Hannathon or Hinnatuna was a city-state in Canaan during the Late Bronze Age. It is most likely identical with the archaelogical site Tel Hanaton.

History

In the Late Bronze, Hinnatuna was a city-state in Canaan. It was located near Akko and Megiddo. It is attested in the Amarna Archive around 1350 BC as "Hinnatuna". It associated with the Biblical city/city-state of Hannathon, (meaning: "the Gift of Grace"). While the city has not been identified with certainty, the ancient settlement of Tel Hanaton in Lower Galilee has been suggested as a candidate.

Amarna Archive

In Egypt, the Amarna Archive mentions "Hinnatuna" first in Amarna Letters EA 245 and later in Amarna Letter EA 8. We learn that Surata of Akka was the father of Satatna of Akka, thus the events in EA 245 comes prior to the events in EA 8.

Amarna Letter EA 245

Letter EA 245, to pharaoh, letter no. 4 of 7 by Biridiya, concerns the rebel, and mayor of Shechem-(Amarna Šakmu), Labayu, and his cohort and protector: Surata of Akka-(modern Acre, Israel). EA 245 is the second tablet of a 2–Tablet letter-(Part 1 lost). Letter Part 2 of 2: (1-7) Moreover, I urged my brothers, "If the god of the king, our lord, brings it about that we overcome Lab'ayu, then we must bring him alive: ha-ia-ma to the king, our lord. -EA 245, lines 1-47 (complete, (minor 1-sentence lacuna))(Letter Part 2 of 2; Letter Part 1–lost)

Amarna Letter EA 8

Amarna letter EA 8 is a letter to Pharaoh by Burna-Buriash of Karaduniyaš-(i.e. Babylon). The letter, entitled: "Merchants murdered, vengeance demanded", states near the letter beginning: "...Now, my merchants who were on their way with Ahu-tabu, were detained in Canaan for business matters. After Ahu-tabu went on to my brother-(the pharaoh), –in Hinnatuna of Canaan, Šum-Adda, the son of Balumme, and Šutatna, the son of Šaratum of Akka-(modern Acre), having sent their men, killed my merchants and took away [th]eir money." Burna-Buriash continues, and states that he demands retribution, as well as he makes a warning to the pharaoh, that his own merchants/envoys are in danger.

Amarna letters (photos)