# Amarna letter EA 245

Amarna letter EA 245, titled: "Assignment of Guilt," is a medium length clay tablet Amarna letter from Biridiya the governor-'mayor' of Magidda. It is letter number four of five from Biridiya.
The letter is in pristine condition except for a missing flake (lower-right, obverse) causing a lacuna at the end of a few lines. The cuneiform characters are finely inscribed, with some photos that can even show the individual strokes of the cuneiform characters (the stroke sequence). The letter is 47-lines long, and about 5-in tall. Letter EA 245 (see here-(Obverse): ), is numbered BM 29855, at the British Museum.
The Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are a mid 14th century BC, about 1350 BC and 20–25 years later, correspondence. The initial corpus of letters were found at Akhenaten's city Akhetaten, in the floor of the Bureau of Correspondence of Pharaoh; others were later found, adding to the body of letters.

## The letter
### EA 245: "Assignment of Guilt"

EA 245, letter four of five. (Not a linear, line-by-line translation, and English from French.)
(Obverse, see here )
    (Lines 1-7)--Moreover,$^1$ I urged my brothers, "If the god of the king, our lord, brings it about$^2$ that we overcome Lab'ayu, then we must bring him alive :–(gloss) ha-ia-ma to the king, our lord."
    (8-14)--My mare, however having been put out of action :–-(gloss) tu-ra (having been shot), I took my place behind him :–(gloss) ah-ru-un-ú and rode with Yashdata.$^3$ But before my arrival they had struck him down :–(gloss) ma-ah-ṣú-ú.
    (15-23)--Yašdata being truly your servant, he it was that entered with me into batt[le]. May [ ... ] [ ... ] the life$^4$ of the king, my [lord], that he may br[ing peace to ever]yone$^5$ in [the lands of] the king, [my] lord.
(Reverse, see here )
    (24-35)--It had been Surata that took Labaya from Magidda. and said to me, "I will send him to the king by boat :–(gloss) a-na-yi "$^6$ Surata took him, but he sent him from Hinnatunu to his home, for it was Surata that had accepted from him :–(gloss) ba-di-ú his ransom.
    (36-47)--Moreover, what have I done to the king, my lord, that he has treated me with contempt :–(gloss) ia$_8$-qí-ìl-li-ni and honored :–(gloss) ia$_8$-ka-bi-id my less important brothers?$^7$ It was Surata that let Lab'ayu go, and it was Surata that let Ba'l-mehir go, (both) to their homes. And may the king, my lord, know.--(complete Obverse & Reverse, EA 245, minor, restored lacunae, (and a small corner of clay tablet missing), total ines 1-47)

## Akkadian text

The Akkadian language text:
Akkadian:
Obverse (see here: )
    (Line 1)--Ša-ni-tam dabābu--(..Furthermore,.. to expound upon (to talk))
    (2)--UGU ŜEŠ-HI.A-ia--(upon Brothers-Mine,.. )
    (3)--šumma epēšu--(..If .. to make happen)
    (4)--MEŠ-nu ša LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) $^{EN}$Bēlu-nu--( "the God"-ours,.. 'which of' King-Lord-Ours.. )
    (5)--ù kašādu--(..and Defeat–!.. )
    (6)--1.-La-aB-A-iYa ù til-la-nu-um-ma :-(gloss) ha-ia-ma--(1.-Labaya,.. and "bodily" : (–gl–) "alive",.. )
    (7)--nu-abālu ana LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) $^{EN}$Bēlu-nu--(..Bring 'unto'(to) King-Lord-Ours–!... )
    segue:
    (8)--Ù tu-sà-ah-mi(=tazzimtu) : (–gl–) tu-ra(tarû)--(..But "bad luck" :-(gloss) "returned"?('my horse was "shot"')..)
    (9)--ANŠE.KUR.ra :-(gloss) MUNUS-ia ù uzuzzu--(Horse- :-(gloss) mine,..and "to be present",.. )
    (10)--EGIR.ERIM-šu : (–gl–) harānnú--(..BEHIND.ARMY-his :-(gloss) "expeditioning"(=road, journey) )
    (11)--ù erēbu--(..and "to encamp"(to set),.. )
    (12)--itti 1.-Ya((=pi))-aŠ-Da-Ta--(with Yashdata–!... )
    segue:
    (13)--Ù adi kašādu--(..But before "conquering"(reaching/vanquishing),.. )
    (14)--ù dâku :-(gloss) mahāṣ(ú)u--(and "killed" : (–gl–) 'fighting'–!.. )
    (15)--ù elû-mì(+šamû(heaven)?) 1.-Ya(=pi)-aŠ-Da-Ta--(and "ascended-up" 1.-Yashdata,.. )
    (16)--Ardu-ka ù š-ût--(Servant-yours,.. and "who of",.. )
    (17)--erēbu itti--(-(always)-"to enter" with,.. )
    (18)--ina $^{MÈ}$ERIM(=tāhāzu) tāhāzu--(..into $^{BATTLE}$-War-Battle–!.. )
    (19)--ù lū nâ[-du ana šâšu ]--(and "may it be" 'to (have)-praise' for him,.. )
    (20)--til-la-aṭ(tillu) LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) $^{EN}$Bēlu-ia--(.."warriors"(workers)-(of),. King-Lord-Mine,.. )
    (21)--[ ù ] epē[-šu ]--(..and "to treat"... [ .. ])-(lacuna)
    (22)--gabbu ina [ ... ]--(..everyone in [ ..?.. ] )-(lacuna)
    (23)--LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru) $^{EN}$Bēlu-ia--(.., King-Lord-Mine–! .. )
    segue:
Reverse (see here: )
    (24)--Ù 1.-Sú-Ra-Ta--(But,.. 1.-Surata.. )
    (25)--yi(=pi)-il$_5$-qû(leqû) 1.-La-aB-A-iYa--(..took Labaya.. )
    (26)--ištu Ma-GID$_6$-Da--(from Magidda,.. )
    (27)--ú yi(=pi)-qabû ana iā-[ ši ](iāši)(--(and "said" to me:— )
    (28)--enūma ša MÁ : (–gl–) a-na-yi--(.."Now 'that by' BOAT :-(gloss) 'ship'... )
    (29)--uššuru-šu--(..Send (issue)!..(i.e. Labaya)..)
    (30)--ana LUGAL-ri(=ŠÀRru),.. ù (pi)leqû--(to (the) King,.." ..But 'taken'..)
    (31)--1.-Sú-Ra-Ta ù (pi)tarû--(..(by) 1.-Surata,.. and "returned"-him..)

## Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.

### Obverse
#### Paragraph I (lines 1-7)

1.(P. I of IV) Ša-ni-tam du-ub-bu-ba-ku-mì ___Šanitam, — dabābu ___Furthermore, — I urged 2. _UGU-ŠEŠ_-ia ___ _UGU-ŠEŠ_-ia–! ___(with) Compatriots-mine (my Brothers)–!

#### Sub-paragraph

3.Šum-ma-mi yi-pu-šu-mi ___Šumma epēšu ___$^{Quote}$If (they)bring 4. _-meš_-nu ša (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu ___ilu-nu, — ša (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu, — ___gods-our, — which(are-of) King-Lord-ours, — 5.ù ni-ik-šu-du-um-mi ___u kašādu–! ___and defeat–! 6.La-ab-a-ia ù _til-la_nu-um-ma Note: on Reverse", line 42.:– ma : (–gl–) ha-ia-ma ___Labaya, — _tillu_-nu-um-ma ___Labaya, — (equipment)-nu-um-ma : (–gl–) ha-ia-ma (by boat)(land carriage?) 7.nu-ub-ba-lu-uš-šu a-na (Šàrru)_Šàr_-ri _EN_-nu ___abālu ana (Šàrru)Šàr-ri EN-nu –! ___bring (him alive) to King Lord-ours –! $^{EndQuote}$

#### Paragraph II (lines 8-23)

8.(P. II of IV) Ù tu-sà-ah-mì : (–gl–) tu-ra ___U tu-sà-ah-mì(tazzimtu) : (–gl–) tu-ra ___But "bad luck"(lamentation) : (–gl–)(the horse was disabled, "shot") 9.x?-pa? _ANŠE-KUR-RA:MUNUS_-ia ù iz-zi-iz-mì ___x?-pa? _ANŠE-KUR-RA:MUNUS_-ia,– u uzzuzu ___/+-x?-pa?-+/ horse-mine,– and (rode-behind)("stood-behind") 10. _EGIR_-šu : (–gl–) uh-ru-un-ú ___ _EGIR_-šu : (–gl–) harrānu —! ___behind (troops)-His : (–gl–) expedition-ing —! 11.Ù ir(wrong, =sa) sa-ka-ap-mi ___u sakāpu-mi ___and en-camped-Myself 12.it-ta -Ya-aš-da-ta ___itti -Ya-aš-da-ta ___with Yashdata.

#### Segue

13.Ù a-di ka-ša-di-ia ___U adi kašādu ___But before "conquering"-(in-battle) (("arriving"-(into battle)-)) 14.ù da-ku-šu : (–gl–) ma-ah-ṣú-ú ___u dâku-šu, – : (–gl–) mahāṣu, —! ___and "death-us", – : (–gl–) "struck-down", —! 15.ù al lu-ú-mì Ya-aš-da-ta ___u elû lū Ya-aš-da-ta ___and ascended, "let-it-be", Yashdata, – 16. _ÁRAD_-ka ù šu-ú-te(ut!-no) ___ _ÁRAD_-ka, – u šu-ú-te ___Servant-yours, – but ?straight-away? 17.yi-ru-ub-mi it-ti$^#$ [ x ]$^{##}$ ___erēbu-mi, – itti-[ x ]$^{##}$ ___entered-Myself, – with [ them ? ]$^{##}$
18.i-na MÈ (me3=tāhāzu) ta-ha$^#$-zi$^{##}$ ___ina (MÈ = tāhāzu) - tāhā$^#$zu$^{##}$ ___into BATTLE, battle 19.ù lu-ú yi-na- -[ -di-nu a-na ša-šu ] ___u lū nâ[du ana šâšu ] ___and "may-it-be" pr[aise for Him ] 20. _til-la-aṭ _ŠÀRRU_-ri$^#$ [ _EN_ ]-ia 21.[ ù ] li-pa-aš$^#$-[ ši-ih ]

#### Bottom

22.gáb-bá i-na [ .... ] 23. _Šàr_-ri _EN_-ia 24.ù Sú-ra-ta$^#$

#### Paragraph III (lines 24-35)

24.(ù Sú-ra-ta$^#$ ) ___u Sú-ra-ta$^#$ ___and Surata

### Reverse
#### Paragraph III (lines 24-35)

25.(P. III of IV) yi-il$_5$-qé-mì 1-diš-La-[ ab-a-ia ] ___laqû 1-diš-La-[ ab-a-ia ] ___took...Labaya 26.iš-tu _IRI_ Ma-gid$_6$-da$^{ki}$ ___ištu _URU_ Me-gid$_6$-da$^{ki}$ ___from _city_ Megiddo 27.ù yi-iq-bi a-na ia-a- [ ši ] ___u qabû ana iāši — ___and said to me — 28.$^{Quote}$Ina-mí ((No))šà-geš-_MÁ_ giš-ru((yes)) : (–gl–) a-na-yi ___$^{Quote}$i-na-mí _MÁ_ giš-ru : (–gl–) a-na-yi ___$^{Quote}$By boat ....(?by land carriage) 29.ú-ta-aš-ša-ru-uš-šu ___uššuru ___(I will) send 30.a-na (_lugal_)_Šarru_-ri ù yi-ìl-qé-šu ___ana (_lugal_)_Šarru_-ri,— ù ___to King,— 30.5--------------ù yi-ìl-qé-šu ___-----------------u leqû ___-----------------and take 31.Sú-ra-ta ù yu-ta-šar-šu ___Sú-ra-ta ___Surata 31.5-------------ù yu-ta-šar-šu ___----------------u uššuru ___----------------and send (Him) 32.iš-tu _IRI_ He-na-tu-na ___ištu _URU_ He-na-tu-na ___from _city_ Hannathon 33.a-na _É_-šu ù Sú-ra-ta ___ana _É_-šu,$^{EndQuote}$ — ù Sú-ra-ta ___To _house_his$^{EndQuote}$ — and Surata

#### Segue

33.5-------------ù Sú-ra-ta ___---------------u Sú-ra-ta ___---------------and Surata 34.la-qí-mi _kù-BABBAR_ ip-țì-ir-ri-šu ___leqû _kù-BABBAR_ ___took silver, – returning 34.6-------------ip-țì-ir-ri-šu ___----------------târu ___----------------returning 35.i-na _ŠU_-ti-šu : (–gl–) ba-di-ú ___ina _ŠU_-ti-šu : (–gl–) ba-di-ù ___in "Hand"-his — : (–gl–) ba-di-ù–! (the ransom—!) (the Silver—!)

#### Paragraph IV (lines 36-47)

36. (P. IV) Ša-ni-tam, – mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì ___Šanitam, — mīnu epēšu ___Furthermore, — what (have I) done 36.3----------mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì ___------------- — Mi-na-am-mi ep-ša-ku-mì ___------------- — $^{Quote}$What (have I) done 37.a-na (Šàrru)_Šàr-ri_ _EN_-ia ___ana (Šàrru)_Šàr-ri_ _EN_-ia—? ___to (Šàrru) _King(-ri)_ _Lord_-mine—? 38.i-na-mí _sig_-ia : (–gl–) ya-qí-ìl-li-ni ___inuma-(enūma), — _sig_-ia : (–gl–) ya-qí-ìl-li-ni —! ___Now, — (I am) contempted —! 39. — Ù _DUGUD_ : (–gl–) yu-ka-bi-id ___ — U : (–gl–) yu-ka-bi-id (kabta) ___ — But are honored 40. _ŠEŠ_-ia șé-eh-ru-ta$_5$
___ _ŠEŠ_-ia,— șehēru, —! ___(compatriots)(Brothers)-mine,— less important, —!$^{EndQuote}$

#### Segue

41.Ù Sú-ra-ta ___U Sú-ra-ta ___But Surata 42.yu-ta-šir9 Note: the rest, (majority), of line 42, is the up-side-down cuneiform from Obverse, Line 6 nu-um-ma : (–gl–) ha-ia-ma
42.yu-ta-šir9 ___aṣû ___brought 43.La-ab-a-ia ù ___La-ab-a-ia ù ___Labaya 43.7--------------ù ___----------------u ___----------------and 44.yu-ta-šir$_9$-mì iškur-me-her ___aṣû iškur-me-her ___brought Ba'al-Mehir 45.a-na _É_-šu-ni ___ana _bītu_-šu, –! ___to _house_-his, –!

#### Sub paragraph

46.Ù lu-ú yi-de-mi ___U, — lū idû, – ___And, — "may-it-be" proclaimed (& recognized), – ("may you know ") 47.(Šàrru)Šàr-ru EN-ia–! ___(Šàrru)Šàr-ru EN-ia–! ___King Lord-mine–!