SUL VALORE PONDERALE DEL SICLO "DILMUN" NEI TESTI DI EBLA

A comparative approach to the occurrences of gín DILMUN in the economic documents from Ebla may spread new light in the interpretation of the Ebla metrological standards. The registers concerning bracelets (gú-li-lum) show a widespread standardization according to factor 10, the complete series being 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 shekels (higher values rarely occur). The bracelets allotted to the main temples do not conform to this rule, their weight being 6 2/3 (=2 NI) DILMUN shekels each. The interpretation of gín DILMUN in terms of the so-called “Anatolian” standard of 11.75 g would solve this anomaly. Archaeological finds suggest in fact the use of multiple weight systems at Tell Mardikh, where “Eblaic”, “Syrian”, and “Anatolian” standards are all attested in the third millennium, while the presence of the Dilmun standard is debated. This new interpretation would therefore put in agreement archaeological and textual evidence.