The Amarna Letters

by William L. Moran (Translator/Editor)

An ancient inscription identified some of the ruins at el Amarna as "The Place of the Letters of the Pharaoh." Discovered there, circa 1887, were nearly four hundred cuneiform tablets containing correspondence of the Egyptian court with rulers of neighboring states in the mid-fourteenth century B.C. Previous translations of these letters were both incomplete and reflected an imperfect understanding of the Babylonian dialects in which they were written. William Moran devoted a lifetime of study to the Amarna letters to prepare this authoritative English translation.

The letters provide a vivid record of high-level diplomatic exchanges that, by modern standards, are often less than diplomatic. An Assyrian ruler complains that the Egyptian king's latest gift of gold was not even sufficient to pay the cost of the messengers who brought it. The king of Babylon refuses to give his daughter in marriage to the pharaoh without first having proof that the king's sister—already one of the pharaoh's many wives—is still alive and well. The king of Karaduniyash complains that the Egyptian court has "detained" his messenger—for the past six years. And Egyptian vassal Rib-Hadda, writing from the besieged port of Byblos, repeatedly demands military assistance for his city or, failing that, an Egyptian ship to permit his own escape.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Egypt, Ancient, Ancient History, Religion

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1371

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable resource, but I think I learnt more from commentaries on the letters than reading the actual letters. I wanted a bit more data to be provided about the letters (such as, who is believed to have sent them, who they are addressed to). As for the letters themselves, some are entertaining (the king of Babylonia's "geography lesson", for example), but others are tedious (itemised lists from dowries, the endless letters of complaint from Rib-Hadda), which resulted in me skimming. Still, a worthwhile read.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A translation of the letters found at Akhetaten, the royal political correspondence. Very interesting to see ancient politics, and a fascinating time in world history that comes to life through these primary sources.

[John Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Translated from the clay tablet letters of the 14th century B.C., the letters give an insight into correspondence between the tribal leaders of the lands under Egyptian influence. These letters are written just prior to the invasion of Canaan by the Israelites.

[Jared Saltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone interested in the happenings of the ANE (from Egypt to Canaan to Hatti to Babylon) in the so-called "Amarna Period" (c. 1350 BCE), this is a must have. Frequently, students of history (have to) rely on secondary literature to draw conclusions about peoples and periods, but having access to the Amarna letters in English all in one (reasonable priced) volume is a huge boon to any historian's work. Translations occur from a variety of translators, each providing helpful notes with each letter, and the introductory articles are equally helpful. The Wikipedia page is (shock!) actually very complete and helpful for navigating to the region or letters you first want to read.

Highly recommended for students of Bible or ANE history.