however, read mâd, "many a temple."

64:3 Read tsabtakû.

64:4 Perhaps the country of "Qannisat." The Kunakhians are probably to be identified with the Kinakhkhians of the next letter. Winckler compares the name of the Canaanites.

65:1 Akhamat like khamat, W. A. I., v. i. 75.

65:2 That is, "is tributary to me."

III.—Letter of Burna-buryas to Amenophis IV 3

[figure]

OBVERSE

1. [To] Napkhuhru-ri[ya]
2. the king of Egypt 4 my brother [it is spoken]
3. thus: Burra-buryas the king of Kara-[Duniyas]
4. thy brother-unto myself (is) peace;
5. unto thee, thy country, thy house, thy wives, thy children,
6. thy officers, thy horses (and) thy chariots
7. may there ever be peace!

p. 66

8. I and my brother with one another
9. have conferred amicably,
10. and this is what we have said
11. as follows: as our fathers with one another,
12. we also have friendly dealings.
13. Again my ministers
14. who came with Akhi-dhâbu 1
15. into the country of Kinakhkhi 2 trusted to destiny,
16. from Akhi-dhâbu to visit my brother they passed;
17. in the city of Kikhinnatuni of the country of Kinakhkhi
18. Sum-Adda the son of Balumme 3
19. (and) Sutatna the son of Saratum 4 of the city of Akku, 5
20. when they had sent their men, slew
21. my ministers and carried off their treasures
22. which they [were taking] for [a present to the king of Egypt].
23. I have sent to you [therefore] a complainant 6
24. [who] may speak to thee [thus]:

REVERSE

1. Kinakhkhi (is) thy country and the king [is thy servant?].
2. In thy country I have been injured; do thou punish [the offender].
3. The silver which they carried off [was] a present [for thee],
4. and the men who (are) my servants they have slain.
5. Slay them and requite the blood (of my messengers);
6. but if thou dost not put these men to death,
7. (the inhabitants) of the high-road that belongs to me will turn

p. 67

8. and verily will slay thy ambassadors, and
9. a breach will be made in the agreement (to respect the persons) of ambassadors,
10. and this man 1 will be estranged from thee.
11. One of my men Sum-Adda,
12. having cut off his feet,
13. detained him with him;
14. and as for another man, Sutatna of Akku,
15. having made him stand on (his) head,
16. he stood upon his face. As for these men
17. … one has spoken thus: I have seen indeed
18. … [what] thou askest that indeed thou knowest.
19. [By way of a pre]sent, I maneh of alabaster I have despatched to thee.
20. [By] my ambassadors a costly gift I have [sent to thee].
21. [On account of the re]port 2 which my brother has heard
22. my ambassadors do not detain;
23. the costly present let them offer [to thee].

Footnotes

65:3 Winckler and Abel, Mittheilungen, p. 7.

65:4 Mitsrî.

66:1 Dr. Zimmern compares the Biblical name of Ahitub.

66:2 Perhaps to be identified with the Kunakhians of the preceding letter.

66:3 Perhaps the Biblical Salaam. His son's name would represent Shem-Hadad.

66:4 The Biblical Sarah. Sutatna may be Seth-yathan; cf. Numb. xxiv. 27.

66:5 The Accho of Judg. i. 31, now Acre.

66:6 Sita[’s’sa].

67:1 That is Burna-buryas.

67:2 [Dhe]ma.

IV.—LETTER FROM AZIRU TO HIS BROTHER KHÂI 3

[figure]

1. To Khâi 4 my brother
2. thus (I speak, even I) Aziri 5 thy brother:
3. Unto thee may there be peace,
4. and from the soldiers of the palace
5. of the king my lord may there be much peace!
6. What immediately
7. I speak before the king my lord,

p. 68

8. publicly I speak,
9. (even) I and my sons
10. and my brothers, all (being) servants
11. of the king my lord before (him).

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12. Now I and Khatib
13. have gone again
14. with a present to Khazai 1
15. [who is] among you; 2 verily the frontier,
16. behold! I have reached.

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17. From the orders of my lord
18. I do not free myself,
19. or from your 2 orders,
20. (even) I the servant of my lord.

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21. The king of the land of the Hittites 3 in the country of Nukhasse 4
22. is staying and I am afraid
23. of him (and) have defended myself.
24. To Phœnicia he ascends;
25. and if the city of Dunip 5
26. falls, he stays in a place (only) 2 parasangs from here (?),
27. and I am afraid of him;
28. yet according to this order
29. he remains until he quits it. 6

p. 69

30. And now one has gone
31. with a costly present to him
32. (even) I and Khatib.

Footnotes

67:3 Winckler and Abel: Mittheilungen, ii. p. 38.

67:4 The Hebrew khay, "living"; compare the name of Hiel, 1 Kings xvi. 34.

67:5 Aziru or Aziri (Ezir in the Old Testament was the son of Dûdu (the Biblical Dodo or David), a high official at the court of the Pharaoh. See Letter v.

68:1 This seems to be the name of the Hittite king.

68:2 Plural.

68:3 Khatte.

68:4 Nukhasse was in northern Syria; Dunip appears to have been one of its cities. M. Halévy suggests that Nukhasse is the land of "bronze" (Heb. nekhosheth), and compares 2 Sam. viii. 8.

68:5 The Tunip of the Egyptian monuments, now Tennib, between Azaz and Arpad (Erfad), north-west of Aleppo. In the Assyrian period, from the ninth century B.C. downwards, Tunip disappears from history, its place being taken by Khazazu (Azaz) and Arpad.

68:6 Adi patari-se. Compare another letter of Aziru (No. 32): "The king of the Hittites is staying in the land of Nukhasse and I am afraid of him. He is staying in a place [only two] parasangs distant (?), [in] the city of Tunip and I am afraid. The place he has quitted (iptur) also I p. 69 have reached. [So] again . we have gone into the land of Phœnicia, the country of my lord, and I am afraid for the country of my lord." So also in another despatch (No. 33): "And again [the king of the Hittites] is staying in the land of Nukhasse; [he is staying] two parasangs distant (?) in the city of Tunip, and I am afraid it may fall … may [the king of the Hittites] quit (liptur) the city of Tunip."

V.—Letter from Aziru to his Father Dûdu. 1

[figure]

1. To Dûdu my lord, my father,
2. thus (speak I) Aziru thy servant;
3. at the feet of my lord I prostrate myself.

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4. Khatib has gone
5. and has answered (?) the words
6. of the king my lord publicly and well,
7. and I have rejoiced exceedingly;
8. and my country and my brothers,
9. the servants of the king my lord
10. and the servants of Dûdu my lord,
11. have rejoiced exceedingly.
12. Behold, there has gone
13. the prince 2 of the king my lord
14. unto me. From the commands
15. of my lord, my god, my Sun-god,
16. and from the commands of Dûdu
17. my lord, I do not free myself.

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18. Now, O my lord, Khatib
19. remains with me.
20. I and he 3 will go (together).
21. O my lord, the king of the land of the Hittites

p. 70

22. has marched into the country of Nukhasse
23. but has not prevailed over the cities.
24. May the king of the land of the Hittites quit (them)!
25. Therefore now have (we) marched,
26. (even) I and Khatib.

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27. May the king my lord listen to
28. my words. O my lord, I am afraid
29. of the king my lord
30. and of Dûdu.
31. And now my gods
32. and my messengers also are the men
33. of Dûdu and the nobles
34. of the king my lord, and I march.

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35. And thus (speak) Dûdu
36. and the king my lord and the nobles:
37. If ever we publish anything
38. about Aziru which is not right
39. (let it be) before my gods and before my god, 1
40. and now I
41. and Khatib (are) servant(s) of the king before (him)

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42. O Dûdu, verily thou knowest (?),
43. behold, I go to thee.

Footnotes

69:1 Winckler and Abel, Mittheilungen, ii. p. 45.

69:2 Sarru, which must not be interpreted "servant" here, but "prince," like the Heb. sar. In correct Assyrian sarru is "king," malku (melech) "prince," but the writer of the letter follows the Canaanitish usage.

69:3 Sûtu, a curious derivative from sû "he," like yati "myself."

70:1 In place of the anacoluthon we may translate, "(it is) against my gods and against my god." In another letter of Aziru (No. 39), we read, "A second time (I say) to Dûdu my lord; hear the words of the kings of Nukhasse (which) they have spoken against me."

VI.—Letter from Rib-Addu to the King of Egypt 2

[figure]

1. [To] the king my lord,
2. my Sun-god I speak, (even I) Rib-Addu 3

p. 71

3. thy servant: at the feet of my lord
4. my Sun-god seven times seven
5. do I prostrate myself. The king my lord
6. has heard the words of the servant
7. of his justice. 1 (I am) very sick. 2
8. Unto me has hostility approached.
9. The sons of Ebed-Asirta 3 descended
10. into Phœnicia 4 they 5
11. (and) all of the country of the city of Tsumura 6
12. and the city of Irqata, 7armed themselves
13. against the governor; and now in
14. the city of Tsumura (is their) station.
15. Behold, the governor is sick.
16. On account of the attack he has left 8
17. the city of Gubla, 9 and there are not 10
18. Zimrida [and]
19. Yapa-Addu along with me.
20. Now [accordingly] has the governor
21. sent to them, and
22. [they have sent] 30 manehs to him.
23. [Now] has the king my lord heard
24. the report of the servant of his justice,
25. and has despatched reinforcements
26. in haste to
27. the city of Tsumura to defend (it)
28. [and] capture the soldiers

p. 72

29. of the palace of the king, the Sun-god;
30. and the king, the Sun-god, has supplied 1 me
31. with the soldiers of the kingdom 2 from
32. the midst of his own country. A second time
33. has the king, my lord, heard the report of his servant
34. and has despatched 3 the garrison 4
35. to the city of Tsumura and
36. to the city of Irqata. Since
37. there have fled all
38. the garrison from
39. the city of Tsumura, and
40. there has applied (his) ear the king,
41. the lord, the Sun-god of the world, and
42. has given me 20 convoys
43. of horses for myself,
44. and has despatched reinforcements
45. in haste
46. to the city of Tsumura to
47. defend it, even all
48. the garrison
49. who had armed themselves with difficulty,
50. and the men had …
51. in the midst of the city, since
52. the soldiers of the palace had not
53. …, and
54. the said city had not armed itself,
55. on the capture and slaughter (?) of the soldiers of the palace
56. it is intent. All the world
57. have gone 5 to the king.

Footnotes

70:2 Winckler and Abel, Mittheilungen, ii. p. 81.

70:3 Or Rip-Hadad. Addu or Hadad is given as the Syrian equivalent of the Assyrian god Rimmon.

71:1 That is to say, "his righteous servant."

71:2 Or "distressed."

71:3 Also written Ebed-Asrâti, "the servant of Asherah." The name of Asrâti is more than once preceded by the determinative of divinity, showing that Ashêrah, mistranslated "grove" in the authorised version of the Old Testament, was a goddess. She was, in fact, the goddess of fertility, who was symbolised by a cone or branchless trunk, and must be carefully distinguished from Ashtoreth or Astartê.

71:4 Mat Akharrâ.

71:5 It is possible also to translate, "into Phœnicia, even they: all the country."

71:6 The Zemar of the Old Testament (Gen. x. 18), called Simyra in classical geography, now Sumra, north of Tripoli.

71:7 The "Arkites" of Gen. x. 17, now Tel ’Arqa.

71:8 Itizi[b].

71:9 The Gebal of the Old Testament, the Byblos of Greek writers, now Jebêl north of Beyrût. Rib-Addu, the Egyptian governor of Phœnicia, had his residence at Gebal.

71:10 Ya[nu].

72:1 Usamri-ni.

72:2 Native Egyptian soldiers.

72:3 The scribe has omitted the final syllable of ussira: "he has despatched."

72:4 Literally "men of the guard."

72:5 Literally "we have gone."

VII.—Letters from Dusratta, King of Mitanni, to Amenophis III 1

[figure]

p. 73

VII.—Letters from Dusratta, King of Mitanni, to Amenophis III 1

No. 1

1. To Nimmuriya the great king,
2. the king of Egypt, my brother,
3. my son-in-law, whom I love
4. and who loves me, speak
5. thus: Dusratta, the great king,
6. the king of the country of Mitanni, thy brother, thy father-in-law,
7. and who loves thee;
8. unto me is peace, unto my brother and unto my son-in-law
9. may there be peace; to thy houses, to thy wives,
10. to thy sons, 2 to thy men, to thy chariots,
11. to thy horses, to thy country
12. and to thy property, may there be abundant peace!

_______________

13. Of my brother, whom I love,
14. the wife, my daughter, I deliver to him:
15. may the Sun-god and Istar march before [my] brother:
16. according to the heart of my brother may they [act]:
17. and may my brother on this [same] day
18. rejoice: may the Sun-god and [Istar]
19. [hear] the prayer of my brother:
20. abundant joy [to my brother]
21. may they give, may [they …]:
22. and may my brother [live?]
23. for ever in pea[ce]!

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24. Manê, the messenger of [my brother],
25. and Khanê, the dragoman 3

p. 74

26. of my brother, like a god 1 thou didst [send],
27. many presents didst thou give [them],
28. thou didst [honour] them greatly
29. on account of their letter, counting on their service (?) 2;
30. the men who really live
31. if at any time I see not, may my gods
32. and the gods of my brother protect them.

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33. Now Nakhramassi,
34. whom thou hast seen, to transact (business) with my brother
35. I send, and also one necklace
36. of crystal and alabaster
37. and some gold for a present
38. to my brother I have despatched,
39. and for 100 thousand years
40. for the service (?) of my brother
41. may it be used. 3

Footnotes

73:1 Winckler and Abel, Mittheilungen, i. p. 17.

73:2 "Sons" may mean "children" here.

73:3 Targuman[nu]. The word occurs for the first time in this letter.

74:1 Or "according to the god."

74:2 I am quite uncertain as to the correct translation of this passage.

74:3 I follow Dr. Zimmern, though with hesitation, in reading nati as nadi.

VIII.

[figure]

No. II 4

OBVERSE

1. [To Nim]muariya king of the land of [Egypt] my brother, my son-in-law,
2. [whom I] love (and) who loves [me], speak
3. [thus:] Dusratta the king of Mi[tanni], thy father-in-law,
4. loves thee as thy brother; [unto] me is peace; unto thee

p. 75

5. [may there be] peace; to thy house, to [thy] wives, to thy sons, to thy nobles,
6. [to] thy chariots, to thy horses, to thy officers,
7. to thy country and thy property may there be exceeding abundant peace!

_______________

8. Manê the ambassador of my brother went to demand a wife for
9. my brother that he might take her to be queen of Egypt, and the letter 1
10. which he took I read, and to his message listened
11. my good heart attentively, and the words of my brother as the person of my brother
12. I saw and rejoiced on that day very exceedingly.
13. Day and night it produced pleasure. 2

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14. And all the words of my brother which Manê took [to me]
15. I performed in the same 3 year; again the wife of my brother,
16. the queen of Egypt, I … and have despatched to my brother;
17. … on that day the countries of Khani-rabbat 4 and Egypt.

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18. And as regards this, Manê will [speak?] before my brother: Giliya 5
19. and Manê I [presented with?] a costly present, but I did not address them.
20. Again, O my brother, for … and for [their] dismissal …

p. 76

21. But I did not cause them to go up (to Egypt) to [convey my daughter] that she might be the wife of [my] brother;
22. even now I did not cause them to go up.

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23. After six months Giliya my ambassador and Manê the [ambassador]
24. [of] my brother I dismissed; the wife of my brother, [to be queen of Egypt],
25. [my daughter], to my brother they brought. May Beltis the lady [of battle]
26. my [goddess], and Amânu 1 the god of my brother according to [his heart]
27. advise 2 [him].

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28. [His wife] to my brother they brought, and when my brother [had children by her]
29. his son grew up stoutly and also …
30. … according to the heart of my brother he became tall, 3 and …
31. … which to give my brother …
32. … above the face …

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33. [Now Na]khâramassi has spoken, O my brother, a word to [my brother],
34. … and a letter 4 into his hand I have given …
35. … and his words may [my brother] hear, [saying]
36. [thus: Nakharâ]massi to my brother I have sent …
37. the soldiers [of] my brother have not made …

Lacuna.

REVERSE

The commencement is lost.

1. … of my brother they have brought …

p. 77

2. … my [ambassador] has collected everything, O [my] brother.
3. … before all of them, and we …
4. … among them, and these seals and the gold …
5. … and they regarded (them) very intently;
6. they [considered] these treasures 1 as water, all of them, treasures of gold without [number];
7. [and] they said: "in the land of Egypt (are) treasures of gold, more than the dust in abundance."
8. [My heart], O my brother, now loves thee in rivalry; the men …
9. … whom they love, and yet nothing is given to their backs.
10. [There are] quantities of what is needed, quantities more than the dust in Egypt in plenty.
11. As myself (are) these men; to whom is the gift made? …
12. … and it has no gate; and truly when I [heard of] the treasures
13. [which lie] before you, I did not question if he loves me very greatly
14. [and] my country, even the king of Egypt.

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15. And my brother lifts me up in his heart when my heart was vexed at aught;
16. and he does not fail (?) at any time, and the great god my lord does not forsake me;
17. Along with my brother am I not remembered (?) by thee? and to country and city …
18. like my brother …

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19. Manê the ambassador of my brother [and the dragoman] of my brother who with him
20. journeyed, I honoured: [I spoke to] them and honoured them

p. 78

21. exceedingly; now Manê has departed, and my brother
22. has exalted him even as I honoured him very greatly.
23. To my brother also I spoke, and my brother heard from them how
24. I had done unto them: when Manê lacked (aught which) is not supplied
25. to him, he indeed is not vexed.

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26. And, O my brother, I have sent much worked 1 gold which cannot be counted, and the aqqât
27. of my father may my brother return to me, as my brother regards friendship.
28. As my brother before my country, as before my numerous (?) brethren,
29. my brother has caused me greatly to flourish, so may the god Amanu 2 sustain (?) (him), and
30. act for ever according to the heart of my brother, and may my brother,
31. my beloved one, act according to my heart, like the Sun-god
32. who loves mankind, and like the god Na-nînu may the gods
33. direct us, and for ever
34. let us love [one another].

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35. [And now I send] by way of a present one spear of ubbi wood
36. … and an isizzu of Aleppo 3 stone set in gold
37. … [which] he folds together on his throne
38. … khulal stone set in gold for a throne
39. … to my brother I have sent.

Footnotes

74:4 Winckler and Abel, Mittheilungen, i. p. 18.

75:1 Duppa, "a clay tablet."

75:2 [An]nâ etepu[us].

75:3 An[ni]ti.

75:4 "Khani the greater," or eastern Kappadokia, of which Malatiyeh was the capital. It is unfortunate that the commencement of the line is lost: if Khani-rabbat formed part of the dominions of Dusratta, it may have referred to the alliance between it and Egypt which was secured by the marriage.

75:5 Giliya was the ambassador sent by Dusratta to Egypt.

76:1 The Egyptian Amun, the supreme god of Thebes.

76:2 [Li]messil[lisu], the Hebrew mâshal, "to speak in proverbs."

76:3 Ipsidh, like the corresponding Aramaic verb.

76:4 Duppa.

77:1 Mâmê, possibly the Aramaic mamon, "wealth," the Mammon of the New Testament.

78:1 Musse.

78:2 Amon.

78:3 Khiliba. See W. A. I., v. 30, 66. The word seems to have no connection with the non-Semitic khilib, "a god."

IX.—Letter of Dusratta to Amenophis IV 1

[figure]

p. 79

IX.—Letter of Dusratta to Amenophis IV 1

OBVERSE

1. [To Napkhûri]ya my son-in-law whom I love and who loves [me],
2. [Dusratta], the great king, [the king of Mita]nni, thy brother, thy father-in-law, who loves thee: unto me (is) peace;
3. [to thee and] Teie [thy mother, and to] Tadukhêpa my daughter, thy wife, may there be [peace]!
4. [To …] may there be peace! To thy sons, to thy nobles, to thy chariots, to [thy] horses,
5. [to] thy [country], and to thy property may there be exceeding peace!

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6. [I sent an embassy?] to Nimmuriya, and thy father sent to me …
7. [and as regards] the message which he sent, there was no word whatsoever which [was concealed from?]
8. [the ambassadors] of thy father whom he sent [to] me; and Teie the chief wife of thy father,
9. thy mother, [knew?] them all; he showed (?) them to Teie and favoured (?) all of them, and after (?) them
10. thy father [repeated?] the words which he had spoken with me.

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11. … exceedingly, and [the words which I spoke] with Nimmuriya thy father whom we love,
12. [and the words which] Nimmuriya thy father spoke with me, he (and) I, my heart in nothing
13. did they vex, and all the words which I spoke those also on that day
14. did not vex the heart of [thy father, my] beloved one, in anything, and all that
15. [I said] these also did he perform on that day.

p. 80

16. [Now Manakhbia 1] the father of [N]immuriya sent to Artatâma the father of my father, and the daughter [of]
17. [Artatâma, the father] of my father he asked for; 5 times, 6 times he sends, but (Artatâma) did not give her; at last
18. [his daughter] he sends and with a train (of handmaids) he gave her. An embassy from Nimmûriya thy father to Sut[tarna 2]
19. [my father came], and the daughter of my father, my darling sister, though he asked for her and seven times [requested her],
20. [my father did not give.] At last five times and six times he sends and (my father) gave [her] with a train (of handmaids).
21. [When] Nimmûriya [thy father] sent to me and when he asked for my daughter, I did not [refuse],
22. [but] I spoke favourably; to his messenger I speak as follows: "I am ready to give her; thy messenger among [my] children
23. has come, and [my] eyes [have seen] the aqqâti which he has given, and her dowry is worthy of yourself, 3 and I will bestow [on her]
24. the dowry due to Nimmûriya thy [father] which [contains] jewels (?) [such as] no god possesses; and because I am honoured 4 I do not. [refuse]
25. to give her;" and Amasis 5 [the ambassador] of my brother, [who had come] for the bride, I sent (back) to Nimmûriya
26. after three months, with a very costly present, and …, and four … of gold [such as] none [had given before]

p. 81

27. [and] a goblet … of gold was given, which I [despatched].

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28. At last my daughter I gave [to him], and when [I had] despatched her and when Nimmûriya thy father had seen 1 her,
29. … he rejoiced with exceeding fulness, and my brother speaks as follows: "In the joy of my heart
30. I will give her [all her desire]"; and he caused her to be united publicly with his country 2; and moreover my ambassador
31. [he honoured?] like men … when he had seen [him], and he honoured him, and ever did Nimmûriya
32. [place him] in the front rank; and since he honoured the embassy, so among the houses which [he gave] to Tadukhepa
33. [my daughter, he placed] my [servants] all of them, and he made (them) dwell round about 3 and in the midst of my ambassadors, who entered
34. [his country]. There was nothing which Giliya [my ambassador did not obtain?]: gold which he gave a thousandfold in weight
35. … Nimmûriya gave to [Tadu]khêpa and Tadukhêpa
36. [gave to Giliya?] whatsoever he desired, and [Giliya] my ambassador did Nimmûriya in friendship
37. [exalt and] honour: then [Nimm]ûriya sent Nisag his ambassador
38. [on account of Tadukhêpa] my darling sister, and along with [Nisag] he sent slaves to my presence [and] objects of gold
39. …… of gold … of Giliya; and ever
40. …… [Nimmûriya] returned my friendship, [and] my ambassadors
41. ……… I (?) did not send to the slaves

p. 82

42. ……… among the slaves when he sent
43. …… he did not despatch to me, and … I despatched; an object (?) it had not; and so
44. [Nimmû]riya, thy father, in all the words [he had], one subject for vexation did not leave.
45. [The words] which I speak, all of them, … and a wish I do not utter. Teie
46. [knows the truth of] what I speak, and ask Teie thy [mother] if among the words which I speak
47. (there is) one word of falsehood … him did Nimmûriya thy father [honour?], and
48. Nimmûriya thy father made brotherhood [and league?] with me, and Nimmûriya thy father
49. did [not] say: At last the gold which [thou desirest] I have forwarded 1 to the land of Khani-rabbat; and when I went down and
50. he did not send the [gold which] I asked for, [to] future [days] it was left in the keeping of Nimmûriya
51. thy [father]; and Nimmûriya said to [my] envoy: Furniture (and) objects of gold, a profusion of everything
52. [which] my brother has asked for, which was left [here], which [I have agreed to give] and which my father agreed to give, I [now] send to you.
53 [And] so Nimmûriya thy father never changed his word to a non-word;
54. [through what] he said in words never did he cause vexation.

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55. [Now] they say that Nimmûriya has died, 2 and what they have said
56. has distracted my heart, 3 and I wept on that day,
57. [on my throne] I did [not] sit. 4 Bread and water on that day I did not [take], and I was sad,
58. [and] I [said]: If he is dead, in the land of my beloved

p. 83

[paragraph continues] (sister) and among my [servants] are the objects (of gold), and
59. [his son will succeed him?], and he loves me; or if he is alive with the god 1 and …, we love
60. [one another, and on] that account in our hearts we are [not] distant (from each other).

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61. [And now to] me the eldest son of Nimmûriya by Teie his wife
62. has made [offers of alliance and brotherhood] and has spoken thus: Nimmûriya is not dead
63. [since Napkhururi]ya [his] eldest son by Teie his chief wife (sits) in his place and
64. will never at all alter [his] words from their place (but they shall remain) as before.

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65. [Now to] my [brother] I say as follows: [Artat?]ama my brother whom we love in our hearts
66. [I have sent to? Napkhûriya] the son of Nimmûriya his father [whom I] honour on account of Teie his mother, who [was chief] wife
67. [of Nimmûriya] (and) loved (him) during the reign of (his) father, in order that she may repeat (?) the words before Napkhûriya,
68. [even the words of Nimmû]riya her husband, very earnestly, whom we love.

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69. Since [Nimmûriya] formerly sent an embassy to [me] when he dismissed Giliya, and
70. [further] sent Manê [as ambassador], and my brother despatched objects of wood, and also gold
71. …… [saying] that it (is) not gold and that I have not brought (it)
72. …… immediately from before the king

p. 84

73. Nimmû[riya] my brother forthwith [despatched the object]s which my brother gave to me,
74. [saying, Take it?] since I dig [the mines] very laboriously,
75 and I [answer] thus: Nimmûriya my brother the presents
76. despatched [to me], which Napkhûriya my brother, whom [I love], has not increased above him
77. ……… and what he despatched; and since ……
78. ……… and before Manê …… I was vexed
79. ……………

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80. …… [the presents] which my brother forwarded and
81. …… [I convened] my nobles, saying: With my brother in [friendship]
82. [I am united, as his fathers with] my fathers in sooth and with his fathers
83. [my fathers; I have received] the gifts which my brother has sent and
84. …… we have rejoiced exceedingly and kept a day of festival.
85. …… he fixed ourselves, and in the [time] of night thou thyself
.      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .

Footnotes

79:1 Winckler and Abel: Mittheilungen, i. p. 22.

80:1 Manakhbia is mentioned as the father of Amenôphis III in a tablet now at Berlin (Winckler and Abel, ii. No. 30). It represents the Egyptian Menkhepru-(Ra) or Thothmes IV.

80:2 The name is restored from the letter of Dusratta in the Mitannian language (Winckler and Abel, i. p. 29, line 55). A scarab of Amenôphis III states that in the tenth year of the Egyptian monarch, Satarna king of Nahrina sent his daughter Kirgipa to Egypt with an escort of 317 maidens.

80:3 Literally "like yourself."

80:4 Literally "made illustrious."

80:5 Khâmasi.

81:1 We must read itamar.

81:2 Literally "he performed the affiliation of that (lady) in public with his country."

81:3 Zikhkhirti for ’sikhirti. Sasba, "he made dwell," is the permansive Shaphel.

82:1 We must read u-se-its-tsi.

82:2 Literally "has gone to his destiny."

82:3 Such seems to be the signification of the text. The verb ultebsil is literally "caused to seethe."

82:4 [At]tasab.

83:1 It is unfortunate that the mutilation of the text makes it impossible to state with certainty what is the context of this interesting phrase.

X.—Letter of Dusratta to Amenophis III 1

[figure]

OBVERSE

1. [To] Nimmuriya the great king, the king of Egypt, [my] brother,
2. my son-in-law, who loves me, and whom I love
3. it is said as follows: Tusratta, the great king, thy father in law

p. 85

4. who loves thee, the king of Mittanni, thy brother.
5. Unto myself (is) peace; unto thee may there be peace, to thy house,
6. to my sister, 1 and to the rest of thy wives, to thy sons,
7. to thy chariots, to thy horses, to thy noble(s),
8. to thy country and to thy property may there be abundant peace!

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9. Until the time of thy fathers, they with my fathers were in closest
10. alliance; 2 since then thou hast perfected 3 (it), and with my father
11. wert in exceedingly close alliance.
12. Now thou, since (thou) and I love one another,
13. hast established (it) ten times more than in my father's time.
14. May the gods direct them, 4 and this our alliance
15. may Rimmon 5 my lord and Amanum 6 for ever as now
16, confirm (?).

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17. And when my brother sent Manê his ambassador,
18. saying: O my brother, let thy daughter be my wife
19. and mistress of the land of Egypt, I did not vex the heart 7
20. of my brother and spoke publicly according to (his) wish, 8
21. and her whom my brother asked for I showed to Manê,

p. 86

22. and he saw her. When he had seen her he much approved 1 of her;
23. and in peace in the country of my brother may I know her:
24. may Istar and Amanum according to the heart of my brother advise her!

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25. Giliya my messenger reported unto me the words of my brother.
26. When I heard (them) it was very good, I rejoiced very
27. exceedingly saying: Verily unto me has this favour happened, 2 and
28. whereas in consequence of the alliance that (was) between us we loved (each other),
29. now in consequence of these words we shall love (each other) for ever.

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30. When I had sent to my brother and had said thus: As for me,
31. very exceedingly do we love (each other) and in alliance
32. we have been friendly; then to my brother I said thus: My brother
33. has honoured me ten times above my father!

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34. And I asked much gold of my brother saying: Above my father
35. may my brother set me and may my brother send (it) to me.
36. And to my father didst thou send much gold;
37. an oblation-dish of solid gold and a cup 3 of solid gold didst thou send to him;
38. a brick of gold like molten bronze didst thou send to me.

p. 87

39. I sent Giliya on an embassy to my brother and [much] gold
40. I asked for saying: As for me may my brother
41. above my father honour me, and much gold
42. which cannot be counted may he send me,

REVERSE

1. may my brother send me more than to my father.
2. And then I said thus to my brother: Thy standard,
3. which my grandfather made saying: As for me, that
4. it may last I have painted the work red (?), I have constructed (it) again for thee;
5. and thereupon I further said: The gold which my brother will send
6. let him send for the dowry.

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7. Again my brother sends gold (and) I say thus:
8. The amount is much, 1 for the supply of the amount is much; and unto the (fitting) quantity
9. it reaches, for thus it reaches exactly unto the (fitting) quantity;
10. and on this account I have rejoiced greatly, and for all
11. that my brother has sent for this I have rejoiced exceedingly.

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12. Now again I send to my brother, and may my brother
13. grant me friendship above what (he granted) to my father. Now
14. have I asked gold of my brother, and the gold which of my brother
15. I have asked, has twice been asked for, 2 once
16. because of thy standard and a second time for the dowry.

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17. And, O my brother, gold in good earnest which cannot be counted

p. 88

18. may my brother send unto me, and may my brother send more gold than (he sent) my father,
19. since in the midst of the country of my brother gold is as plentiful as dust.
20. May the gods reveal 1 it, and as at present in the country
21. of my brother gold is plentiful, so ten times more than at present
22. may he extract gold; and may the gold, which I have asked for, in the heart of my brother
23. not cause vexation, and O my loved one, my heart let not my brother
24. vex, but let my brother the gold which cannot be counted
25. in good earnest send unto me!
26. And whatsoever my brother desires let him send for to the house where it is, and
27. let (the messenger) go and I will give the present which my brother has asked for.
28. This country (is) my brother's country, and this house (is) my brother's house.

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