Ugaritic language

Ugaritic is an ancient Semitic language once spoken in the city of Ugarit (modern-day Ras Shamra, Syria) around 1400-1200 BCE. It’s known primarily from a cuneiform writing system on clay tablets, which includes myths, rituals, and administrative texts. Ugaritic is important because it helps linguists understand early West Semitic languages, including biblical Hebrew. Its script, with distinctive signs, marked a key step in writing history, and its texts provide valuable insights into ancient religion and culture in the Near East. Though no longer spoken, Ugaritic remains a crucial piece of linguistic and archaeological study.