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2.1 The rulers of Ebla Palace G are referred to by terms deriving
from *mlk : malkum, “king,” always written with the Sumerogram en,
and malkatum, “queen,” always written with the Akkadogram ma-lik-
tum. Furthermore, the lexical lists (VE 1088–89) give the terms for
“kingship,” nam-en = malìkum, and for “exercise of the kingship,”
nam-nam-en = tumtallikum. During the short span of time covered
by the archives, Palace G was in the hands of kings Yigri“-›alab,
Yirkab-damu and YiƩar-damu. Two texts (ARET VII 150 and
74.120) offer a list, in reverse order, of previous Eblaite rulers: the
dynasty, probably founded by one Kulbànum, may include twenty-
six kings, and the date of the establishment at Ebla of this dynasty
could coincide with the presumed date of the building of Palace G,
approximately the twenty-sixth century.^62.2 The real nature of Early Syrian kingship is not yet fully deter-
mined, but it must lie within the notions expressed by West Semitic
*mlk, “to possess, to dominate, to own, to rule, to be master.” Nonethe-
less, the general impression is that Eblaite kingship was not the auto-
cratic type of urbanized central Mesopotamia but rather a palace-based
oligarchy ruling over dry farming areas and constantly negotiating
with tribal groups.^72.3 Palace G was called “house of the king,” bayt malkim (é en).
ARET IX 104 shows that king YiƩar-damu frequently traveled far
from Ebla (this may have been common also for previous kings). It
may be supposed that during his absence Queen Tabùr-damu remained
at Ebla, taking care of the palace together with Yi“sî (Íl-zi), their
“master of the king’s house,” ba'al bayti malkim (BAD é en), also
known, late in the reign, as responsible for huge building works in
the palace itself.^82.4 Palace G was probably populated, at least during the working
day, by hundreds of lower rank men (including guards, craftsmen,(^6) Archi, “The King-Lists from Ebla”; Bonechi, “The Dynastic Past...”
(^7) Analysis based on Steinkeller, “Early Political Development.. .,” 120.
(^8) Bonechi, “Studies on the Architectonic and Topographic Terms...”
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