'Abi-Milku' was the ''only'' mayor/ruler of
Tyre, Lebanon-(called ''Surru'' in the letters), during the
1350-
1335 BC Amarna letters correspondence.
He is the author of ten letters, (to the
pharaoh), EA 146-155, (
EA for 'el
Amarna').
He is not referenced by name, in any other letters of the 382–letter
corpus.
Abi-Milku's letters
The titles of Abi-Milku's letters are as follows:
:EA 146—title: ''"
Abi-Milku of
Tyre-(Surru)"''
:EA 147—title: ''"A
hymn to the
Pharaoh"''
:EA 148—title: ''"The need for mainland Tyre"''
:EA 149—title: ''"Neither
water nor
wood"''; See: Egyptian commissioner
Haapi.
:EA 150—title: ''"Needed: just one soldier"''
:EA 151—title: ''"A report on
Canaan"''-(See external links: (letter; and
Sea Peoples))
:EA 152—title: ''"A demand for recognition"''
:EA 153—title: ''"
Ships on hold"''
:EA 154—title: ''"Orders carried out"''; See:
Zimredda (Sidon mayor).
:EA 155—title: ''"Servant of
Mayati"''. "Mayati" is a
hypocoristicon/pet name for
Meritaten,
Akhenaten daughter.
Example letters of Abi-Milku
===EA 147, ''"A
hymn to the
Pharaoh"''===
The topic of this ''Hymn to the Pharaoh'' is not Zimredda; however, only the ''war'' of
Aziru, (son or
Abdi-Ashirta), and the constant lookout, and reporting by Zimredda is addressed at the very end of this letter.
The letter: (no lineation, on tablet, for paragraphs)
:'(1-15) "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. My lord is the
Sun who comes forth over all lands day–by–day, according to the way (of being) of the Sun, his gracious father, who gives life by his sweet
breath and returns with his north
wind; who establishes the entire land in peace, by the power of his arm: '''ha-ap-Å¡i'''; who gives forth his cry in the sky like
Baal, and all the land is frightened at his cry.'
:'(16-60) 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!- Before the arrival of the messenger of the king, my lord, breath had not come back; my nose was blocked. Now that the breath of the king has come forth to me, I am very happy and: '''a-ru-u''' (he is satisfied), day–by–day. Because I am happy, does the
earth not '''pr[osp]er'''? When I heard the gracious me[ss]enger from my lord, all the land was in fear of my lord—when I heard the sweet breath and the gracious messenger who came to me. When the king, my lord, said: '''ku-na''' "(Prepare) before the arrival of a large army," then the servant said to his lord: '''ia-a-ia-ia''' ('''"Yes, yes, yes!"''')
On my front and on: '''sú-ri-ia''' (my back) I carry the word of the king, my lord. Whoever gives heed to the king, his lord, and serves him in his place, the Sun com(e)s forth over him, and the sweet breath comes back from the mouth of his lord. If he does not heed the word of the king, his lord, his
city is destroyed, his
house is destroyed, never (again) does his
name exist in all the land. (But) look at the servant who gives heed to ((to)) his lord. His city prospers, his house prospers, his name exists forever. You are the Sun who comes forth over me, and a brazen wall set up for him, and because of the powerful arm: '''nu-uh-ti''' (I am at rest): '''ba-tì-i-ti''' ( I am confident). I indeed said to the Sun, the father of the king, my lord, "When shall I see the face of the king, my lord?"'
:'(61-71) I am indeed guarding
Tyre-(''
Surru''), the principal city, for the king, my lord, until the powerful arm of the king comes forth over me, to give me
water to drink and
wood to warm myself. Moreover,
Zimredda, the king of
Siduna, writes daily to the rebel
Aziru, the son of
'Abdi-AÅ¡ratu, about every word he has heard from
Egypt-(
Mizri). I herewith write to my lord, and it is good that he knows."' -EA 147, lines 1-71 (complete)
The photo of the external links shows the condition of EA 147, (minus a corner).
See:
Amarna letters–phrases and quotations. Letter 147 uses: instead of "7 times and 7 times", the
scribe goes far deeper: he uses: '' '1/2 7 times' ''. A partial reference to the
prostration formula is used in the letter middle, when he uses "stomach and back".
Zimredda of Sidon is the topic of 5 of Abi-Milku's 10 letters.
===EA 149, ''"Neither
water nor
wood"''===
See:
Egyptian commissioner
Haapi.
===EA 151, ''"A report on
Canaan"''
See: external link article/write-up.
EA 154, ''"Orders carried out"''===
Five of Abi-Milku's letters concern his neighbor, and conflict enemy Zimredda of Sidon-(''Siduna''). See:
Zimredda (Sidon mayor).
EA 153, ''"Ships on hold"''
See picture:
EA 153 (Obverse)
:'(1-5)"[To] the king, my lord: [Mes]sage of ''Abi-Milku'', your servant. I
fall at your feet 7 times and 7 times. I have carried out what the king my lord, ordered.'
:'(6-8)The entire land is afraid of, -(before the) troops of the king, my lord.'
:'(9-11)I have had my men hold
ships, '''at the disposition of''', -(''before the'') troops of the king, my lord.
:'(12-20)Whoever has disobeyed has no family, has nothing alive. Since I gua[rd the ci]ty of the king, [my] lo[rd], '''m[y] s[afety'''] is the king's '''responsibility'''. ['''May he take congnizance'''] '''of''' his servant who is on his side."' -EA 153, 1-20 (complete, (and damaged)) ("[To], and [mes]sage" on broken-upper missing corner)
See also
★
Zimredda (Sidon mayor)
★
Haapi, Egyptian commissioner
★
Amarna letters
Amarna letters (photos)
King of Babylon:
★ EA 9-(Obverse); see: KaraduniyaÅ¡
Tushratta:
★ EA 19-(Obverse), Article, Tushratta
★ EA 23-(Reverse), with ''' ''Black'' Hieratic'''; Article-(British Museum); see: Shaushka
★ EA 28-(Obverse), see: Pirissi and Tulubri
Rib-Hadda letters:
★ EA 126-(Obverse); Article-(Click for larger Picture); See: Salhi (region)
'Abi-Milku:'
★ EA 147-(Obverse); see: Abi-Milku
| |
★ #1: EA 153-(Obverse); Article
★ #2: EA 153-(Obverse)-2nd; see: Abi-Milku
Abdi-Tirši:
★ EA 228-(Obverse)//(228,330,299,245,252), (EA 330, for Å ipti-Ba'lu); Article, Pic writeup
Biridiya:
★ EA 245-(Obverse) EA 245-(Reverse); Article-1; Article-2; Hannathon/''Hinnatuna''
Labaya:
★ EA 252-(Obverse), Article, see Labaya
Others:
★ EA 296-(Reverse), Article; see: Yabitiri
★ EA 299-(High Res.)(Obverse); see Yapahu
★ EA 369-Front/Back-(Click on each); see: Milkilu
|
External links
★ Letter: EA 147
★
EA 147-(Obverse);
Article
★ Letter: EA 153
★
#1: EA 153-(Obverse);
Article
★
#2: EA 153-(Obverse)-2nd;
Article
Articles
★
Write-up of Letter EA 151, concerning Zimredda of Sidon-(Sea peoples, 'Abi-Milku' letter); see:
Sea Peoples
References
★
Moran, William L. ''The Amarna Letters.'' John Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)
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