Surata

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Surata (also Šaratu ; translation and language of the name are unknown) was the mayor of Akka (today's Akkon ) in the Amarna period around 1350 BC. He is known from various Amarna letters . The so-called Amarna letters are the international correspondence of the rulers in the Middle East, which was addressed to the Egyptian royal court. The letters are written on clay tablets in cuneiform in Akkadian . Akkadian was the international language of the time. The letters were found by chance at the end of the 19th century in Amarna , which was the capital of Egypt at the time in question , and were given their name because of the place where they were found. In the letters, the Levant is portrayed as a region torn by small feuds. The various city princes ask the Egyptian king for assistance. Since the letters are not dated, it is difficult to put the events in a coherent sequence.

Surata was the sender of a letter to the Egyptian king. The letter EA 232 (modern numbering, EA stands for El-Amarna) is short and begins with the address to the Egyptian ruler, in which Surata shows himself extremely submissive: I throw myself at the feet of the king, sir, seven times and seven times . Surata was obviously a vassal, equal rulers referred to each other as a brother . The actual message in the letter is very short and not fully understandable. Apparently it is about loyalty issues.

Letter EA 245 is part of a letter on two clay tablets, only the second clay tablet has survived. The name of the sender, which was on the first board, is lost with this one. The surviving part of the letter deals with Lab'aia , who is also known from other letters as the aggressor. Surata was able to take him prisoner. Surata promised to send him to the king of Egypt, but then released him.

Surata is mentioned in other letters. Letter EA 366 is from Šuwardata , perhaps the mayor of Qiltu. In the letter he reports of the war against the Apiru and that all allies have left him, only Endaruta and Surata, rulers of Akka , would come to his aid.

Letter EA 8 is from Burna-buriaš II , the king of Babylon and is addressed to Akhenaten . There he reports that Surata had an envoy of the Babylonian ruler killed. EA 85, on the other hand, comes from Rib-Addi , Prince of Byblos , who demands soldiers from the Egyptian king and refers to Surata, who received such support.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The letter is now in the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, inventory number 1640.
  2. ^ William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore / London 1992, ISBN 0-8018-4251-4 , p. 291.
  3. ^ WL Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 365.
  4. ^ WL Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 364.
  5. ^ WL Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 16.
  6. ^ WL Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 156.
personal data
SURNAME Surata
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Šaratu
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient city prince of Akkon / Akka
DATE OF BIRTH 14th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 14th century BC Chr.