Inhabitants of the ancient city-states of West Asia enjoyed a vibrant social and economic life centred on palace and temple institutions, s...
Inhabitants of the ancient city-states of West Asia enjoyed a vibrant social and economic life centred on palace and temple institutions, supported by surrounding agricultural and pastoralist communities. People, goods and ideas flowed between these cities generating a cultural sphere within which strong local identities and customs were preserved.
One such custom that arose in the area of Syria was the professional acrobat, or huppû, attached to the royal court.
The first known mention of the huppû is in administrative documents from the ancient city of Ebla (Tell Mardikh) in Syria dated as early as 2320 BC. Details of the profession can be further pieced together from snippets of information in a royal archive (1771 BC-1764 BC) of about 20,000 tablets preserved at the neighbouring city of Mari (Tell Hariri) on the Euphrates River.
Accounting records and personal letters unveil troupes of huppû who performed several times per month for special events to celebrate the king’s safe return to the city, the arrival of special visitors and religious festivals. The program for the festival of the goddess Ishtar included huppû, wrestlers, and lamentation priests who sung in the ancient Sumerian language accompanied by drums.
These productions were so admired, the cast and crew accompanied the king to entertain in foreign kingdoms.
