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From the Trojan Horse to the Statue of Liberty, British career diplomat Paul Brummell chronicles the fascinating history of diplomatic gifts in his new book.
Photograph by DUBY TAL/ALBATROSS/ALAMY/ACI These letters are often expressed in language of extreme abasement. The puppet ruler of Gezer, in present-day Israel, wrote: “To the king, my lord, my god, my Sun, the Sun of heaven: Message of Yapahu, your servant, the dirt at your feet. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, my god, my Sun, seven times and seven times.” Betrothals and brides In contrast, the letters written by the pharaoh’s equals, rulers of the great regional powers, are careful how and when they demonstrate that they are on more equal footing. Scholars sometimes refer to ...