Question
Describe the Palace at Mari of King Zimrilim. Why is was so famous ?
Solution
The Palace at Mari of King Zimrilim:
1. The great palace of Mari was the residence of the royal family, the hub of administration, and a place of production, especially of precious metal ornaments.
2. It was so famous in its time that a minor king came from north Syria just to see it, carrying with him a letter of introduction from a royal friend of the king of Mari, Zimrilim.
3. Daily lists reveal that huge quantities of food were presented each day for the king's table: flour, bread, meat, fish, fruit, been and wine. He probably ate in the company of many others, in or around courtyard 106, paved white.
4. You will notice from the plan that the palace had only one entrance, on the north. The large, open courtyards such as 131 were beautifully paved. The king would have received foreign dignitaries and his own people in 132 a room with wall paintings that would have awed the visitors.
5. The palace was a sprawling structure, with 260 rooms and covered an area of 2.4 hectares.
Fig : The Palace at Mari of King Zimrlim (1810-1760 BCE)
