Destruction of Ugarit

Around 1185 BCE, the prosperous coastal city of Ugarit is burned to the ground. A desperate letter found in a kiln — never sent — pleads for military help against enemy ships. The city's destruction marks the beginning of a catastrophic wave that will sweep away civilizations across the eastern Mediterranean. Ugarit's archives, preserved by the very fire that destroyed the city, give us our richest source for understanding the Canaanite world the Israelites entered.