Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Tutu (Egyptian official)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Tutu, the Egyptian official, was one of pharaoh's officials during the Amarna letters period: 1350-1335 BC. He is only found in the body of letters from Aziru, and his son, DU-Teššup. Four letters, EA 158, 164, 167, and 169, (EA for 'el Amarna') are addressed to the Pharaoh, by way of Tutu. DU-Teššup's single letter is written to pharaoh because his father Aziru is being detained in Egypt, and Aziru is needed to attend to affairs at home. Unless he were to remarry he may never return home again.

Contents

Letter: "Coming--on condition"

The undamaged letter EA 164 by Aziru, to Tutu is a good example of the intrigues of Aziru in north Canaan, and the involvement of all the local regions, and leaders.

Letter EA 164:

"To Tutu, my lord, my father: Message of Aziru, your servant. I fall at the feet of my lord." Hatip has come and brought the gracious and sweet words of the king, my lord, and I am quite overjoyed. My land (i.e. Amurru), and my brothers, the servants of the king, my lord, and the servants of Tutu, my lord, are overjoyed when the breath of the king, my lord, comes. I do not deviate from the orders of my lord, my god, my Sun, and from the orders of Tutu, my lord. My lord, since Hatip is staying with me, he and I will make the journey. My lord, the king of Hatti has come to Nuhašše and I cannot g[o]. Just let the king of Hatti depart and straightaway I will make the journey with Hatip. May the king, my lord, heed my words. My lord, I am afraid of the king, my lord, and of Tutu. Here are my gods and my messenger. Tutu and the magnates of the king, my lord, I would put under oath and then I will make the journey. And thus Tutu, the king, my lord, and the magnates: "(We swear) we will not devise anything regarding Aziru that is not good." Thus are you to be put under oath to my gods and to Aman. Tutu, know [t]hat I will come to you." EA 164, lines 1-44 (complete)

List of letter titles

  1. EA 158—title: "Father and son"
  2. EA 164—title: "Coming—on condition"
  3. EA 167—title: "The constant Hittite menace"
  4. EA 169—title: "Aziru in Egypt-(Mizri)"; see DU-Teššup

References

Tutu (Egyptian official) Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA