A Primer on Ugaritic: Language, Culture, and Literature - enenuru

Ancient Ugarit 13
millennium BCE (see Figure 1.1). In the early second millennium
BCE, Ugarit was also a trading center for the Pharaohs of the
twelfth and thirteenth dynasties. Several Middle Kingdom statues
excavated at Ugarit testify to its role as an Egyptian commercial
gateway to Mesopotamia and the Babylonian Empire, but there is
no evidence of Egyptian military presence.
During the period of Hyksos’ rule in Egypt (ca. 1674–1567
BCE), Hurrians gained control of Ugarit and the city maintained
close ties with the Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni in north Syria. The
Hurrian rulers severed ties with Egypt while seeking to enhance the
relationship between Ugarit and Mesopotamia. The city of Ugarit
suffered a period of decline.
Beginning with the eighteenth dynasty during the Late Kingdom,
the Egyptian Empire reasserted itself in north Syria. Egyptian
military campaigns reached as far north as the Euphrates and
Ugarit’s relationship with Egypt was reestablished. By the time of
Amenophis II (ca. 1440 BCE), an Egyptian garrison was stationed
in Ugarit. Several Amarna letters were written from Ugarit (ca.
1350 BCE) to Egypt; some promised allegiance to Pharaoh (EA
45–47). Another letter requested an Egyptian physician along with
two Cushite servants be sent to the Ugaritian King Niqmaddu (EA
49). Many alabaster vessels from Egypt were found in Ugarit
dating to this period, reflecting the rich commercial relationship
with Egypt. One Egyptian inscription refers to “Niqumaddu, the
Great One of the land of Ugarit” (wr nh˙«st ik«riyty nyk«sûm{dy; RS
15.239).
Capitalizing upon the prosperity and stability of the Late
Kingdom in Egyptian, Ugarit flourished in the fifteenth and
fourteenth centuries BCE, and this period is widely regarded as the
golden age of Ugarit. This is the period from which the Ugaritic
written literature began to flourish. It is believed that Ugaritic epic
literature, which had been transmitted orally for centuries, was first
committed to writing during the reign of Niqmaddu II (ca. 1350
BCE). Interestingly, among the Amarna letters (which are
contemporary with this period), we find a letter from the ruler of