Rib-Adda, King of Byblos (ca. 1370-1340 BC)

This book reconstructs the history of Rib-Adda, who ruled Byblos from around 1370 to 1340 BC. Rib-Adda was a prolific ruler, sending 68 letters to the Egyptian court, making him the most prolific Lebanese leader from the mid-14th century BC to the early 20th century AD. The work explores the Canaanite-Akkadian dialect, one of the earliest scribal systems used in Byblos, which incorporated vocabulary and expressions reflective of the local Byblian dialect. It provides an in-depth analysis of the geopolitical, sociopolitical, and economic factors underlying the power struggle between Rib-Adda and his adversaries in northern Mount Lebanon. This struggle contributed to instability and famine in the kingdom of Byblos, which likely extended from Nahr al-Kaleb to the Akkar plain. Additionally, the book addresses new topics, including the wine festival and the Assembly of Elders. This substantial volume of correspondence allows for the application of psychohistory, enabling an analysis of Rib-Adda’s personality from a new perspective.