Suwardatta

Suwardatta (Šuwardata) was a prince of Qeltu, a previously unidentified city in Palestine , who was the author of eight Amarna letters (EA 271, 290 (mention), 278 to 284, 366). In a letter (EA 279) he asks the Egyptian king for help (mostly archers) because he was obviously under military pressure. Several times he describes the situation as serious (EA 283) and he even seems to have lost his own city, but was able to take it again (EA 280). At one point he became enemies with Abdi-Hepa of Jerusalem, who took the city of Suwardatta (EA 280).

The letters

• EA 272 Letter from the governor Milkilu von Gezer , he reports of a war by the Apiru against him and Suwardatta
• EA 278: Suwardatta confirms that he has carried out an order from the Egyptian king.
• EA 279: Suwardatta reports land that has been lost and asks for archers
• EA 280: Suwardatta reports the conquest of Qeltu, which had apparently been lost before; reports of the conquests of Abdi-Hepa, who in turn conquered our city , probably Qeltu
• EA 281: Cities rebel against Suwardatta
• EA 282: Suwardatta finds himself alone and ask for archers
• EA 283: Suwardatta is threatened by 30 cities and asks for archers
• EA 284: Suwardatta reports the loss on land
• EA 290: Letter from Abdi-Hepa of Jerusalem, he complains about the conquests of the Milikilu and the Suwardatta
• EA 366: Reported war against the Apiru

literature

• William L. Moran: The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1992, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0 , pp. 320-324.