Prostration formula

Prostration formula

In 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. Often the letters are from "Vassal Rulers", and vassal city-states, especially in Canaan, but also in other localities.

The formula is often repetitive, or multi-part, with parts seeming to repeat, and "can" go forward in a typical, "standard format". However, the Prostration formula may also be "duplicated" in a similar format at the "end of a letter", or a foreshortened part of the formula may be entered, for effect in the middle of a letter.

ome example letters with the "Prostration formula"

The letters EA 242 and 246 are from Biridiya of Magidda-(Megiddo), (EA for 'el Amarna').

Biridiya letter 242, no. 1 of 7: title: "Request granted"

:"Say to the king-(i.e. pharaoh), my lord and my Sun: Message of Biridiya, the ruler of Magidda, the loyal servant of the king. I "prostrate" myself at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. I herewith give what the king, my lord, requested: 30 oxen, [x" sheep and Goats, "x" bi] rds" [ ... ] ... [ ..."And in] deed," [the ...] ... of "the [l] and" are at peace, but I am at war." -EA 242, lines 1-17 (complete, but with lacunae)

See: Amarna letters–phrases and quotations, for "7 times and 7 times" phrasing.


=Biridiya letter 246, no. 5 of 7: title: "The sons of Lab'ayu"=

:"Say to the king, my lord and my Sun: Message of Biridiya, your loyal servant. I fall at the feet of the king, m [y] lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times.:I have heard the mes [sage] o [f] the ki [ng ...] .... (lacuna)

Reverse::and [ ... ] , and indee [d ...] you ar [e ...] . May the king, my lord, know. The two sons of Lab'ayu have indeed gi [v] en their money to the 'Apiru and the " [Sutean|Su [ ] " "teans" "in ord] er to w [age war again] st" me. [May] the king ["take cognizance] of [his servant] "." -EA 246, 1-9, reverse 1-11 (complete, but with lacunae)

An example of: "Dirt, Ground, Chair, and Footstool"

Biryawaza letter EA 195, no. 2 of 4: title: "Waiting for the Pharaoh's words"

This letter contains all the uses of "dirt, ground, chair, and footstool", seldom found in one letter.

:"Say to the king, my lord: Message of Biryawaza, your servant, the dirt at your feet, and the ground you tread on, the chair you sit on and the footstool at your feet. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, the Sun of the dawn (over): "li-me-ma" (peoples), 7 times plus 7 times. My lord is the Sun in the sky, and like the coming forth of the Sun in the sky (your) servants await the coming forth of the words from the mouth of their lord. I am indeed, together with my troops and chariots, together with my brothers, my 'Apiru and my Suteans, at the disposition of the archers, wheresoever the king, my lord, shall order--(order me to go)." -EA 195, lines 1-32 (complete)

ee also

*Amarna letters
*Amarna letters–phrases and quotations

References

*Moran, William L. "The Amarna Letters." John Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. (softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)


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