Amurru, 1: Mari, Ebla et les Hourrites: Dix ans de travaux, part 1.

• Author: Biggs, Robert D.

Edited by JEAN-MARIE DURAND. Actes du colloque international (Paris, mai 1993). Paris: Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, 1996. Pp. 440, 7 maps, illustrations. FF 230 (paper).

The papers published in this inaugural volume derive from a conference held ten years after the one held in Strasbourg ("A propos d'un cinquantenaire: Mari, bilan et perspectives") that resulted in the publication of MARl 4. The interim of ten years witnessed remarkable advances in the three areas of study covered by this volume due, in large measure, to the diligent work of the scholars whose studies we read here and the work of their research teams.

Alfonso Archi's article, "Chronologic relative des archives d'Ebla," shows a great deal of progress. Taken individually, the administrative texts on which he bases his study look as dry as dust. Studied closely as an ensemble, they tell a great deal. It is clear now that the archives cover only the reigns of the last three kings of Ebla, Igris-Halam, Irkab-Damu, and Isar-Damu. Because nearly all documents lack a date by year, prosopography has become necessary. Many texts, however, can be dated by periods of control by ministers, "lords" (baal) written LUGAL in Ebla. (At an earlier period in Ebla studies, it was assumed that LUGAL was "king," like sarru in Akkadian; the fact that LUGAL often corresponds to belu, "lord," in Akkadian was overlooked.) These "lords" or "ministers" are Arrukum (formerly read Arennum), Ibrium, and Ibbi-Zikir (whose name has been read by some as lbbi-Sipis). Ibrium was in control for at least seventeen years, and was followed by his son IbbiZikir. On p. 28 Archi presents important proposals for synchronisms between Marl, Ebla, and Lagas.

A further study of relative chronology is M. G. Biga's article, "Prosopographie et datation relatives des textes d'Ebla." She stresses the importance of the prosopography of women at the Ebla court as basic for reconstruction of the relative chronology, and further comments on the importance of judges, singers, dancers, etc., for chronological purposes. She summarizes the essential details on p. 37. She also stresses the importance of the parallels between the annual metal and textile texts, and demonstrates this graphically on pp. 44-63. She includes a discussion of the interdynastic marriages and their importance for chronological purposes (details on pp. 63-72).

Archi, in "Los femmes du roi Irkab-Damu," publishes several new texts. Polygamy was...