Qatna
𒄣𒋫𒈾𒀭 · Tell Mishrifeh · Tell al-Mishrifeh · Qatanum
Early Bronze to Late Bronze (Amorite Hurrian)·Amorite then Hurrian-Mitanni Egyptian orbit·🇸🇾 Homs Governorate, Syria
About
About Qatna
Mighty Middle Bronze (c.2800–1340 BCE) kingdom city of Qatna controlling eastern Homs basin, with 1 km-square royal palace (largest Bronze Age palace in Syria, 10,000 m²) and intact royal hypogeum (2002 discovery) with 1,000+ bones, gold, amber, Aegean imports and banqueting installation. Contested between Mari, Yamhad and Egypt (Amenhotep III), then sacked by Hittite Suppiluliumas.
Why it mattersLargest palace; intact royal tomb banquet; Bronze Age internationalism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hypogeum banquet — ancestor feeding?
- 02Qatna's missing archives (vs Mari/Ebla?)
Theories
- 01Kispu ancestor cult
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2700 BCE; palace c.1600 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze to Late Bronze (Amorite Hurrian)
- Culture
- Amorite then Hurrian-Mitanni Egyptian orbit
- Builders
- Ishi-Adad, Amut-pail
- Purpose
- Caravan kingdom palace and cremation hypogeum cult
- Abandoned
- c.1340 BCE (Hittite)
- Rediscovered
- 1920s Du Mesnil; 1994 new excavations
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
2002
Royal Hypogeum intact discovery
c.1340 BCE
Hittite sack
On the ground
Structures & features
34.8410° N · 36.8650° E · 500 m · 3 mapped features
Royal Palace (Palais royal)
palace10,000 m² BM palace with throne hall
34.8415° N · 36.8655° ERoyal Hypogeum (Tomb VII)
tombCorbelled shaft tomb with banquet installation
34.8412° N · 36.8652° ECity gates (four gates)
gateEB-MB double gates
34.8410° N · 36.8640° E
Gallery