Sun to the going down of the same, there is much salutation.”
The attack on Sidon was thus apparently the fact which opened the eyes of Amenophis. It appears to have preceded the final success, when the wealthy city of Gebal was taken by Aziru.
THE WAR IN PHŒNICIA
Letters from Cities near Gebal
NO. 42 B. M.—“This letter is the letter of the city Irkata[1] to the King. O our Lord, thus (says) the city of Irkata, and her men, her (flock? or lords?). At the feet of the King our Lord seven times seven times they bow. To the King our Lord thus (saith) the city of Irkata. Knowing the heart of the King our Lord we have guarded the city of Irkata for him . . . Behold the King our Lord orders Abbikha . . . he speaks to us thus, O King . . . to guard it. The city of Irkata answers . . . the man ruling for the King. . . . ‘It is well. Let us save . . . the city of Irkata. It is well to save (a city?) faithful to the King.’ . . . Behold many fight . . . the people . . . are frightened . . . Thirty horses and chariots enter the city of Irkata. Lo! has arrived . . . a letter of the King as to arriving . . . thy land they reach. The men of the city (belonging) to the King have made . . . to fight with us for the King our Lord. You send your chief to us that he may be our protector. Let the King our Lord hear the message of these his servants, and appoint us provision for his servant, and thou shalt exult over our foes and thou shalt prevail. The message of command of the King thou shalt not deny us. Our destroyer was troubled at the coming of the King’s order to us. Mightily he has fought against us, exceeding much.”
128 B.—“To Yankhamu by letter thus (says) Yapaaddu.[2] Why is it spoken? Lo! from the city of Simyraa destruction by Aziru of all the lands, in length from the city of Gebal to the
- ↑ Probably ’Arkah, a well-known Phœnician city north of Tripoli, but south of Simyra (Gen. x. 17). Aziru killed its king (91 B.).
- ↑ “Yapaaddu” (“Adonis is beautiful”) is often mentioned again. He (see 61 B.) fell into the hands of Aziru, and seems to have been a king of one of the cities near Simyra, apparently Sigata. This letter was probably written about the time of the siege of Tyre, at a late period in the war.
