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AMARNA LETTERS In 1887, walking through AMARNA found a group of clay tablets inscribed in the cuneiform script (wedge-shaped writing developed in Babylonia). She had stumbled upon a storehouse of diplomatic letters between Egypt and her Middle Eastern neighbors. More than 350 inscribed tablets were discovered, written mostly in Babylonian cuneiform, the language of diplomats and foreign traders.
The letters were sent from foreign kings with their ambassadors bringing gifts or tribute to AKHENATEN.
Some requested that the king send gold from Egypt. One of the Amarna letters reads:
- Thus spoke the king of Alasia to the king of Egypt my brother.
- Know that I am well and that my land is well.
- And as to thy good health.
- Even thy good health, the good health of thy house, thy sons, thy wives, thy horses, thy chariots.
- Why hast thou not sent thy messenger to me?
- I have sent my messenger to thee.
- And have I not sent to thee through my messenger one hundred talents of copper?
- Now let thy messenger bring (for me) one ebony bed inlaid with gold, and a chariot with gold, and two horses.
The Amarna letters tell us a lot about what luxury goods were prized in the ancient world. They give us a glimpse of how government worked and have helped scholars better understand the language and grammar of cuneiform. But, most importantly, the letters show the effect of changing Egypt's religion from polytheism (many gods) to monotheism (one god). Akhenaten remained isolated in his holy city, neglected his duties, and ignored his neighbors, and Egypt went from her golden age into decline.
Tushratta's protest to Akhenaten over the circumstances is documented in an Amarna letter:
When I requested sculptures made of solid cast gold from your father, Mimmureya [i.e. Amenhotep III], he said, Don't talk of delivering statues solely made of solid cast gold. I'll offer you several that are made of lapis lazuli as well. Together with the sculptures, I'll also offer you a tonne more riches and unimaginable wealth. Every single one of my emissaries in Egypt seen the gold for the sculptures firsthand. But your father still needs to deliver the solid [gold] sculptures that my brother, Akhenaten, was about to send. You sent plated wooden ones. Also, you considerably decreased the products that your father was intending to send me rather than sending them all. But, I am unaware of any instance in which I let my brother down. I hope my brother sends me a lot of gold. In the nation of my brother, gold is as common as dust. I hope my brother doesn't upset me. I hope he sends me a lot of gold so that my brother may honour me with it and with many other things.
