The role of women in work and society in the Ebla Kingdom (Syria, 24th century BC)

Women of the court of Ebla had an important role in Eblaite society, taking part in every event of the court, religious ceremonies, rituals etc. They did not live apart from men but were involved in all the affairs of the kingdom with them, except for war. The study of the court ladies, consisting of the kings’ secondary wives, concubines, aunts, sisters, daughters, wet-nurses etc. proved to be fundamental for the reconstruction of the relative chronology of the texts and for writing the history of Ebla. For a long period of almost 20 years the most important woman at the Ebla court was the queen mother, lady Dusigu. Many anonymous female workers, who were involved in different types of work, are attested. A complete account of female workers at the Ebla court has yet to be written.