Civilization of Mary Kingdom in a lecture for Al-Adiyat Association at Homs Cultural Center

Syria is the cradle of civilizations and the source of science and culture, including the Mary civilization, which proved itself in various economic, agricultural and commercial fields thanks to its location in the middle of the Euphrates trade routes, which made it an intermediary between the Sumer civilization and the Kingdom of Ebla and the Levant. Its ruins now form a hill located 11 kilometers northwest of the city of Albukamal, Deir Ezzor.

In a lecture for Al-Adiyat Association at Homs Cultural Center, the researcher, engineer Ahmed Khaddour, head of the Tourist Guides Division in the Central Region Tourism Chamber, pointed out that the Kingdom of Mari is the capital of the Amorites, a people who originated from the Syrian desert, from Jabal Bishri, north of Palmyra, and then set off to various neighboring regions. They integrated into it and founded civilizations, including Mary, Yamhad, Qatna, and Babylon.

Khadour stated that Mary was discovered by the archaeologist Andre Barot, who was in Syria during the period of the French Mandate. The discovery was made during the excavation of one of the graves, where a statue appeared on which was written the name of one of the Amorite kings. When Andre finished the excavation, he was able to discover Mary’s archive. It is a library of digital tablets and booklets, a large part of which has been translated, and the royal palace, “Mary’s Palace,” which is a wonder of the world and consists of 300 rooms and open courtyards surrounded by a two-story building.

The researcher said: If we talk about the architecture of the third millennium in Mary, we must cast light on the royal palace known as the Palace of Zimri-Lim, which was inaugurated in 1800 BC, but the date of its construction dates back to the period of the last third of the third millennium.

Khadour touched on the political, administrative, industrial, and agricultural life in Mary. He also talked about music in the Temple of Mary, the art of photography, statues of gods, worship rituals, and the art of sculpture and seals.

Khadour pointed out that we remember our precious cultural heritage in all forums to grow hope in future generations, so that we may be able to save these civilizations again, stressing that we are adhering to our cultural heritage left to us by our ancestors.

Inas Abdulkareem