Qatna (Tell Mishrifeh) — Royal Palace Mound and Acropolis Terrace
Qatna · Mishrifeh · Tell al-Mishrifeh
Early Bronze to Late Bronze Age (2600–1200 BCE), Amorite–Mitanni·Amorite–Hurrian–Mittanian (Qatna kingdom)·🇸🇾 Homs Governorate, Syria
About
About Qatna (Tell Mishrifeh) — Royal Palace Mound and Acropolis Terrace
Major Bronze Age kingdom capital (2600–1200 BCE) 100-hectare walled city with 20 m-high Upper City acropolis and famed 150x100 m Late Bronze Age Palace of Qatna (2000–1340 BCE) containing intact royal hypogeum (21 sarcophagi, 2000 objects) beneath. Acropolis crown holds 35x30 m Early Bronze mudbrick temple terrace — proto-ziggurat with ramp and limestone orthostats — preceding Amorite palace; large defensive ramparts of early 2nd millennium still standing 20 m high.
Why it mattersOne of largest Bronze Age palaces in Levant; royal hypogeum is among richest undisturbed Bronze Age contexts.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Cause of Late Bronze destruction c.1340 BCE — Hittite or Egyptian
Theories
- 01Acropolis terrace as early ziggurat imitating Mesopotamian mountain; palace as diplomatic hub for Mari-Qatna correspondence
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.2600–1200 BCE, palace 2000–1340 BCE, terrace Early Bronze IV 2500 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze to Late Bronze Age (2600–1200 BCE), Amorite–Mitanni
- Culture
- Amorite–Hurrian–Mittanian (Qatna kingdom)
- Builders
- Qatna kings / Mitanni vassals
- Purpose
- Royal acropolis terrace and palace-citadel governing Orontes-Homs corridor and cedar-amber trade
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2600–1200 BCE, palace 2000–1340 BCE, terrace Early Bronze IV 2500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1182 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
34.8410° N · 36.8630° E · 480 m · 2 mapped features
Acropolis temple terrace
terrace35x30 m Early Bronze terrace with ramp and orthostats, highest point
34.8410° N · 36.8630° ERoyal hypogeum under palace
hypogeumChambered tomb with 21 stone sarcophagi 6 m below palace north wing
34.8402° N · 36.8625° E
Gallery