The Palace G Texts and the Circular Cities of Third-Millennium Southern Syria: Some Remarks

This contribution discusses some of the toponyms mentioned in the Ebla Palace G texts — DUki, Ma-nu-wa-atki, Mar-tuki, Ib-al6ki (or Uraš-maḫki), Ti-zàrki, Ar-ḫa-duki, Ḫu-ti-muki, Áb-zuki — which on textual grounds should be located in regions south-eas and south of Tell Mardikh/Ebla. They could correspond to settlements of the third millennium bc identified in the Badiyat al-Sham region — Tell Al-Rawda, Tell Sh‘airat, Tell Al-Ṣūr/Al-Sankarī, Tell Mishrifeh, Khirbet al-Qasr, Tell Al-Shākūsīah — for which archaeological investigations have revealed circular layouts. The ways in which the Ebla scribes refer to these settlements and these regions are also discussed.