Paolo Matthiae Book order

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. číst celé

The archaeological exploration of Tell Mardikh began in 1964, quickly gaining recognition from leading archaeologists as one of the most promising sites in the Levant. A significant breakthrough occurred in 1968 with the discovery of a basalt bust inscribed with the name of Ibbit-Lim, king of Ebla, suggesting that the site was indeed ancient Ebla, traditionally thought to be located north of Aleppo. The 1975 discovery of the Royal Archives dating back to 2350–2300 BC marked a revolutionary moment, prompting systematic exploration of the Lower Town. This led to the uncovering of grand residential palaces, temples, fortified structures, private housing quarters, and city gates of the ancient town. The subsequent publication of the Archives and archaeological findings prompted Ignace J. Gelb to assert that the Italians had unveiled “a new history, a new language, a new culture.” Paolo Matthiae, the expedition's director, has published numerous studies on various aspects of Ebla's material culture, artistic outputs, architecture, and historical context. These contributions, appearing in both Italian and international scientific journals, have been somewhat scattered and difficult to access. Now, forty-two significant English-language contributions from 1980 to 2010 are compiled in a volume edited by Francis Pinnock, providing valuable insights into the discoveries at Ebla.