Biridiya

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Biridiya (language and translation of the name are unknown) was the mayor of Megiddo 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.

Biridiya was the writer of several letters to the Egyptian king. The letter EA 242 (modern numbering, EA stands for El-Amarna) is short and not well preserved. It begins with the address to the Egyptian ruler, in which Biridiya shows himself submissive: Your loyal servant, I prostrate myself at the feet of the king, my lord, my sun . Biridiya was a vassal, equal rulers referred to each other as a brother . He then reports that he had sent 30 oxen and other animals to the Egyptian king, which he asked for. At the end he briefly mentions that he is at war. In letter EA 243 Biridiya reports that he successfully defended Megiddo against the Apiru . The Apiru appear in numerous Amarna letters as a tribe that plundered through the Levant and repeatedly attacked cities. Letter EA 244 reports that Megiddo was besieged after Egyptian archers returned to Egypt. The letter also reports that the town is plagued.

Another letter (EA 246) is not in good condition. After the greeting, Biridiya reports that he had received the message from the king. Then he writes that the sons of Lab'ayuy, the prince of Shakmu, paid the Apiru to fight Biridiya. Letter EA 365 confirms that Biridiya had sent workers to Shunama, a place near Megiddo, as requested by the Egyptian king. Biridiya points out that other city rulers would not have done this. A fourth letter (EA 248) comes from a certain Yaschdata, whose position is unknown. He reports that he has allied himself with Biridiya.

literature

  • William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore / London 1992, ISBN 0-8018-4251-4 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The letter is now in the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin , VAT 1670.
  2. ^ A b William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 297.
  3. ^ William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 298.
  4. ^ A b William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 300.
  5. ^ William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore / London 1992, p. 393.
personal data
SURNAME Biridiya
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient city lord of Megiddo
DATE OF BIRTH 14th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 14th century BC Chr.