Ugarit Syria: Exploring The Ancient Port City And Its Alphabet

Ugarit, Syria, Ugaritic ủgrt, was an ancient Levantine coastal city at Ras Shamra or Tell Shamra, 10 km north of Latakia on Mediterranean coast. Since its discovery in 1928, site has revealed oldest known systematic use of an alphabet around 1400 BC. Archaeological excavations show evidence of occupation since 8th millennium BC, built circa 7000 BC, abandoned circa 1185 BC in Bronze Age Collapse.

Ras Shamra And The Kingdom Of 2000 Square Kilometers

Ugarit has its origins in Neolithic period of Fertile Crescent. Site occupied from end of 8th millennium BC and continued through Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages until destruction circa 1185 BC. During Late Bronze Age circa 1500 – 1200 BC settlement saw significant growth culminating in establishment of Kingdom of Ugarit. At its zenith it ruled area roughly equivalent to modern Latakia Governorate, about 2,000 km2 on average, with harbour at Minet el-Beida and northern palace at Ras Ibn Hani few kilometers west, plus Tell Tweini proposed as ancient Gibala coastal city at southern edge also destroyed at same time.

In 1929 farmer accidentally discovered tomb near Mediterranean coast about 12 km north of modern seaport of Latakia. Initial excavations at tell of Ras Shamra by René Dussaud and Claude Schaeffer brought to light impressive architectural remains, numerous artefacts, and tablets written in cuneiform both alphabetic and syllabic, and excavators soon identified site as ancient city of Ugarit. Excavation dates 1928–1939, 1950–2008 by Schaeffer, Contenson, Margueron, Yon, Calvet, Jamous. Excavations resume after 14 years led by University of Pavia and Syrian Directorate, Associate Professor Lorenzo d’Alfonso, with dig at Tell Semhan-e mound five kilometers from modern city.

Middle Bronze Age emerged after major drought event ended around 2020 BC. Around 1820 BC Kingdom of Yamhad Aleppo emerged under King Sumu-Epuh as regional power, Ugarit Stratum 7 would eventually become vassal along with other petty kingdoms in Northern Levant. Mari Archive circa 1765 BC mentions Ugarit, Mari kingdom on Middle Euphrates east of Yamhad. Trade would go from Ugarit, Aleppo, Emar, Mari down to Babylon. Zimri-Lim of Mari reigned 1775–1760 BC also made state visit to Ugarit. Contacts with Egyptian Middle Kingdom circa 2000 – 1700 BC: carnelian bead inscribed with Senusret I, stela and statuette from pharaohs Senusret III and Amenemhet III recovered.

Alphabet Of Thirty Letters

City reached golden age between 1500 BC and 1200 BC when it ruled mercantile coastal kingdom trading with Egypt, Cyprus, Aegean states primarily Minoan Crete, polities in Syria, Hittites, cities of Levantine core including Ascalon in Canaan, and much of eastern Mediterranean. Five Egyptian Amarna letters from mid-14th century BC were written in Ugarit. Population estimated between 7,000 and 8,000 individuals. In mid-14th century BC ruled by king Ammittamru I, letter EA45 sent probably to pharaoh Amenhotep III 1388–1351 BC expresses cordial diplomatic relations. During reign of son Niqmaddu II circa 1350 – 1315 BC Ugarit became vassal of Hittite Empire first under viceroy in Karkemiš and then directly under Karkemiš. Diplomatic relations with Egypt continued as evidenced by two letters sent by Niqmaddu II EA49 and wife Ḫeba EA48 probably sent to Akhenaten 1351–1334 BC former includes request from Egyptian king to send physician.

Scribes in Ugarit appear to have developed oldest systematically used alphabet around 1400 BC; 30 letters corresponding to sounds inscribed on clay tablets. Exact logic behind design still unknown but proving single origin has remained difficult. While letters show little or no formal similarity to Phoenician, standard letter order seen in Phoenician alphabet as ʔ, B, G, D, H, W, Z, Ḥ, Ṭ, Y, K, L, M, N, S, ʕ, P, Ṣ, Q, R, Š, T shows strong similarities between two, suggesting Phoenician and Ugaritic systems were not wholly independent inventions. Earliest example of alphabetic writing is on clay tablets showing 32 cuneiform letters of Ugaritic alphabet tablets found in 1929 at Ugarit now Ras Shamra dated to ca. 1450 BC per Guinness. At Ras Shamra some 1800 inscriptions unearthed plus 150 at Northern Palace Ras Ibn Hani.

From late 13th century into early 12th century BC eastern Mediterranean faced severe widespread food shortages possibly from crop failures due to climate change or plant disease. Kings of Ugarit — major supplier and transporter of foodstuffs — received desperate pleas for food from neighboring states. Eventually Ugarit itself faced shortage and hunger. Letter from Egyptian pharaoh Merenptah reigned 1213 – 1203 BC referred to message from ruler of Ugarit: Could I not have demanded my needs from King king of Egypt my lord? In land of Ugarit there is severe hunger: May my lord save land of Ugarit and may king give grain to save life and citizens.

Last king Ammurapi circa 1215 – 1180 BC contemporary of last Hittite king Suppiluliuma II. Letter by Ammurapi stresses seriousness of crisis faced by many Near Eastern states due to attacks from outsiders. Ugarit’s army and navy joined with Hittite forces to stem oncoming enemy, allies fell back from Anatolia to Syrian frontier. Response to king of Alashiya: My father behold enemy’s ships came here my cities burned they did evil things in my country. Does not my father know that all my troops and chariots are in Land of Hatti and all my ships are in Land of Lukka? Thus country is abandoned to itself: seven ships of enemy that came here inflicted much damage. Eshuwara senior governor of Alashiya responded people from your country and your own ships did this. In end Ammurapi begged for forces from Hittite viceroy at Karkemiš. Invaders captured kingdom’s other port Ra’shu and advancing on city. Letter after destruction said: When your messenger arrived army humiliated and city sacked. Our food in threshing floors burnt and vineyards destroyed. Our city is sacked. May you know it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Ugarit Located In Northern Syria?

Ancient Levantine coastal city at Ras Shamra or Tell Shamra 10 km north of Latakia 6 miles in Latakia Governorate, ruled area equivalent to modern governorate, about 2000 km2, with harbour Minet el-Beida and Ras Ibn Hani, southern edge Tell Tweini Gibala, at its height 1450-1185 BC.

How Was Ugarit Discovered And When?

Discovered 1928 after farmer found tomb 1929 near coast 12 km north of Latakia, excavations 1928-1939 1950-2008 by Claude Schaeffer Henri de Contenson Jean Margueron Marguerite Yon Yves Calvet Bassam Jamous revealed royal palace near sea two temples artefacts tablets alphabetic and syllabic cuneiform.

Why Is Ugarit Known For The Alphabet?

Site revealed oldest known systematic use of alphabet around 1400 BC 30 letters corresponding to sounds inscribed clay tablets, standard order similar to Phoenician alphabet, earliest example alphabetic writing 32 cuneiform letters tablets found 1929 dated ca.1450 BC Guinness record, Unicode block defined.

What Made Ugarit A Key Trading Kingdom?

Golden age 1500-1200 BC mercantile coastal kingdom trading with Egypt Cyprus Aegean Minoan Crete Syria Hittites Ascalon Canaan Alashiya Cyprus Mycenaean pottery, population 7000-8000, vassal Yamhad around 1820 BC Sumu-Epuh, Mari Archive 1765 BC Zimri-Lim state visit 1775-1760 BC, Egyptian bead Senusret I, five Amarna letters mid-14th century, vassal Hittites under Ammittamru I Niqmaddu II c.1350-1315 BC Karkemiš.

How Was Ugarit Destroyed In 1190 BC?

Destroyed c.1190 BC c.1185 BC Bronze Age Collapse, severe food shortages crop failures, hunger letter Merenptah 1213-1203 BC, last king Ammurapi c.1215-1180 BC contemporary Suppiluliuma II, enemy seven ships, cities burned troops in Hatti ships in Lukka, port Ra'shu taken, threshing floors burnt vineyards destroyed.

Ugarit endures because it wrote down how to write. Thirty signs on clay, order still recognizable in Phoenician, turned a port that shipped grain into a port that shipped letters. When seven ships burned its threshing floors, the tablets survived under rubble, preserving myths of Baal and Yam alongside requests for physicians, proving that a kingdom 2,000 km2 could govern by correspondence until sea peoples left only the alphabet behind.