Moshe Weinberg

This important Hittite bulla, written in Hittite hieroglyphs was found in the area of a Late Bronze Age palace at Aphek, a city in central Israel. A bulla is a chunk of unbaked clay, impressed by a seal, and then attached to a letter or consignment.

Unfortunately, only the title of the owner of the bulla, “‘Son’ of the King,” but not his name, is preserved.

Perhaps this “‘Son’ of the King” was Arma-Ziti, an official who lived in Carchemish, the seat of government for the eastern Hittite Empire. Arma-Ziti managed the commercial and political affairs with Egypt and Ugarit on behalf of Carchemish, and his bullae have been found in Ugarit, a city north of Aphek.