The
cuneiform alphabetic um sign, also dup, tup, ṭup, and DUB,[1] the
Sumerogram (
logogram), for
Akkadian language "ṭuppu",[2] (= the
clay tablet), is found in both the 14th century BC
Amarna letters and the
Epic of Gilgamesh. In the Amarna letters as um, it is found as um-ma in the introduction of the letters as "Message (thus)"...(and then the PN (personal name) of the individual sending, or authoring the letter).
In specific texts with dialogue, for example
Amarna letter EA 19, Love and Gold, an extensive discussion is made by the king of
Babylon about his father, ancestry, friendship between kings, envoys, women (for the harem, or wife), etc., and consequently the dialogue is preceded by um-ma ("quote"), then the dialogue by the messenger, (or the king).
References
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Sign List, pp. 155-165, no. 134, p. 158.
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, ṭuppu, p. 144.