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Egyptian Artifacts

The Amarna Letters

The β€œAmarna Letters” is the modern designation for a group of over 300 𓏲𓏲𓏲 clay tablets that were found at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– in the 1880s. Amarna as it is commonly called, is the modern name for β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–.” β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–β€ was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–.Β 

Amarna Letters
Two of the clay tablets, designed as the “Amarna Letters” on display at the MET.

The β€œAmarna Letters” are written on clay tablets in cuneiform script, which was a type of Mesopotamian script! Cuneiform could be used to write many languages, but the language on the β€œAmarna Letters’” tablets is Akkadian. This is significant because it shows the reach that cuneiform/Akkadian had throughout the ancient world! Akkadian was probably the lingua franca (common language/trade language) of the time! 

Most of the letters are written from rulers outside of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, and they document diplomatic relations between these territories and Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

The Amarna Letter on the left is from Ashur-uballit the king of Assyria. In this letter he offers gifts to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– in order to open communications between the two countries! 

The Amarna Letter on the right is from Abi-milku of Tyre to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– . Abi-milku was asking Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– for protection in return for his loyalty to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–!

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