TelelAmarna Tablets

East of the Royal palace of Khut-Aten (q.v.) was discovered the "House of the Royal Rolls." One of the most important archaeological finds of modern times was made here in 1887, in the shape of three hundred clay tablets inscribed in the cuneiform character. They proved to be despatches and letters from the neighbouring kings of Babylon, As syria, Mitanni, and Cappadocia, also from the Egyptian rulers in Jerusalem, Canaan, the "field of Bashan," and Syria. They throw a great deal of light, not only on the history of the reign of Khu-en-Aten, but on the state of Palestine, and the relations existing between the powers at that time. Among the letter writers are Burn a bury as, king of Babylonia, Dushratta, king of Mitanni, and Ebed-tob, the va al king of Jerusalem. (See Amen-hetep IV.)