AD> The cuneiform tablets from Ebla (3rd millenium BC) attest to the most ancient Semitic language and provide insight into a period in the history and religion of Syria that was previously unknown. The restoration, interpretation, and classification of these tablets has taken more than thirty years. This volume presents a collection of 49 essays from one of the foremost experts on Ebla and its broader ancient context and includes important studies on the language, society, political relations, and religion of this ancient Near Eastern city-state.