Bit-Tenne and Tunanat

During what is known as the Amarna Age, we witness for the first time the formation of an extended international society. The political and economic connections existing between the various kingdoms are attested by several written documents, above all the letters found in 1887 at el-Amarna. Together with the letters sent to the Pharaoh by the great kings of Mitanni, Hatti and Babylon, there are also administrative letters sent to the Egyptian court by various petty Canaanite kings. Most of their kingdoms are known from other written sources, like the Old Testament, which is useful for the identification of the southern toponyms, and the autochthonous Egyptian texts, especially the topographical lists dealing with Western Asia composed by the scribes of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. Many cities mentioned in the letters have been identified and also excavated in the past, but some toponyms are still debated.