Aštartu is only referenced in two letters of the 382 letter corpus, in letters EA 256, and EA 197: (titled: "Biryawaza's plight"), -(EA is for 'el Amarna'). Biryawaza was the mayor of Damascus-called Dimasqu. EA 256 is a story concerning Mutbaal, the son of Labaya, and the Habiru, and concerns the whereabouts of Ayyab, who may be in Pihilu, modern day Pella, Jordan, and is a letter of intrique, titled: "Oaths and denials", and lists 7 cities located in the Golan area. Ayyab is the king of Aštartu and does author one letter to the Egyptian pharaoh, letter EA 364.