Anita Arnon

Save me.

Let the plague cease in Hattiland.

I feel we should take a break here.

Join us after the break when we talk about the rest of this collapse of an extraordinary moment in ancient Egyptian history.

Welcome back.

So while you were all having a little lie down and recovering from that epic reading, I was informed by our learned guest.

Yes, Anita, Hattie rather than Hattieland.

Hattieland sounds like something out of Alice in Wonderland.

Hattie is what I should have said.

Anyway, I hope that didn't detract from any of your enjoyment.

Willie, I mean, you know, let's talk more about this deteriorating situation because we have a really good glimpse into how bad it got, don't we?

To the point where the pharaoh actually says, would you stop writing to me now?

It's really gorgeous.

Would you stop?

Stop writing now.

You don't know what the replies are.

Yes.

Okay, just to give you some idea of Rib Hadar's enthusiastic writing from Byblos, 60 or more letters to the pharaoh, each one more desperate than the last.

And he is a loyal Egyptian vassal.

Okay, he claims to be.