Ugarit is an ancient coastal city-state of northern Syria. In the amiable climate of the East Mediterranean, Bronze Age Ugarit grows a wealthy merchant class. Palm, olive and fig trees produce abundance. The city expands into a leading trade and shipping center.
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Today the ruins are named for the headland, Ras Shamra. From prehistoric origins of the Neolithic period, Ugarit becomes a prosperous multicultural merchant town by c. 1800 BCE. Ugarit reaches the heights of greatness from c. 1400 BCE.
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The Royal Palace at Ugarit is modeled on palatial spaces of early Minoans, contemporary Hittites and the Mycenaeans. The drawing below is from the Ugarit archaeological site, reconstructing the finished palace. Greenery would be one the roofs, the air fragrant.
In the great palace, ninety rooms occupy two floors. Rooms are built around four large courtyards and four smaller ones. A garden grows at the west end of the palace. In the north side of the palace are three underground burial chambers.
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The ground floor is for administration including offices, archives, storage and staff dwellings. The royal family lives on the second floor. Twelve staircases lead up from various parts of the building to the royal residence.
The courtyard pool is ornamental, cool and fresh, sparkling with sunshine and vibrant water plants. Keeping of fish begins later, in ancient Rome. The palace has three entrances: the main gate on the northwest, and two smaller entrances in the northeast and southwest.
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Built in four major stages c. 15th - 13th century BCE the palace is made of out of ashlar stone blocks, or stone cut to be fitted together with minimal mortar, and wooden crossbeams. A thick coat of plain plaster would be used to cover the walls shining white.
The fortified wall dates back to the 15th century BCE. It's built with packed stones at the bottom with an outward slope of 45 degrees. The layout is typical of palaces of the Eastern Mediterranean and ancient Near East.
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The irregular outline of the palace and the asymmetrical layout show continuous renovations and additions. Burial chambers have corbelled vaults showing the connection with Hittite and Mycenaean palace architecture.
Artifacts show predominance of native Ugaritians and populations of Egyptians, Cypriots from Cyprus, Hittites, Hurrians, and Aegeans. Cypriot pottery is imported as well as locally made. Shops of craftspeople would line the streets beneath leafy bowers of grapevines.
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Mycenaean pottery is found, along with ivory cosmetic containers from Egypt. Also from Egypt is a terracotta artwork of Hathor, goddess of love, beauty, music, dancing, fertility and pleasure. Discoveries include bronze weapons and tools, cylinder seals and stone weights.
Shells of murex snails, gastropods used in production of Tyrian purple dye, are uncovered, and inscribed tablets. Accounting, weights and balances, measuring tools, inventory lists and more prove invaluable to archaeologists and show the dynamics of this amazing site.
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Archives are kept in an administration complex on the first floor of the palace. Ugarit has a vast selection of writing in Akkadian, the preferred correspondence of commerce, and other languages. Ancient literature includes the Baal Cycle, legends of the Canaanite god Ba'al.
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A thick ash layer attests to destruction by fire. Most people fled or are allowed to leave before Ugarit is razed c. 1190 BCE. Almost no valuables are found in residences or in the southern palace.
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