ABSTRACT

In Ebla , Paolo Matthiae presents the results of 47 years of excavations at this fascinating site, providing a detailed account of Ebla’s history and archaeology.

Ebla grew from a small Early Bronze Age settlement into an important trading and political centre, which endured until its final destruction in c. 1600 BC . The destruction of its royal palace c. 2300 BC was particularly significant as it preserved the city’s rich archives, offering a wealth of information on its history, economy, religion, administration, and daily life. The discovery of Ebla is a pivotal moment in the history of archaeological investigations of the twentieth century, and this book is the result of all the excavation campaigns at Tell Mardikh- Ebla from 1964 until 2010, when field operations stopped due to the war in Syria.

Available for the first time in English, Ebla offers a complete account of one of the largest pre-classical urban centres by its discoverer, making it an essential resource for students of Ancient Near Eastern archaeology and history.

chapter 1|18 pages

From Tell Mardikh to Ebla

Archaeological exploration

chapter 2|11 pages

Ebla and early urbanization in Syria

chapter 3|12 pages

Ebla, Mari, Akkad

From city-states to empire

chapter 4|23 pages

The Royal Palace in the age of the Archives

Space and function

chapter 6|27 pages

The State Archives

Economy, culture, and society

chapter 9|13 pages

From Ebla to Yamkhad

The territorial states of the Amorite Age

chapter 11|40 pages

Old Syrian artistic culture

Originality and continuity

chapter 12|26 pages

Old Syrian material culture

Characteristics and development

chapter 13|12 pages

From Ebla to Tell Mardikh

Decline of a great urban centre