Tunip

Tunip (probably modern Tell 'Acharneh) was a city-state along the Orontes River in western Syria in the Late Bronze Age. It was large enough to be an urban center, but too small to be a dominant regional power. It was under the influence of various factions like the Mitanni, Egyptians, and Hittites.

Location

The exact location of Tunip remains uncertain. There is increasing evidence for identifying the ancient city with the archaeological site of Tell 'Acharneh. This important city was sought either in northern Phoenicia (Helck 1973) or in the Middle Orontes. Two prominent sites have been suggested in the latter region: Tell Hama in the modern city of Hama (Astour 1977) and Tell Asharneh in the southern Ghab Valley northwest of Hama (Klengel 1995 ). Tell Asharneh (or Tell 'Acharneh) on the banks of the Orontes River in Syria has been widely seen as the likely location of Tunip. The site covers an area of 77 hectare and is near Tell Salhab. The authors of the above study support the identification of Tunip as Tell Asharneh based on petrographic analysis. A team of Canadian archaeologists have been conducting excavations at the site of Tell 'Acharneh, under the direction of Michel Fortin of Laval University in Quebec City.

Early Bronze

The only mentions of Tunip in the Early Bronze Age come from the Ebla Palace G archives (c.2400 BC - c.2300 BC) when the city fell under the hegemony of Ebla. During this period, a colony of at least 530 men from Mari resided here. Their group was led by Puzur-Aštar and consisted of 30 merchants and their workers. They were likely involved in the timber trade, harvesting timber from the nearby mountainous regions to export back to Mari. It has also been suggested by Bonechi that attestations in the Ebla texts of men from Byblos at Tunip may connect it to trade routes going to Egypt.

Late Bronze

The appellation 'Tunip' is mainly from Egyptian records, from the time of Thutmose III to Ramesses II. The name Tunip also appears in names like that of a king named Tunip-Tessup. It is especially mentioned in the Amarna letters (c. 1350 BC), the time of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. Matters concern turmoil and local rulers like Aziru, residing in Amurru (Simur/Tell Kezel, Akkar Plain) and in conflict with the king of Hatti. He is often claiming to reside in Tunip, until it is safe to leave, or to try to defend other cities/city-states of his region. The local region in Syria, Nuhašše is also in conflict, and is mentioned in 7 of Aziru's 13 EA letters, (EA for 'el Amarna').

Amarna Archive

The Amarna Archive refers to cuneiform tablets found at Amarna, Egypt, dating to the late reign of Akhenaten and early reign of Tutankhamun. There is a high and low chronology for these kings, which may affect the synchronization of events in the northern Levant. In general, the region was under control of Tushratta of Mitanni who around 1350 BC was attacked by Suppiluliuma I of Hatti, causing major turmoil in the entire Levant. Egypt was formally an ally of Mitanni at the time. A faction of the citizens of Tunip belonged to the Pro-Egyptian faction, writing to the Pharaoh for support. Five letters reference 'Tunip' in the Amarna letters corpus, 3 from Aziru's sub-corpus.

Amarna Letter EA 59 - From the citizens of Tunip

Amarna Letter EA 59 (lines 1-46, complete) show the citizens of Tunip appeal for help from the Pharaoh. To the king of Egypt, our lord: Message of the citizens of Tunip'', your servant. For you may all go well. And we fall at the feet of my lord.''

Amarna Letter EA 161 - An absence explained, Aziru no. 6 of 13

Amarna Letter EA 161 (lines 1-56, complete) shows how Aziru claims he was made a 'mayor' of his region (or city), in Amurru. To the Great King, my lord, my god, [my Sun]: Message of Aziru, your servant. I fall at the feet of my lord, [m]y god, my Sun, 7 times and 7 times.

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