Haapi
Encyclopedia
Haapi, also Haip and Ha'ip was a commissioner of the 1350-1335 BC Amarna letters
correspondence
. The name "Hapi" in Egyptian
is the name for the Nile god Hapi.
Haapi is referenced in 3 letters from the Byblos
-(Gubla) corpus
of the prolific writer Rib-Hadda
, of 68 letters. Haapi is also referenced in letter EA 149 of Abi-Milku
of Tyre, Lebanon-(Surru), (EA for 'el Amarna
').
The following letters are referenced to Haapi/Ha'ip:
of Tyre.
(Abi-Milku points out to Pharaoh, that Pharaoh is still communicating with Aziru, by tablet-letter.)
EA 107, "Chariot
See also Maryannu
; in letter: mar-i(y)a-nu-ma, =charioteer.
EA 107 is a virtually undamaged tablet-letter. 107 also shows the precise spelling of the term: charioteer/Maryannu
.
The 'matters'/'discussions', (i.e. the topic), of this letter appears to be twofold: 1) Ha'ip justification, or appropriateness as a commissioner, and 2) the events in Damascus/Dimašqu with the warring Aziru
.
Amarna letters
The Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom...
correspondence
Text corpus
In linguistics, a corpus or text corpus is a large and structured set of texts...
. The name "Hapi" in Egyptian
Egyptian language
Egyptian is the oldest known indigenous language of Egypt and a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. Written records of the Egyptian language have been dated from about 3400 BC, making it one of the oldest recorded languages known. Egyptian was spoken until the late 17th century AD in the...
is the name for the Nile god Hapi.
Haapi is referenced in 3 letters from the Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
-(Gubla) corpus
Text corpus
In linguistics, a corpus or text corpus is a large and structured set of texts...
of the prolific writer Rib-Hadda
Rib-Hadda
Rib-Hadda was king of Byblos during the mid fourteenth century BCE. He is the author of some sixty of the Amarna letters all to Akhenaten...
, of 68 letters. Haapi is also referenced in letter EA 149 of Abi-Milku
Abi-Milku
Abi-Milku was the only mayor/ruler of Tyre, Lebanon , during the period of the Amarna letters correspondence .He is the author of ten letters , EA 146-155 ....
of Tyre, Lebanon-(Surru), (EA for 'el Amarna
Amarna
Amarna is an extensive Egyptian archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city newly–established and built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty , and abandoned shortly afterwards...
').
The following letters are referenced to Haapi/Ha'ip:
-
- EA 107—Title: "ChariotChariotThe chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
eers, but no horses"–Rib-Hadda letter, (no. 36 of 68). Note: see MaryannuMaryannuMaryannu is an ancient word for the caste of chariot-mounted hereditary warrior nobility which dominated many of the societies of the Middle East during the Bronze Age.The term is attested in the Amarna letters written by Haapi...
; in letter: mar-i(y)a-nu-ma, =charioteer. - EA 132—Title: "The hope for peacePeacePeace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
". –Rib-Hadda letter, (no. 61 of 68). See: Egyptian commissioner: PahuraPahuraPahura, and also spelled Pihur/Pihuru, Pihura, and Pihuru/Pihure was a commissioner of the 1350 BC Amarna letters correspondence. Pahura's name means in Egyptian, ' the Syrian ' , and he was commissioner to the Egyptian pharaoh....
. - EA 133—Title: "Some advice for the king"–Rib-Hadda letter, (no. 62 of 68).
- EA 149—Title: "Neither waterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
nor woodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
"–Abi-Milku letter no. 4 of 10.
- EA 107—Title: "Chariot
EA 149, "Neither water nor wood", letter no. 4 of 10
Letter no. 4 of 10 by Abi-MilkuAbi-Milku
Abi-Milku was the only mayor/ruler of Tyre, Lebanon , during the period of the Amarna letters correspondence .He is the author of ten letters , EA 146-155 ....
of Tyre.
- "To the king-(i.e. pharaohPharaohPharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
), my lord, my Sun, my god: Message of Abi-MilkuAbi-MilkuAbi-Milku was the only mayor/ruler of Tyre, Lebanon , during the period of the Amarna letters correspondence .He is the author of ten letters , EA 146-155 ....
, [yo]ur servant. I fall at the feetProstration formulaIn the 1350 BC correspondence of 382–letters, called the Amarna letters, the Prostration formula is usually the opening subservient remarks to the addressee, the Egyptian pharaoh. The formula is based on Prostration, namely reverence and submissiveness...
of the king, [m]y lo[rd], 7 times and 7 times. I am the dirt under the feet and sandalSandal (footwear)Sandals are an open type of outdoor footwear, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps passing over the instep and, sometimes, around the ankle...
s of the king, my lord. O king, my lord, you are like the SunReRe, bre, moré is an interjection common to Cypriot Greek, the languages of the Balkans, Turkish, and Venetian, with its "locus... more in the Greek world than elsewhere". It is used in colloquial speech to gain someone's attention, add emphasis, insult, or express surprise or astonishment, like...
, like BaalBaalBaʿal is a Northwest Semitic title and honorific meaning "master" or "lord" that is used for various gods who were patrons of cities in the Levant and Asia Minor, cognate to Akkadian Bēlu...
, in the sky. May the king give thought to his servant. The king, my lord, charged me with guarding Tyre-("Surru"), the maidservant of the king, but after I wrote an express tablet-(i.e. tablet-letter), to the king, my lord, he has not replied to him. I am a commissionerCommissionerCommissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of the king, my lord, and I am one that brings good news and also bad (news) to the king, my lord. May the king send 20 palacePalaceA palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
attendants to guard his city in order that I may go in to the king, my lord, and see his face. What is the life of a palace attendant when breath does not come forth from the mouth of the king, his lord? But he lives if the king writes [t]o his servant, and he lives [for]ever. - For my part, [si]nce last year [my intention has been] to go in [and beho]ld the face of the king, my lord, [but ZimreddaZimredda (Sidon mayor)Zimredda , also Zimr-Edda or Zimr-Eddi was the mayor of Siduna, in the mid 14th century BC. His name means, "Protection/Protector" Hadad, " protector Hadad", "The protector is Hadad", "Protector-Hadad", etc. He is mentioned in several of the Amarna letters, in the late Rib-Hadda series, and later...
-( of SidonSidonSidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
/Siduna), the p]rince, [heard about m]e. He made [my caravanCaravan (travellers)A caravan is a group of people traveling together, often on a trade expedition. Caravans were used mainly in desert areas and throughout the Silk Road, where traveling in groups aided in defence against bandits as well as helped to improve economies of scale in trade.In historical times, caravans...
] turn back [fro]m the king, my lord, [saying, "Who c]an get you in [to the king?" Hea]r, my lord! AziruAziruAziru was the Canaanite ruler of Amurru, modern Lebanon, in the fourteenth century BC. He was the son of Abdi-Ashirta, the previous Egyptian vassal of Amurru and a direct contemporary of Akhenaten.The dealings of Aziru are well-known from the Amarna letters...
, [the son of Abdi]-AšratuAbdi-AshirtaAbdi-Ashirta was the ruler of Amurru, a new kingdom in southern Syria subject to nominal Egyptian control, that was in conflict with King Rib-Hadda of Byblos....
, [the re]bel against the king, [has taken possession of Sumu]rZemarZemar was a Phoenician city in what is now Syria. Zemar was a major trade center....
. Haapi [...] ...[g]ave Sumur [t]o Aziru. May the king not neglect [th]is city and his land. When I hear the name of the king and the name of his army, they will be very afraid, and all the land will be afraid, that is, he who does not follow the king, my lord. The king knows whether you installed me as commissioner in Tyre. (Still), Zimredda seized UsuUshuUshu, , was an ancient mainland city that supplied Tyre, Lebanon with water, supplies and burial grounds. The name is based upon the mythical figure Usoos or Ousoüs, a descendant of Genos and Genea, whose children allegedly discovered fire as recorded by Sanchuniathon .-1350 BC, Amarna letters...
from (his) servant. I abandoned it, and so we have neither waterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
nor woodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
. Nor is there a place where we can put the deadBodyWith regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
. So may the king, my lord, give thought to his servant. - The king, my lord, wrote to me on a tablet, "Write whatever you hear to the king." Zimredda of Sidon, the rebel against the king, and the men of ArwadaArwadArwad – formerly known as Arado , Arados , Arvad, Arpad, Arphad, and Antiochia in Pieria , also called Ruad Island – located in the Mediterranean Sea, is the only inhabited island in Syria. The town of Arwad takes up the entire island...
have exchan(ge)d oaths among themselves, and they have assembled their shipShipSince the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s, chariotChariotThe chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
s, and infantry, to capture Tyre, the maidservant of the king. If the powerful hand of the king comes-(i.e. the archer-forces), it will defeat them. They will not be able to capture Tyre. They captured Sumur through the instructions of Zimredda, who brings the word of the king to Aziru. I sent a tablet to the king, my lord, but he has not replied to his servant. [Si]nce last year there has been wa[r a]gainst me. There is no waterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, [th]ere is no woodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
. May he send a tablet to his servant so he may go in and see his face. May the king [give thought] to his servant and to his city, and may he not [abandon] his city and his land. Why should [a commissioner of] the king, our lord, move awa[y] from the land? [Zimredda] knows, and the traitor knows, that the arm of the king is absent. Now a palace attendant [is bringing] my tablet to the king, the Sun, [my] lord, and may the king reply to his servant." -EA 149, lines 1-84, (complete, with lacunaeLacuna (manuscripts)A lacunaPlural lacunae. From Latin lacūna , diminutive form of lacus . is a gap in a manuscript, inscription, text, painting, or a musical work...
)
(Abi-Milku points out to Pharaoh, that Pharaoh is still communicating with Aziru, by tablet-letter.)
EA 107, "ChariotChariotThe chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
eers, but no horses"
See also MaryannuMaryannu
Maryannu is an ancient word for the caste of chariot-mounted hereditary warrior nobility which dominated many of the societies of the Middle East during the Bronze Age.The term is attested in the Amarna letters written by Haapi...
; in letter: mar-i(y)a-nu-ma, =charioteer.
- "Rib-HaddaRib-HaddaRib-Hadda was king of Byblos during the mid fourteenth century BCE. He is the author of some sixty of the Amarna letters all to Akhenaten...
says to (his) lord, king of all countries, Great KingGreat KingGreat King and the equivalent in many languages is a semantic title for historical titles of Monarchs, suggesting an elevated status among the host of Kings and Princes...
, King of Battle: May the Lady of GublaBa`alat GebalBa‘alat Gebal, 'Lady of Byblos', was the goddess of the city of Byblos, sometimes known to the Greeks as Baaltis.She was generally identified with the pan-Semitic goddess ‘Ashtart and so equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite...
grant power to the king, my lord. I fall at the feetProstration formulaIn the 1350 BC correspondence of 382–letters, called the Amarna letters, the Prostration formula is usually the opening subservient remarks to the addressee, the Egyptian pharaoh. The formula is based on Prostration, namely reverence and submissiveness...
of my lord, my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. Being a loyal servant of the king, the Sun, with my mouth I speak words-(('matters'/'discussions')) to the king that are nothing but the truth. May the king, my lord, heed the words of his loyal servant. May the archer-commanderArchers (Egyptian pítati)The Pítati were a contingent of archers in the Egyptian Empire, often requested and dispatched, to support the Egyptian vassalage in Canaan, or northern Canaan...
stay in SumurZemarZemar was a Phoenician city in what is now Syria. Zemar was a major trade center....
-(ZemarZemarZemar was a Phoenician city in what is now Syria. Zemar was a major trade center....
), but fetch Ha'ip to yourself, examine him, and find out about [his] affai[rs]. Then if it pleas[es] you, appoint as its commissionerCommissionerCommissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
someone respected by the kin[g's] mayors. May my lord heed my words. Seeing that AziruAziruAziru was the Canaanite ruler of Amurru, modern Lebanon, in the fourteenth century BC. He was the son of Abdi-Ashirta, the previous Egyptian vassal of Amurru and a direct contemporary of Akhenaten.The dealings of Aziru are well-known from the Amarna letters...
, the son of 'Abdi-AširtaAbdi-AshirtaAbdi-Ashirta was the ruler of Amurru, a new kingdom in southern Syria subject to nominal Egyptian control, that was in conflict with King Rib-Hadda of Byblos....
, is in DamascusDamascusDamascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
-("Dimašqu"), along with his brothers, send archerArchers (Egyptian pítati)The Pítati were a contingent of archers in the Egyptian Empire, often requested and dispatched, to support the Egyptian vassalage in Canaan, or northern Canaan...
s that they might take him, and the land of the king be at peace. If things go as they are now, Sumur will not stand. Moreover, may the king, my lord, heed the words of his loyal servant. There is no money to pay for horseHorseThe horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s; everything is gone so that we might stay alive.. So give me 30–pairs of horses along with chariotChariotThe chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
s. I have charioteers: mar-ia-nu-ma, but I do not have a horse to march against the enemies of the king. Accordingly, I am afraid, and accordingly, I have not gone to Sumur." -EA 107, lines 1-48 (~complete, undamaged-(with Notes))
EA 107 is a virtually undamaged tablet-letter. 107 also shows the precise spelling of the term: charioteer/Maryannu
Maryannu
Maryannu is an ancient word for the caste of chariot-mounted hereditary warrior nobility which dominated many of the societies of the Middle East during the Bronze Age.The term is attested in the Amarna letters written by Haapi...
.
The 'matters'/'discussions', (i.e. the topic), of this letter appears to be twofold: 1) Ha'ip justification, or appropriateness as a commissioner, and 2) the events in Damascus/Dimašqu with the warring Aziru
Aziru
Aziru was the Canaanite ruler of Amurru, modern Lebanon, in the fourteenth century BC. He was the son of Abdi-Ashirta, the previous Egyptian vassal of Amurru and a direct contemporary of Akhenaten.The dealings of Aziru are well-known from the Amarna letters...
.
See also
- PahuraPahuraPahura, and also spelled Pihur/Pihuru, Pihura, and Pihuru/Pihure was a commissioner of the 1350 BC Amarna letters correspondence. Pahura's name means in Egyptian, ' the Syrian ' , and he was commissioner to the Egyptian pharaoh....
, Egyptian commissioner - Amarna lettersAmarna lettersThe Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom...
- Tyre, Lebanon and UsuUshuUshu, , was an ancient mainland city that supplied Tyre, Lebanon with water, supplies and burial grounds. The name is based upon the mythical figure Usoos or Ousoüs, a descendant of Genos and Genea, whose children allegedly discovered fire as recorded by Sanchuniathon .-1350 BC, Amarna letters...
- HapyHapyHapi, sometimes transliterated as Hapy, not to be confused with another god of the same name, was a deification of the annual flooding of the Nile River in Ancient Egyptian religion, which deposited rich silt on its banks, allowing the Egyptians to grow crops. His name means Running One, probably...