The twelve tablet (I-XII)
Epic of Gilgamesh uses the
er, and
ir signs, 22 and 72 times. In the Epic, there are no other uses for the sign. (reverse, top half),
Biridiya to Pharaoh, (subject
corvee labor, and townsites: Shunama, Yapu, and
Nuribta).The "alphabetic"
er sign is used in the 6th line (Line 20), second character from left.(text reads left-to-right, with a common signature of the right side of some characters ending in vertical single, or multiple strokes). (high resolution, expandible photo) For the mid 14th century BC
Amarna letters, letter EA 365 authored by
Biridiya, it is used for "er". For example, on the reverse of EA 365, subject of
corvee labor, "harvesting"-(line 20), lines 15 and following translate as follows: The verb "cultivating" (harvesting) is from "erēšu", which is from "harāšu", Ugaritic ḥrț. :15. "But see! (But Look! (a major
segue)) 16. The city rulers 17. who are with me 18. are not doing 19. as I. They are not 20. cultivating ("harvesting") 21. in (
determinative URU,
city-state)—
Shunama 22 and ...." :... (They are not) 20.
te-
er-ri-šu-na, 22. and ...." ==References==