tablet

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Object Type
Museum number: E29786
Title: Series: The Amarna Letters
Description: Clay cuneiform tablet; letter from Burra-Buriyash of Babylon to Naphurareya (Akhenaten); 35 lines; written in complicated Babylonian; corners are broken.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 14thC BC
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Amarna, el-
Materials
Dimensions: Height: 13.50 centimetres; Weight: 0.37 kilograms; Width: 7 centimetres; Depth: 3 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Published: C. Bezold and E.W. Budge, ‘The Tell el-Amarna Tablets in the British Museum, (London 1892), 3, pl. 10; J.A. Knudtzon, ‘Die El-Amarna-Tafeln’ vol. 1, (Leipzig, 1907), pp. 90-93; W.L. Moran, ‘The Amarna Letters’ (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1992), pp. 19-20. In this letter to the king of Egypt, called Naphurareya (Akhenaten), the king of Babylon, Burra-Buriyash recognises the continuing friendship of their countries, but complains of a lack of gift giving. He states that he received only 5 minas of poor quality gold, rather than 20, and suggests that the Egyptian king send representations of animals by skilled craftsmen. Burra-Buriyash sends 2 minas of lapis lazuli with his letter, as well as a necklace of lapis lazuli beads shaped like crickets for the daughter of Akhenaten, Mayati (Meritaten). This clay tablet was found in the modern city of el-Amarna (ancient Akhetaten) along with over 350 others, the majority being diplomatic letters. They are written in cuneiform script, which served as the language of international relations at the time. The Amarna letters concern diplomatic relations between Egypt and both large rival empires and small vassal city states, and deal with matters such as economic exchange, diplomatic marriages, and military threats.
Bibliographic references: Knudtzon, J A 1915a / Die El-Amarna Tafeln (10); Bezold 1892a / The El-Amarna Tablets in the British Museum (3); Leichty E et al 1988a / Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum, volume VIII: Tablets from Sippar 3 (p.173); Sigrist M et al 2006a / Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum, III
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 2011 Jul–Sept, Newcastle, Great North Museum, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2012 Oct–Jan, Dorchester, Dorset County Museum, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2012 Feb–June, Leeds City Museum, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2012 Jul-Oct, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2012 Nov– Feb 2013, Glasgow, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2013 Mar–Aug, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2016 8 Mar–12 Jun, Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Art, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2018 7 Jun–16 Sep, Barcelona, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2018-2019 16 Oct–20 Jan, Madrid, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2019 19 Feb–25 Aug, Girona, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2019-2020 24 Sept–12 Jan, Seville, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2020–2021 11 Feb–21 Feb, Tarragona, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2021 25 Mar–15 Aug, Santiago de Compostela, Museo Centro de Gaias, Pharaoh King of Egypt 2021-2022 15 Sep–9 Jan, Zaragoza, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt 2022 10 Feb–15 May, Palma, La Caixa, Pharaoh King of Egypt 2022-2023 21 Jun–26 Feb, Valencia, La Caixa, Pharaoh: King of Egypt
Condition: Fair; corners are broken.
Associated names: Named in inscription: Burnaburiash II; Named in inscription: Naphurareya; Named in inscription: Akhenaten
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1888
Acquisition notes: Purchased by Budge in Egypt.
Department: Middle East
BM/Big number: E29786
Registration number: 1888,1013.46
Conservation: Treatment: 23 Jun 2011; Treatment: 23 Jun 2011

Free entry

Opening hours