Alalakh

Alalakh (old form Alakhtum ) is an ancient city, corresponding to the current site of Such Açana, located in the Sandjak d' Alexandrette, in Turkey, in the plain of the Amuq, in the north of the elbow formed by the Oronte.

The site was excavated by the English archeologist Leonard Woolley, in two phases cut by the Second world war: between 1937 and 1939, then between 1946 and 1946. Seventeen archaeological levels energy of the Chalcolithique (Level XVII, c.3400- 3100 av. J. - C.) to the Final Bronze (Level 0,) were put at the day.

History

The city appears for the first time at the Period amorrite, in the written sources of Mari at the beginning of the 18th century, under the name of Alakhtum. This city belongs to the kingdom of the Yamkhad (Alep). The king Sumu-epukh sells to the soil of Alakhtum to his son-in-law Zimri-Lim the king of Mari so that it emphasizes it, while keeping suzerainty on the city.

After the fall of Husband in 1761 av. J. - C., Alakhtum returns under the authority of Alep. It is at this period that its name evolves/moves to become Alalakh. The king Abbân of Alep gives it in prerogative to his Yarim-Lim brother, to thank it for not having taken part in a revolt against him. The descendants of Yarim-Lim then will found a dynasty with Alalakh, while remaining vassal of Yamkhad. That lasts until the extreme end of the 17th century, when Alalakh is destroyed by the king hittite Hattushili Ier.

After a hiatus of approximately a century (or less), Alalakh becomes again the seat of a local dynasty. Some Idrimi, wire of king d' Alep driven out by the new Master of the area, the king of the Mitanni Barattarna, succeed in going up under the throne of Alalakh, then returns in the good graces of the king of Mitanni which agrees to take it among its vassal. Following Idrimi, a new dynasty is founded. The kingdom controlled by Alalakh is called Mukish .

In the middle of the 14th century, the king hittite Suppiluliuma Ier beats the king of Mitanni Tushratta and takes the control of Syria of North. Alalakh thus passes under its suzerainty. The king regulates the frontier litigations between vassal Mukish and his Ougarit, the Nuhasse and Alep. Thereafter, the kingdom remains faithful vassal of Hittites. Alalakh crumbles after the fall of its suzerain, at the beginning of the 12th century, under the blows of the Peuples of the Sea. The site is not thereafter occupied any more, the port of Al Undermined taking its place in the area with the Âge of Iron.

The citadel of Alalakh

Archaeological research with Alalakh especially concentrated on the zone of the citadel, where the royal palace is. Monumental architecture appears as of the level XII (C. 2400), for which one released a vpûtée construction, undoubtedly a temple. But two great periods are detached: level VII (Average Bronze, period amorrite) and level IV (beginning of Recent Bronze), which recovers well the event-driven history of the city.

These two levels have for principal monument the royal palace, which changes plan and east increases between the two periods. It follows a plan identical to that of the palate of the old Middle East, organized around several courses interior opening on various spaces (room of reception, administrative sector, stores, private space). On level IV, an entry of the type bit-hilani (gantry with columns) there is arranged. Important batches of shelves were found for these two levels, informing us about the political life and economic kingdom of Alalakh.

Near the palate a temple, also altered to him on level IV is. It was undoubtedly dedicated to the principal goddess of the city, Ishtar of Alalakh.

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