This comprehensive text explores Mari, an ancient Mesopotamian metropolis unearthed in Syria, detailing its rediscovery by French archaeologists in 1933 and nearly a century of subsequent research. It highlights Mari's strategic importance as a trade hub on the Euphrates, emphasizing its sophisticated urban planning and hydraulic engineering that sustained its "hydro-hegemony." The document describes Mari's three historical phases, culminating in its destruction by Hammurabi of Babylon, and provides an in-depth look at the Great Royal Palace of Zimri-Lim, famous for its architectural grandeur and the "Investiture" fresco. Crucially, the sources emphasize the Mari archives, over 25,000 cuneiform tablets that offer unparalleled insights into Bronze Age statecraft, diplomacy, economy, and even prophecy, ironically preserved by the fire that destroyed the city. Finally, the text laments the tragic looting and damage to the site during the modern Syrian Civil War, underscoring how current scholarship now focuses on the invaluable archival legacy due to the physical destruction of the site.
This page was created on: August 12, 2025