J. A. Knudtzon is generally remembered for two major accomplishments: the initial recognition that Hittite might be an Indo-European language and the publication of the El Amarna tablets. In these two articles on the Amarna tablets, a first blush is given to the material that would eventually be his claim to fame. This booklet consists of the combination of three of Knudtzon’s works on the Amarna tablets: “Ergebisse einer Kollation der El-Amarna-Tafeln,” “Weitere Studien zu den El-Amarna-Tafeln,” and “Nachträge und Berichtigungen zu ‘Weitere Studien zu den El-Amarna-Tafeln,’” as published in Beiträge zur Assyriologie volume 4. These articles contain introductory material, transliterations and translations of some of the Amarna tablets, and attempts to organize the tablets. Some linguistic remarks are also included. As a reflection of Knudtzon’s accomplishments, his work on the Amarna tablets continues to be cited these many years later when more updated editions are available.

Jørgen Alexander Knudtzon (1854-1917) was a gifted Norwegian linguist. He studied at the Universities of Oslo (then the Royal Frederick University), Berlin, and Leipzig. He returned to teach at Oslo, where his interests turned to the budding field of Assyriology.