Shaushka

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Shaushka, also (Šauška) is a Hurrian goddess who was also adopted into the Hittite pantheon. She is known in detail because she became the patron goddess of the Hittite king Hattusilis II (1420 - 1400 BC).

Shaushka is a goddess of fertility, but also of war and healing. She is depicted in human form with wings, standing with a lion and accompanied by two attendants.

[edit] 1350 BC, Amarna letters "Šauška"

In the 1350-1335 BC Amarna letters correspondence, (written mostly to the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh), one letter EA 23, (EA for 'el Amarna'), written to the pharaoh, has as its topic, the Loaning of a Statue to Egypt. It is presumed that it's due to the health of the Egyptian king, but there are other theories or explanations.

The title of the letter is: "A goddess travels to Egypt".

It is a short, 32-line letter, from Tushratta, (letter no. 7 of 13), and the 2nd half of the letter states:

"Now, in the time, too, of my father ... ..went to this country, and just as earlier she dwelt there and they honored her, may my brother now honor her 10 times more than before. May my brother honor her, –(then) at (his) pleasure let her go so that she may come back.

May Šauška, the mistress of heaven, protect us, my brother and me, 100,000 years, and may our mistress grant both of us great joy. And let us act as friends.

Is Šauška for me alone my god(dess), and for my brother not his god(dess)?"

Black Egyptian script is also written on the reverse side of this letter, (in the open space remaining).

[edit] External links

• EA 23-(Reverse), with Black Hieratic; Article-(British Museum)
• For a collection of Amarna letters photographs, see: Pirissi and Tulubri links, (Tushratta letters, and others).

[edit] References

• Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. John Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)