A new dress for the Maliktum. Attires and functions of court-ladies at Ebla in the Early and Old Syrian periods

In ancient Ebla – and most probably in ancient pre-classical Syria – women had an important role in society. The systematic excavation of Ebla and the study of its epigraphic and archaeological evidence offered impressive data concerning this specific aspect for the Early and Old Syrian periods. In this contribution, I take into account several kinds of evidence concerning female attires and hair-dresses thus far brought to light and I propose hypotheses of reconstruction of the different attires employed in the Ebla court and about their eventual connection with different hair-styles or hair-dresses. Evidence from the texts are also taken into account.