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EA 020 (P271179)
letter, Middle Babylonian, Akhetaten · c. 1400 BCE–1100 BCE
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| Designation | EA 020 |
|---|---|
| ID | P271179 |
| Museum no. | VAT 00191 |
| Collection | Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Middle Babylonian · c. 1400 BCE–1100 BCE |
| Genre | letter |
| Find spot | Akhetaten (mod. el-Amarna) |
| Coordinates | 27.6400, 30.8959 |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| obverse | ||
| 1 | [a-na {disz}ni-im]-mu-u2-a-ri-ia _lugal kur_ [mi-is,-ri-i] _szesz_-ia ha-ta-ni-ia | to Nimmuriya, king of the land of Miṣri, my brother, my friend, |
| 2 | [sza a-ra]-'a-a-mu sza i-ra-'a-am#-[an-ni] qi-bi2-ma | Say to the one who loves me that he loves me: |
| 3 | [um-ma {disz}]du#-usz-rat-ta _lugal kur_ mi-i-ta#-[an-ni] e-mu-u2-ka | Thus Dušrata, king of the land of Mitanni, your army: |
| 4 | [sza i]-ra#-'a-a-mu-u2-ka _szesz_-ka-[ma a]-na# ia-szi szul-mu a-na ka-a-sza | who loves you, your brother, to me, health to you! |
| 5 | [lu-u2] szul#-mu a-na _e2_-ka a-na _dam-mesz_-[ka] a-na _dumu#-mesz_-ka a-na _lu2-mesz gal_-ka | Good health to your house, your wives, your children, and your great men! |
| 6 | [a-na _{gesz}]gigir-mesz_-ka a-na _ansze-kur-ra-mesz_-ka a-na _erin2-gal-mesz_-ka | to your chariots, your horses, your troops |
| 7 | [a]-na# _kur_-ka u3 mi-im-mu-ka da-an-ni-isz da-an-ni-isz lu-u2 szul-mu | May your land and all your possessions be very well. |
| 8 | {disz}ma-ne2-e _lu2-kin_-szu sza _szesz_-ia it-ta-al#-ka a-na# at-te-ru-ti a-na ; _dam_-szu | Manê, the messenger of my brother, came to me, to enter his wife |
| 9 | sza _szesz_-ia a-na be-el-ti _kur_ mi-is,-ri-i a-na le-ge-e u3 t,up-pa | of my brother to the lady of the land of Ishrî for rebellion and a tablet |
| 10 | sza il-ka-a al-ta-ta-as-si2-ma [a]-ma-ti#-szu el-te-me | I listened to what was said and heard his words. |
| 11 | u3 t,a#-a-pa da-an#-ni#-isz-ma a-ma-a-ti-szu# sza _szesz_-ia ki-i sza _szesz_-ia-ma | And it is very good that his words of my brother are as good as my brother. |
| 12 | a-mu-ru u3 ah-ta-du i-na u4-mi sza#-[a]-szi ma-'a-ta da-an-ni-isz | I saw and I rejoiced greatly on that day. |
| 13 | u4-ma u3 mu-sza sza-a-szi [ba]-na-a e-te-pu-[usz] | day and night I built there. |
| 14 | u3 sza _szesz_-ia a-ma-a-ti-szu gab2-[ba] sza# {disz}ma-ne2-e il-ka-a | and of my brother all his words of Manê the ilku-official |
| 15 | e-ep-pu-usz a-na sza-at-ti an#-[ni]-ti# i-na-an-na sza _szesz_-ia _dam_-su2 | Now that my brother and his wife |
| 16 | sza _kur_ mi-is,-ri-i be-la-as-su2 a-na#-[an-din]-ma u3 a-na _szesz_-ia u2-up-pa-lu | of the land Miṣrî his lord I shall give and to my brother they shall make available. |
| 17 | [1(disz)-en a-mi]-lu-u2-tu# i-na u4-mi sza#-[a-szi] _kur_ ha-ni-gal-bat u3 _kur_ mi-is,-ri-i | On that day, the land Hanigalbat and the land Mishrî |
| 18 | u3 asz-szum an-ni-ti {disz}ma#-ne2#-e ik#-[ka-la-a] u2-ba2-a-an _szesz_-ia {disz}gi-li-ia | Further, because of this Manê has weighed out my brother Giliya |
| 19 | u3 {disz}ma-ne2-e ha-mu-ut-ta [um-te-esz]-szer3-szu-nu-ti u3 la aq-ti-ip!(LU)-szu-nu | and Manê, the heirs of Ḫamūtta, I have sent them, but I have not appointed them. |
| 20 | a-ka-an-na _szesz_-ia a-na tu-ul#-[li]-im#-ma a-na mu-usz-szu-ri# | Herewith, my brother, to revive and to revive |
| 21 | u3 tu-ul-la ul e-pu-usz a-na [e-pe-esz] 1(u)-szu a-na _dam_-szu sza _szesz_-[ia] | and if I did not do it, 10 times to the wife of my brother |
| 22 | u3 i-na-an-na tu-ul-la e-ep-[pu-usz] | Now, I will do the renovation. |
| 23 | i-na _iti_ 6(disz) _kam_ {disz}gi-li-ia _lu2-kin_-ia u3 {disz}ma-ne2-e _lu2#-[kin_-szu] | In the 6th month, Giliya my messenger and Mannê his messenger |
| 24 | sza# _szesz_-ia u2-ma-asz-sza-ar-szu-nu sza _szesz_-ia _dam_-su2 a-na#-[an-din] | of my brother I shall release them. Of my brother his wife I shall give. |
| 25 | [u3] a-na _szesz_-ia u2-ub-ba-lu {d}esz18-dar be-el-ti be-le#-[et _kur-kur_ u3] | and to my brother Ištar, lady, lady of the lands and |
| 26 | [_szesz_]-ia# u3 {d}a-ma-a-nu il-szu sza _szesz_-ia ki-i [_sza3_ sza _szesz_-ia] | my brother and Amānu, the gods of my brother, as my brother's heart |
| 27 | [li]-me-esz17-szi-il-[szi] | may they be reconciled with her. |
| 28 | [_dam_]-szu# a-na _szesz_-ia u2-ub-ba-lu u3 _szesz_-ia ki-[i u2-kal-la-mu-szi] | his wife to my brother they shall bring, and my brother when he holds her |
| 29 | [i-im]-ma-ar-szu ir-ta-bi da-an-ni-is-ma u3 i-sze-['e-e-szi-ma] | he saw him, he became furious, and he heard her, and |
| 30 | [szi-i?] ki-i lib3-bi sza _szesz_-ia ep-sze-et u3 [...] | She is like the heart of my brother, deeds and ... |
| 31 | [szul-ma?]-na sza a-na-an-di-nu _szesz_-ia [li-ih-du? da-an-ni-isz?] | May the well-being of which I am giving my brother prosper greatly. |
| 32 | [ki-i-me]-e el sza pa-na-a-nu [ma-a-ad?] | as much as before |
| 33 | [a-nu-um]-ma# {disz}ha-a-ra-ma-asz-szi# sza# _szesz_-ia-a-ma a-na [ia-szi isz-pu-ru] | Now, Ḫaramašši, whom my brother wrote to me |
| 34 | [al-ta-par2]-szu u3 t,up-pa a-na qa-ti-szu at-ta-din-asz#-[szu u3? t,up-pa? _szesz_-ia?] | I sent him, and I gave him a tablet in his hand, and my brother's tablet |
| 35 | [lil?-ta]-as#-si-ma u3 a-ma-ti-szu li-isz-me [u3? a-nu-um-ma?] | May he listen to her, and may he hear his words. Now |
| 36 | [{disz}ha-a-ra]-ma-asz-szi a-na _szesz_-ia al-ta-par2 [...] | I have sent Haramašši to my brother. |
| 37 | [...] _szesz#_-ia _erin2-mesz_-szu u2-ul u2-ba-an-[ni-szu-nu ...] | ... my brother, I did not give him his troops ... |
| 38 | [...] i-na [...] | ... in ... |
| 39 | [...] a-na _szesz_-ia [...] | ... to my brother ... |
| 40 | [...] ma [...] | ... ... |
| reverse | ||
| 1 | [...] un#-du {disz}x-[...] | ... Ring of |
| 2 | [...] bi# a-na {disz}ma-ne2#-[e ...] | ... to Mane |
| 3 | [... _kur?]-mesz_ gab2-ba-szi-na# [...] | ... all the lands ... |
| 4 | [... ma]-a-at-ta i-na pa-ni-ia# [...] | ... a land in my presence ... |
| 5 | [u3 asz-szum _ku3-sig17_] x x sza _szesz_-ia u2-sze-bi-lu [...] | And concerning the gold ... that my brother sent ... |
| 6 | [u2-ba-ru]-tu4#-ia gab2-ba2 up-te-eh-he2-er _szesz_-[ia _ku3-sig17_] | My limbs have been loosened, my brother gold |
| 7 | [sza u2-sze-bi-lu] a-na pa-ni gab2-bi-szu-nu-ma a-ni-na is-sal-[tu] | which they sent to all of them, we have taken. |
| 8 | [...] gab2#-bi-szu-nu-ma ka-an-gu-tu4 sza-szu-nu u3 _ku3-sig17_ [x x] | ... on their chests and the kagûtu-vessels of theirs and gold ... |
| 9 | [...] ma#-lu-u2-me u3 ib-te-gu-u2 ma-'a-ta ta-an-ni#-[isz-ma?] | ... are plentiful, and they have become numerous. Give me a firm positive answer |
| 10 | [um-ma lu]-u2 szu-nu-ma-a-me an-nu-tu4-me-e gab2-ba2-szu-nu-ma-a-me _ku3-sig17_ la ep-sza#-[ma-a-me] | “Whether these are them, all these are gold, I have not done. |
| 11 | [u3] iq-ta-bu-u2 i-na _kur_ mi-is,-ri-im-ma-a-me _ku3-sig17_ el e-bi-ri ma-a-[ta-at] | and said: "In the land of Miṣrimma, gold, surpassing the sea, |
| 12 | [u3] _szesz_-ia ap-pu-na i-ra-'a-a-am-ka da-an-ni-isz-me a-wi-lu-tum-ma#-[a-me?] | and my brother, I have prayed to you, may they hear your prayers. |
| 13 | [szu]-u2 sza i-ra-'a-a-mu u3 a-na _asz2_-szu an-na-a-ti u2-ul i-na-an#-[din-me?] | that which he loves and to this place he shall not give. |
| 14 | [ma]-an#-ni-ma-a-me ha-sze-eh-ma-a-me el e-bi-ri i-na _kur_ mi-is,-ri-ma-a-ad | All this is a hazehmâ-demon in the land of Mishrimad. |
| 15 | [u3] ma-an-nu an-na-a-ti a-na ma-an-ni i-na-an-din-me sza ma-la an-ni-i ; ma-s,u#-[u2] | And who will give these to whomever he so pleases? |
| 16 | [sza] pa#-na u3 ba-a-ba la i-szu-u2 um-ma lu-u2 a-na-ku-ma ki-i-ma-a-me ; a-dab2-[bu-ub] | "He who does not have a face or mouth should say: "I shall speak as follows." |
| 17 | [a]-na# pa-ni-ku-nu-me ul a-dab2-bu-ub i-ra-'a-a-ma-an-ni ma-'a-ta ; dan-nisz-[ma] | I will not speak before you, he will be very angry with me. |
| 18 | _szesz#_-ia _lugal kur_ mi-is,-ri-im-[ma] | my brother, the king of the land of Mishrim |
| 19 | u3 _szesz_-ia i-na _sza3_-szu i-s,a-ab-ba#-ta-an-ni ki-i lib3-bi im-ra-s,u mi-im-ma | and my brother in his heart has seized me, as he wishes, everything |
| 20 | u3 la lu-u2 pa-asz-ra im-ma-ti-ma {d}iszkur# be-li lu-u2 la u2-ma-asz-sza-ra-an-ni-ma | And if it is not for me, Iškur, my lord, should not release me, and |
| 21 | it-ti _szesz_-ia lu-u2 la ut-ta-az-za-am ka-a-am-ma a-na _szesz_-ia aq-ta-bi# | I did not stand with my brother. Whenever I spoke to my brother, |
| 22 | ki-i-me-e _szesz_-ia i-du-u2 | as my brother knew, |
| 23 | {disz}ma-ne2-e _lu2-kin_-szu sza _szesz_-ia# [u3 _erin2-mesz_]-szu# sza _szesz_-ia sza it-ti {disz}ma-ne2-e | Manê, his messenger of my brother, and his troops of m[y brother], who are with Mane |
| 24 | il-li-ka uk-te-eb-bi#-it# [i-na? gab2]-bi#-szu-nu u3 uk-te-eb-be2-er-szu-nu | He came, he seized them all, and he captured them. |
| 25 | da-an-ni-isz a-nu-um-ma {disz}ma-ne2-e i-il-la-kam2-ma u3 _szesz_-ia | Now Manê is coming, and my brother |
| 26 | il#-ta#-na-'a-al-szu ki-i-me-e uk-te#-eb-bi-is-su2 ma-'a-ta ta-an-ni-isz | He constantly sought him out, like he had sinned against him, he gave him a gift. |
| 27 | a-na _szesz_-ia-ma i-dab2-bu-ub-ma u3 _szesz_-ia il-te-nim-me-e-szu-nu-ti ki-i-me-e | to my brother he speaks, and my brother has spoken to them as follows: |
| 28 | e-te-pu-us-su2-nu ki-i lu-u2 ha-szih {disz}ma-ne2-e ul i-ma-a-at# | he has performed against them. If he is ill, Manê will not succeed. |
| 29 | a-di szu-u2-ma szu-u2 u3 la-a i-ma-ar-ra-as, | as long as he lives and he does not die |
| 30 | u3 _szesz_-ia _ku3-sig17_ ma-'a-ta sza _kin_ la ep-sza li-sze-e-bi-la u3 aq-qa-at | and my brother a lot of gold of the work not done may he send to me, and I aqqat |
| 31 | a-bi-ia _szesz_-ia li-i-te-er-an-ni ki-i-me-e _szesz_-ia ra-'a-mu-ti u2-gal-lam | my father my brother may he return to me. Just as my beloved brother I will raise up. |
| 32 | ki-i-me-e _szesz_-ia a-na pa-ni _kur_-ia ki-i-me-e a-na pa-ni _lu2-mesz_ u2-pa-ru-ti-ia | like my brother before my land, like the men who removed me |
| 33 | _szesz_-ia ma-'a-ta u2-bar-ra-ha-an-ni {d}iszkur u3 {d}a-ma#-nu# li-id-din-ma | my brother many he caused me to die. May Adad and Amanus give, and |
| 34 | a-na da-ra-tim-ma sza _szesz_-ia sza lib3-bi-szu lu-pu-usz u3 _szesz_-ia | for eternity my brother of his heart I may do, and my brother |
| 35 | ad-du-ia sza lib3-bi-ia li-pu-usz ki-i-me-e a-mi-lu-u2-tu4 | May my father, who is in my heart, do as he pleases. |
| 36 | _{d}utu_ i-ra-'a-am-szu u3 ki-i [i]-na!#-an-na ni-i-nu _dingir-mesz_-u2 | Šamaš loves him, and if now we are gods |
| 37 | [li]-mesz#-sze-ru-un-na-a-szi-ma a-na da-a-ra-tim-ma | may they grant to us forever. |
| 38 | [i-na lib3-bi]-ni i ni-ir-ta-'a-a-am | in our hearts we have sinned |
| 39 | [u3 a-nu-um]-ma# a-na szul-ma-ni sza _szesz_-ia 1(disz) _{gesz}esz2-sag-kul_ | Now, for the well-being of my brother, one arrow |
| 40 | [...] u3 i-szi-is-su2 _na4_ hi-li-ba _ku3-sig17 gar-ra_ | ... and he placed a stone of allure and gold. |
| 41 | [...] i-na qa-ti-szu i-s,a-ap-pa-tu4 | ... in his hand they will cut off |
| 42 | [...] _igi-mesz {na4}nir2-kur ku3-sig17 gar_ sza a-na qa-ti | ... the faces of gold nirkur-stone, which are placed in the hand |
| 43 | [...] a-si i-il-la#-ku a-na _szesz_-ia ul-te-bil2# | ... they will go. I have sent to my brother. |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-18.