Page images
PDF
EPUB

since the letters of the foreign princes teem with the most evident satisfaction and pride in the alliances with the Pharaonic house.

These matrimonial occasions are made the pretext for unblushing requests for presents of gold, etc., which are expressed in explicit terms. Dushratta was one of the most grasping, and was loud in his demands concerning the dowry of a daughter whom Amen-hetep married. In a letter written to Amen-hetep's son, Dushratta complains bitterly about certain golden statues promised him by the Egyptian king, who had, however, sent only wooden ones. Dushratta urges the son to make good his father's promise, and he also writes to Queen Thïy, begging her influence in the matter, that the gold statues may be despatched at

once.

Another complaint is of the quality of the gold sent as a gift from Egypt. The recipient had measured and found it under weight, and he more than hints at his suspicions that the gift was not gold at all. He is so incensed thereat, that he declines to send the princess whose marriage is in question, and asks to have his presents returned. Another writer begs that the king will himself measure the gold to be sent, and look after its quality.

The letters are childish and naïve in their repeated reminders of the number and value of the gifts sent by the writers to the King of Egypt, and loud are the reproaches when the return presents lacked anything in quality or quantity.

Most of these princesses over whom the Pharaohs and their Syrian allies bargained and quarrelled, are nameless ones, appearing in the Tel el-Amarna tablets only as the sister or daughter of such and such a king.

The most interesting of these matrimonial transactions is the tale of a certain princess, about whom there was an extended correspondence, involving much difficulty and

recrimination. Kallimasin was the king of Babylonia, whose sister, early in the reign of Amen-hetep III., had left her home to become one of the numerous foreign brides of that monarch. After her departure, all intercourse between herself and her father's house had ceased, nor had she been heard of since. Years passed away, and Amen-hetep became desirous of possessing Kallimasin's young daughter Sukharte, and sent the usual demand for the princess.

Kallimasin was apparently averse to parting with his child, or perhaps was genuinely anxious as to the life that might await her in the far-away harem of the Egyptian king. At any rate, he returned a refusal to Amen-hetep, alleging as a reason his own suspicions regarding the fate of his sister, long since disappeared into the Pharaoh's household, and complained that he did not know if she were alive or dead. Amen-hetep then demanded that a messenger be sent from Chaldea to enquire into the matter, and learn the happy conditions under which the lady was then living. The messengers were sent as desired, but for some reason failed to identify the princess, and returned to their lord without any satisfactory news of his sister.

Kallimasin thereupon communicated to Amen-hetep his belief that the messengers had been imposed on, and that some "ordinary girl of Khanigabbi or of Gagaza or of Ugaret" had been passed off on them as the princess whom they sought, but had not been able to distinguish. To this the Egyptian king responded with some indignation, asking why his good faith should be doubted more than that of other kings to whom Kallimasin's daughters had been given, and why he did not desire to see these, in order to assure himself of their state. "One of the messengers whom Kallimasin had sent was but a shepherd," contemptuously wrote Amen-hetep. "Let some official be sent who had known the princess in youth and could recognize her, and assure the king of his sister's safety."

Perhaps Amen-hetep had seen the young Sukharte on one of his inspection tours into the Syrian provinces, or else the fame of her charms had in some way reached him, for the heart of the Pharaoh was possessed by the thought of her, and he vehemently pressed his suit, promising to bestow richer gifts than had ever before been sent, and to give to Kallimasin, moreover, an additional present on behalf of the sister for whom his anxiety had been expressed.

No letter exists to show whether Kallimasin sent the older official who succeeded in satisfying him, or whether his fraternal solicitude was set at rest by Amen-hetep's generosity in the way of gifts. As no further reference is made to her in the correspondence, we may take it for granted that Amen-hetep found means to quiet the brother's fears.

The next excuse for not sending Sukharte to Egypt was that she was not old enough, and, besides, Kallimasin himself wanted an Egyptian princess to wife, a request refused by Amen-hetep on the ground that Egyptian princesses had never been given to "a nobody." Sensitiveness seems not to have been a quality entering into the Babylonian character, for Kallimasin did not resent this, but argued the matter, urging that as Amen-hetep was king he could do as he pleased, and no one could criticise the manner in which he chose to bestow the ladies of his family. However, Kallimasin was not particular, and as what he wanted was simply an Egyptian wife, he naïvely remarks that there must be in Egypt many beautiful women. Let Amen-hetep send him one of these, and "who could say," he adds, " that she is not a princess? The letter ends with the threat that if Amen-hetep will not accommodate him in this matter, neither shall the Pharaoh have a Babylonian wife.

This seems to have produced the desired result, for another letter from Kallimasin acknowledges with hearty

thanks and satisfaction the arrival in Babylonia of the lady sent from Egypt. Apparently, somewhat later, the Babylonian king announces to Amen-hetep that the princess he wished to marry is now of a suitable age, and will be sent to the Pharaoh upon his demand. Valuable gifts were exchanged, and it would seem that this episode in the loves of Amen-hetep came to a happy termination.

An instance of the leisurely way in which these ancient princes dealt with one another is given at the end of this letter, where Kallimasin hopes that his messenger may soon be sent back, and not detained at the Egyptian court for six years, as the last one had been.

These foreign alliances became so popular, and the Syrian ladies found such favour in the sight of the Pharaohs, that when Amen-hetep's young son arrived at a marriageable age, the king again sent his envoys to Dushratta, to ask for a daughter to become the "Mistress of Egypt." This message evidently referred to a bride for the prince Amen-hetep, and not for the king. The great Queen Thry was living, in the full exercise of her powers, and a second queen could scarcely have divided with her the royal prerogatives.

TADUKHIPA, the princess in question, is mentioned in several of the Tel el-Amarna letters. The first expressed Dushratta's entire willingness to send his daughter to Egypt as soon as her bridal trousseau was ready, which would be in six months' time. Meanwhile the gold sent by Amen-hetep to Dushratta had been found unsatisfactory, in consequence of which Dushratta was inclined to break off the negotiations altogether. As usual in matters of this sort, Dushratta's threat had little sincerity, for a later communication announces the departure of Tadukhipa under an escort from her native land.

She arrived at the Egyptian court, bringing gifts to the Pharaoh from her father, to which was added his blessing,

« PreviousContinue »