ARAD (Sumerogram)
Cuneiform sign / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ARAD, (also ÌR or NITÁ) is the capital letter-(majuscule) Sumerogram for the Akkadian language word "ardu",[2] for servant. It is used especially in the introduction to the Pharaoh: for example "To King, Lord-mine (of Gods(pl)-mine, Sun-god-mine), message thus Xxxxxx, "Servant-yours"-(271). It is also used extensively in Amarna letter texts, the author, usually the "man of a city", (or scribe), where there is a constant reminder that he is a "servant", or "servant-yours"-(of the Pharaoh). Many letters are giving city-state status reports, but many are also requesting help with the Egyptian army troops-(Archers (Egyptian pitati), supplied by the Pharaoh).
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/B018_%28Old_Babylonian_arad-v2%29.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Ayyab_letter_mp3h8880.jpg/640px-Ayyab_letter_mp3h8880.jpg)
Line 3: "ardu-ka"-(
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/B018_%28Old_Babylonian_arad-v2%29.jpg/29px-B018_%28Old_Babylonian_arad-v2%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/B024_Hittite_ka.jpg/40px-B024_Hittite_ka.jpg)
(very high-resolution expandable photo)