Abi-Milku

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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.

1 Abi-Milku's letters
2 Example letters of Abi-Milku
3 See also
- 3.1 Amarna letters (photos)
4 External links
5 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] Example letters of Abi-Milku

[edit] 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-ši; 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-Ašratu, 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.

[edit] EA 149, "Neither water nor wood"

See: Egyptian commissioner Haapi.

[edit] EA 151, "A report on Canaan"

See: external link article/write-up.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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)